Easy Strawberry Sangria with White Wine
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Add a splash of light, bright, fruity flavor to your happy hour with my easy Strawberry Sangria recipe. This quick and easy batch cocktail is made with just 6 ingredients—perfect for spring and summer entertaining! If you love authentic Spanish sangria made with red wine and apples, you’ve got to try this yummy twist with fresh berries and white wine.
Next time you host a gathering and want a drink with more adult oomph than strawberry iced tea, give this splendid sipper a try. While there’s nothing wrong with a glass of wine, there’s something special about toasting with a cocktail. Luckily, with this white strawberry sangria, you don’t have to choose between one or the other—it’s a wine-based libation!
How to Make Strawberry Sangria
Watch the full video recipe to learn how to make the best strawberry sangria. This step-by-step tutorial simplifies the process, offering tips and tricks to guarantee perfect results every time.
Prefer the written recipe? Scroll down to the recipe box 👇
Why You’ll Love Easy Strawberry Sangria
- Unlike many cocktail recipes that pack an extra boozy punch, this light and lovely libation has a relatively low ABV. This refreshing quality makes it a perfect choice for pool parties, BBQs, and garden gatherings.
- Whenever I’m hosting friends, the last thing I want to do is be stuck behind a bar all night mixing drinks. That’s why I love turning to batchable, make-ahead drinks like this strawberry sangria. This recipe is also easy to scale up—I can mix up as many as I need all in one go.
- Between the brightly colored fruit and pale pink hue of this fresh strawberry lemon sangria, it’s as much a feast for the eyes as it is for your mouth. Serve it in a punch bowl or clear drink dispenser for a cocktail that doubles as a centerpiece.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Fresh Strawberries – The heart and soul of our white wine sangria! While you can use frozen sliced strawberries, they start with a softer texture—this means your sangria won’t keep for much more than a day in the fridge.
- White Wine – Use a dry or semi-dry white wine like pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc, or a light (non-buttery) chardonnay. You can also use a dry rosĂ© to make a strawberry rose sangria. Avoid sweet wines unless you like your drinks very sweet.
- Oranges & Lemon – Fresh citrus is a regular feature in sangria recipes. Feel free to get creative with your mix—blood oranges or limes can be used as well.
- Maple Syrup/Honey/Agave Nectar – Generally speaking, you’ll want to add a bit of sweetness to highlight the fruit flavors. I love using unrefined options like honey, but you can use white sugar or simple syrup if you prefer.
- White Rum – I love the bold, boozy kick white rum brings to the party, but you’re welcome to swap in the liqueur of choice. Either an orange liqueur (e.g. Cointreau or Grand Marnier) or elderflower liqueur would be particularly good. As a bonus, these sweeter liqueurs can eliminate the need for additional sweetener.
This is just a short review of the ingredients; for the complete recipe, including quantities, scroll down to the recipe card 👇
What Is Sangria?
Sangria is a classic Spanish punch made with wine, chopped fruit, and a touch of sweetness. Traditionally served chilled, it’s a refreshing and festive drink that’s perfect for sharing. It is also a versatile drink—you can mix and match wines, fruits, sweeteners, and spirits to suit your taste or the season.
Traditional red sangria is made with bold red wines like Tempranillo or Rioja and tends to have deeper, richer flavors—think berries, citrus, and warming spices. White sangria, like our strawberry version, uses crisp white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio) and is typically lighter, fruitier, and more citrus-forward, making it popular in spring and summer.
Optional Variations & Dietary Adaptations
One of the best things about sangria is how customizable it is! You can easily tweak the ingredients to match your taste, what’s in season, or what you have on hand.
- Strawberry Lemonade Sangria – For a fun, citrusy twist, replace the rum with vodka, add an equal amount of strawberry lemonade, and add extra fresh lemon slices.
- Mixed Berry Sangria – Add blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries for even more berry goodness.
- Tropical Strawberry Sangria – Mix in chunks of pineapple, mango, or passionfruit and use coconut rum for a tropical vibe.
- Sparkling Sangria – Top each glass with a splash of club soda or prosecco right before serving for some bubbly flair. Alternatively, make the whole batch effervescent by swapping out the dry white wine in favor of a dry sparkling wine.
- Strawberry Herb Sangria – Muddle in a few fresh basil, tarragon, or mint leaves for an aromatic twist.
Expert Tips & Tricks
- Adjust the Sweetness: Taste as you go and sweeten to your liking. If your wine or fruit is on the tart side, don’t hesitate to add more honey or maple syrup.
- Make It Ahead: Sangria gets better with time. Chill it in the fridge for at least 2 hours—or even overnight—to let the flavors fully infuse.
- Slice Thinly: Thin slices of citrus and strawberries not only look beautiful but also release more flavor into the drink.
- Use Good (but Not Fancy) Wine: Pick a white wine you’d enjoy drinking on its own—something dry and fruity works best. No need to splurge!
Stir Before Serving: Fruit can float to the top or sink—give it a good stir before pouring to evenly distribute the flavors.
How to Serve
This strawberry sangria is made for sunny days and easy entertaining. Here are a few fun ways to serve it that go beyond a glass of ice:
- Serve in a pitcher or punch bowl: Add extra fruit slices for a pretty presentation and easy snacking. Edible flowers would also look lovely floating in the bowl.
Keep it cool: Use frozen strawberries or grapes instead of ice cubes so you don’t dilute the drink. - Pair it up: Serve alongside light bites like fresh spring rolls, coconut shrimp, or homemade gravlax. It’s also great for pairing with all your brunch and BBQ favorites!
Storage Instructions
- Make Ahead: You can make the sangria up to a day in advance—this actually helps deepen the flavor.
- Refrigerate Leftovers: Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days. After that, the fruit tends to get mushy.
- Want it to last longer? Strain out and discard the fruit (or repurpose it by simmering with a little sugar to make a boozy jam or ice cream topping). The strained sangria can be frozen for up to 2 months. Just thaw, add fresh fruit, and enjoy!
More Strawberry Recipes For Spring & Summer
Refreshing Strawberry White Wine Sangria Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- Âľ lb (350 g) Strawberries fresh
- 1 bottle (750 ml) White wine 750ml
- 2 Oranges
- 1 Lemon
- ÂĽ cup (60 ml) Maple syrup or honey (read notes)
- 1/4-1/2 cup (60-120 ml) Rum (or liqueur of choice)
Instructions
- Prepare the strawberries: Rinse and hull the strawberries. Set aside 6–7 strawberries and mash them using a fork or muddler until juicy. Transfer the mashed strawberries to a large pitcher.
- Slice the fruit: Slice the remaining strawberries and add them to the pitcher. Thinly slice one orange and one lemon (with the peel on), removing any seeds, and add them as well.
- Juice the citrus: Juice the second orange and pour the fresh orange juice into the pitcher.
- Add the liquids: Pour in the maple syrup or honey, rum (adjust the amount based on how strong you'd like it), and the full bottle of white wine.
- Chill: Stir everything together gently. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to allow the flavors to blend.
- Serve: Serve chilled, with or without ice. Optionally, garnish glasses with fresh mint or a citrus slice.
Video
Notes
- Make Ahead: You can make this sangria up to 24 hours in advance. In fact, the longer it chills, the more intense the flavors become. Just give it a good stir before serving.
- Storage: Store leftover sangria covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. After that, the fruit may become too soft.
- Wine: Use a dry or semi-dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or a light Chardonnay. You can also use rosé wine. Avoid overly sweet wines unless you prefer a very sweet sangria.
- Rum: White rum adds a subtle kick, but feel free to use flavored liqueurs like orange liqueur (Triple Sec, Cointreau) or elderflower liqueur for a twist.
- Sweetener: Adjust the sweetness to your liking. Maple syrup and honey are great natural options, but white sugar or simple syrup also work. Add more if your fruit or wine is on the tart side.
- Fruit Swaps: You can add other fruits like sliced peaches, raspberries, or apple slices to customize the flavor and color.
- Serving Tip: Serve over ice with a splash of sparkling water for a lighter, bubbly version.
Nutrition
Common Questions
Traditional sangria includes wine, fresh fruits, a sweetener (like sugar, honey, or syrup), and a spirit or liqueur. In this strawberry sangria, the essentials are white wine, strawberries, citrus fruits (like oranges and lemons), a sweetener (maple syrup or honey), and a splash of rum or another liqueur.
Wine is the main alcohol in sangria. For strawberry sangria, white wine is typically used as the base. A small amount of rum, brandy, or another liqueur can be added to boost the flavor and give the sangria an extra kick.
A crisp, fruity white wine works best, like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or a dry Riesling. You want something refreshing and not too oaky or sweet, since the fruit and sweetener will balance the flavors naturally.
Yes, you can skip sugar or sweeteners entirely if you prefer a less sweet drink. The natural sugars from the strawberries and citrus already add a hint of sweetness. You can also adjust the amount of sweetener to your taste or use a sugar-free option like stevia or monk fruit.
I saw the video and still looks refreshing and amazing
So good! Definitely making this again for the 4th of July!