This White Winter Sangria is a bright, bubbly, and festive cocktail that’s perfect for holiday gatherings or cozy winter evenings! It combines the crispness of dry white wine and prosecco with the tartness of cranberries, the sweetness of apples, and a touch of brandy and warm spices. I love how this sangria is both elegant and easy to make, creating a refreshing and sophisticated drink that’s sure to impress your guests.
Why You’ll Love This White Winter Sangria
- Festive and Elegant: The combination of cranberries, apples, cinnamon sticks, and sparkling wine makes this sangria perfect for holiday celebrations.
- Bright and Refreshing: Unlike heavier winter drinks, this sangria is light, bubbly, and refreshing.
- Easy to Make: This recipe uses simple ingredients and straightforward instructions.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Sangria is always a hit at parties and gatherings.
- Customizable: You can easily adjust the sweetness and fruit additions to your liking.
Ingredients for White Winter Sangria
Here’s what you’ll need to make this festive sangria. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Main Ingredients
- Sugar (Sweetener)
- Frozen cranberries (Fruit)
- White cranberry juice (Juice)
- Brandy (Liquor)
- Prosecco (Sparkling Wine)
- Dry white wine (Wine)
- Apples, sliced (Fruit)
- Cinnamon sticks (Spice)
- Ice (Ice)
Garnish
- Star anise (Spice)
- Rosemary (Herb)
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
I love this White Winter Sangria as is, but here are a few ideas for variations:
- Different Fruit: Add some sliced pears, oranges, or pomegranate seeds.
- Different Sparkling Wine: Use Champagne, Cava, or another dry sparkling wine instead of Prosecco.
- Make it Sweeter: Add more sugar or a splash of simple syrup.
- Add Different Spices: Include a few whole cloves or a piece of fresh ginger.
- Make it Non-Alcoholic: Substitute the brandy, prosecco, and white wine with sparkling white grape juice and a splash of apple cider or regular cranberry juice.
How to Make White Winter Sangria
Let me show you how easy it is to make this festive White Winter Sangria:
Muddle Sugar and Fruit
- I add the sugar to a pitcher.
- I lightly muddle it with half the frozen cranberries and the white cranberry juice for just a few seconds, or until the sugar is dissolved. I use a muddler or a wooden spoon.
Add Brandy and Muddle Again
- I add in the brandy and muddle again gently.
Add Wines and Stir
- I add in the prosecco and the dry white wine.
- I stir gently to combine.
Add Remaining Fruit, Spices, and Ice
- I add in the sliced apples, cinnamon sticks, the rest of the frozen cranberries, and ice.
- I stir and taste! I adjust to my liking, adding more sugar if needed.
Garnish and Serve
- Garnish
- Serve
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Sangria
Here are my secrets for making this sangria truly exceptional:
- Use Cold Ingredients: Ensure the wines, juice, and fruit are well-chilled before making the sangria for the most refreshing result.
- Don’t Over-Muddle: Gently muddle the cranberries just enough to release some juice and dissolve the sugar; you don’t want to pulverize them.
- Choose Dry Wines: Using dry white wine and prosecco prevents the sangria from becoming overly sweet.
- Let it Chill (Optional): While delicious immediately, letting the sangria chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before serving allows the flavors to meld even more. Add ice just before serving.
- Festive Garnishes: Don’t skip the garnishes! Cinnamon sticks, star anise, rosemary sprigs, and extra fruit slices make it look beautiful.
How to Serve
This White Winter Sangria is perfect for:
- Holiday Parties: A festive and elegant drink for Christmas, New Year’s Eve, or any winter gathering.
- Cocktail Hour: A light and refreshing alternative to heavier cocktails.
- Brunches: A sophisticated addition to a winter brunch menu.
Serve chilled in wine glasses or festive tumblers.
Make Ahead and Storage
You can prepare the sangria base (without the prosecco and ice) a few hours ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator. Add the prosecco and ice just before serving to maintain the bubbles. Leftover sangria can be stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 days, but it will lose its fizziness.
FAQs about White Winter Sangria
- What kind of dry white wine should I use?
- Good options include Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, or an unoaked Chardonnay. Choose something crisp and dry.
- Can I use regular cranberry juice?
- Yes, but white cranberry juice provides a lighter color and slightly different flavor profile that works well here.
- Can I make this without brandy?
- Yes, you can omit the brandy or substitute it with another liqueur like Cointreau or St-Germain for a different flavor.
Enjoy this bright, bubbly, and festive White Winter Sangria! It’s a perfect cocktail for celebrating the winter season.
Print
White Winter Sangria
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 1x
- Category: Drinks, Holiday, Cocktail
- Cuisine: American
Description
A bright and fresh bubbly holiday sangria, with seasonal cranberries and apples. This festive drink combines white wine, prosecco, brandy, and winter fruits for a refreshing and celebratory cocktail.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 cup frozen cranberries, divided
- 1 cup white cranberry juice
- 3 ounces brandy
- 1 (750ml) bottle prosecco (or other sparkling wine), chilled
- 1/2 bottle (about 1 1/2 – 2 cups) dry white wine (such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc), chilled
- 2 apples (such as Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji), thinly sliced
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 cup ice cubes
Optional Garnishes:
- Star anise pods
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
- Extra apple slices
Instructions
- Muddle Base: In a large pitcher, combine the granulated sugar, half of the frozen cranberries (about 1/2 cup), and the white cranberry juice. Gently muddle the cranberries with a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon, just enough to release some juice and help dissolve the sugar. Do not pulverize the cranberries. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
- Add Brandy: Add the brandy to the pitcher and muddle gently again for a few seconds.
- Add Wines: Pour in the chilled prosecco and the chilled dry white wine. Stir gently to combine.
- Add Fruit, Spices, and Ice: Add the sliced apples, cinnamon sticks, the remaining frozen cranberries, and the ice cubes to the pitcher.
- Stir and Taste: Stir gently again to combine all ingredients. Taste the sangria and adjust sweetness or flavors if needed (add more sugar if desired, or a splash more juice).
- Serve: Pour the sangria into glasses. Garnish each glass with fresh apple slices and a star anise pod or a sprig of fresh rosemary, if desired.
Notes
- Frozen Cranberries: Using frozen cranberries helps keep the sangria cold without diluting it as much as extra ice would.
- Muddling: Muddle gently to release flavors without making the drink cloudy.
- Wine Choices: Use a dry white wine like Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, or an unoaked Chardonnay. Choose a Prosecco or other dry sparkling wine that you enjoy drinking on its own.
- Chilling: For best results, ensure all liquid ingredients (juices, wines, brandy) are chilled before making the sangria. You can also make the sangria (up to adding the Prosecco and ice) a few hours ahead and chill it in the refrigerator to allow flavors to meld. Add Prosecco and ice just before serving.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve in wine glasses or festive tumblers.
- Storage: Leftover sangria can be stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 days, but the sparkling wine will lose its fizz over time.