White Wine Sangria
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Published Oct 22, 2021, Updated Nov 19, 2021
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This white wine sangria is easy to whip up and even easier to drink! It’s crisp, refreshing and loaded with fresh fruit. Trust me, you’ll want to serve this at every party!
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of having a glass of wine or a cocktail every now and then! Isaac and I love winding down from the day and connecting over a drink. I’ve been having fun experimenting with different cocktails and I think this white wine sangria might just be my new fave!
It’s crisp and refreshing and would be delicious any time of year! I can see myself serving this at a holiday party or just making it for Isaac and myself on a summer night.
What is Sangria?
First let’s talk about sangria. It’s a delicious little beverage typically made with wine, some sort of liquor (triple sec, brandy, etc.) and fruit. With all the fruit that’s involved you’d think that it’d be a healthy option but more often than not there’s additional fruit juice, soda, simple syrup and regular sugar added to the mix as well. Depending on what ingredients are put into the sangria, one glass can be about 300 calories and it’s usually pretty high in sugar as well.
I’m not a fan of sugary sweet mixed drinks so I put my spin on this sangria and skipped the added sugar and used sparkling water instead of soda. With these easy changes we ended up with a light and refreshing sangria that has only 179 calories and is still plenty sweet and tasty!
What You Need
- lime and lemon – instead of just adding fresh lemon and lime juice, slice the entire fruit and add it to the mix for the ultimate citrus flavor!
- green apple – any type of apple works in this recipe but I like the slightly sour taste of green apples.
- peach – add fresh peach for a pop of flavor. When shopping for peaches, you want to buy peaches that are firm but give slightly when you press on the flesh. Try to get a peach without bruising or cuts.
- fresh berries – I used strawberries, but any mixture of fresh berries works – use your favorites.
- brandy or Grand Marnier – either works great for this recipe! Grand Marnier is basically orange flavored brandy which adds a great citrus flavor to this sangria!
- dry, crisp white wine – Albariño, Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay all work well! If you’re not sure, you can always walk into a liquor store and tell them that you’re looking for a dry, crisp white wine for sangria and they will be able to give you suggestions!
- maple syrup, agave, simple syrup or cane sugar – optional but I like adding a little in to sweeten it a bit!
- sparkling water – also optional but I love adding a little carbonation to this drink.
- strawberries and fresh mint – for topping to make this extra fancy!
Variations
One of my favorite things about sangria is how customizable it is!
- Have different fruit on hand or want to use a different combination of fruit? Absolutely go for it!
- Have a white wine on hand that isn’t on my list of recommendations? Use it! I promise any white wine will work in this recipe.
- Do you like carbonated beverages? Add a splash of sparkling water! You can use plain sparkling water or add a flavor – lime or grapefruit would be the perfect flavor pairing!
The Best Wine to Use
Before I list out the types of wine you can use, I have to say that any white wine you have on hand will work! I don’t recommend using your fanciest bottle here since it’s mixed with so many ingredients. For all of my Trader Joes’ fans – three buck chuck works great in this recipe.
Now onto the types if you want to get particular!
- Albariño – this is a really refreshing white wine that has a fruity/citrus flavor! It’s delicious in this recipe.
- Riesling – this white wine tastes a little more floral. There are dry, semi-sweet and sweet riesling varieties so pick whichever type you’re feeling!
- Pinot Grigio – another white wine that tends to have fruity flavors, however it’s much drier than Albariño.
- Sauvignon Blanc – originating in France, this white wine tastes so fresh with green, herbal flavors.
- Chardonnay – Chardonnay can have a wide range of flavors – some are more fruity while others taste more buttery or oak-y. If you’re not familiar with Chardonnay, chat with someone at a liquor store!
How to Make White Wine Sangria
Chop fruit – Start by chopping all of your fruit and adding it to a large pitcher.
Combine ingredients – Add the brandy and wine and stir to combine. You can muddle the fruit a bit here in the liquid if you want more flavor released right away! Taste the mixture and add a little sweetener if you’d like. I start with 1 Tablespoon and add more as needed.
Chill – It is recommended to let sangria chill in the fridge for at least 12 hours so all the flavors have time to infuse together, but you can totally serve this sooner. Just make sure to chill for at least 1-4 hours!
Pour & enjoy – When you’re ready to serve, first stir the sangria in the pitcher to make sure all of the flavors are distributed. Add ice and/or frozen berries to a glass and pour in the sangria. Top with a splash of sparkling water if you’d like and garnish with fresh mint and strawberries.
How Long Does Sangria Last?
This white wine sangria will stay fresh in the fridge for about 5 days, just make sure it hasn’t sat out in the open and been exposed to air for too long. This can cause the wine to oxidize faster and go rancid. Also, the freshness of your sangria depends on how old your fruit was when you used it. If storing for a few days in the fridge, make sure to check your fruit to make sure it hasn’t molded before serving!
Can You Make it in Advance?
Yes! This is the perfect party drink because you can make a big batch beforehand and then serve it at party time! I like setting out the pitcher with the sangria mixture along with glasses of ice, cans of sparkling water and a small dish of the garnishes. Each guest can customize their sangria and decide if they want to add carbonation and what garnish they would like!
More Cocktail Recipes to Try
- Strawberry Frosé
- Skinny Margarita
- Apple Cider Mimosas
- Skinny Coconut Daiquiri
- Skinny Paloma
- Sparkling Vodka Cranberry with Lime
- Blackberry Cucumber Skinny Mojito
- Skinny Piña Colada
- Mulled Wine
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White Wine Sangria
Ingredients
- 1 medium lime, sliced into rounds
- 1 medium lemon, sliced into rounds
- ½ medium green apple, chopped into small pieces
- 1 medium peach, thinly sliced
- 1 cup sliced berries, I used strawberries
- ⅓ cup brandy or Grand Marnier
- 1 750 ml bottle dry crisp white wine, I used Albariño
- 1-3 Tablespoons maple syrup, agave, simple syrup or cane sugar, plus more to taste (optional)
- sparkling water, optional
- strawberries and fresh mint for topping, optional
- ice or frozen berries, for serving
Instructions
- Add all of the chopped fruit into a pitcher. Pour in brandy and wine and stir to combine. Taste and add any sweetener, if preferred. Start with 1 Tablespoon at a time and add more as desired. I used 1 T of maple syrup.
- Place pitcher in the fridge for at least 1-4 hours or overnight to chill.
- To serve, stir the sangria and pour over a glass of ice and/or frozen berries. Top with sparkling water and garnish with fresh mint and strawberries, if desired.
- Leftover sangria will keep fresh in the fridge for about 5 days.
Notes
- For the white wine you can use Albariño, Riesling, Pinot grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay — I used Albariño.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Wow!! I was just talking about how I wanted a great Sangria recipe to try out this weekend for Father’s Day brunch and I think I found it! It will definitely have to be a cheat treat from what I normally would drink because of the rum but it looks great and not too sweet!
Vinho Verde!!! My all time fave wine. Will def make Justin bring this to the hospital for me August 21st!!!
Hope you’re doing well! I got pegged to teach 3 additional classes each week so I haven’t had the energy to join you for a spin class. Maybe a non workout date soon though?!
Emma
Love the link lady apples in it too! Sounds delicious!
http://youtube.com/addalittlefood
Oh yum yum. Sunday Funday planning is in the works now!
I like the way you think! 🙂
Sounds beautiful! Is the sparkling water you used sweetened? We only have sparkling water sweetened with the likes of aspartame here..I avoid them like the plague!
No, the sparkling water that I used is unsweetened. No calories, no sugar and no sodium. 🙂 It stinks that all your sparkling waters are sweetened with fake sugars. I’m with you on avoiding those completely. That’s why I don’t do diet soda, or any soda for that matter.