Look no further if you’re looking for an easy sangria to refresh during a hot summer day. My white sangria recipe is all you need. It’s crispy, not too sweet, with delicious citrus notes, versatile, and trust me: it’ll become your favorite white wine sangria recipe.
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Red or white wine sangria?
I was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. There, the Spanish cuisine’s influence was constant thanks to the Galician, Asturian, Basque, and Catalan immigrants that made Venezuela home and became one with us. Sangría, or zurra, as they call it in Ciudad Real, and Toledo, in Castilla-La Mancha, was always red wine sangria.
In Spanish, sangría means bleeding, it comes from the word sangre (blood), and blood is red! So, for me, sangria was red, made with red wine, fresh fruit, and a splash of brandy. That is what we call classic sangria.
There is no single sangria recipe. Each restaurant has its formula and makes it with the fruits they like. In Spain, sangria is mostly consumed by tourists. At the same time, locals prefer the super refreshing tinto de verano, made with red wine, lemon soda, and lemon slices.
For me, white wine sangria is something relatively new. I tasted it for the first time in Miami, where it’s trendy. Here, you can find restaurants serving a tropical version of this summer cocktail made with passion fruit, and I must tell you: it’s heavenly and delicious!
What is the best wine for white sangria?
White sangria is mainly prepared with Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, or Moscato, the latter for a sweeter version. Paradoxically, none of those wines are Spanish. I’ve tasted a delicious sparkling sangria made with Cava, though.
For those wanting to make white sangria with Spanish white wine, a fresh, young, crisp white wine, such as an Alvariño or Verdejo, seems to be a good choice for a great summer sangria recipe.
What is the best liquor for a summer white sangria?
Besides wine, traditionally, sangria is mixed with brandy, and sometimes the liquor of choice is apricot brandy. I opt for an orange liqueur, though. It’s fun and accentuates the citrus notes of this summer drink.
My first choice is Rhum Orange Liqueur to add something from my home country. But it has been a while since I cannot find this rum and orange liqueur in Miami. Therefore, I now use Grand Marnier, Cointreau, or Triple Sec. This time I made my white sangria with Triple Sec.
How can I make my sangria sparkling?
Most recipes call for lemon-lime soda. Here, in the US, adding ginger ale is also customary. But since I add sweetness through my homemade lemon syrup, I prefer to mix my sangria with plain sparkling water.
You can also add club soda, a.k.a. soda water. The trick is not to add the bubbly ingredient into the pitcher but into every glass at serving so that everybody may enjoy the fizzy effect.
What are the best fruits to make white sangria?
When it comes to sangria fruits, the sky is the limit. You can add your favorite fruit. However, for a perfectly fruity sangria, my personal choices include the following:
- Citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons.
- Some stone fruit such as peaches, apricots, or nectarines
- Crispy green apples
- Seedless green grapes
- And for color purposes, fresh berries such as strawberries and raspberries.
8 Tips for the perfect white summer sangria
White sangria is the perfect batch cocktail. But you must be careful because you don’t want mushy fruit or melted ice that will result in a watery drink.
The following are my tips for the perfect citrusy, summery, and crispy white wine sangria:
- To give your sangria the most delicious citrusy flavor, make a syrup with equal parts of fresh lemon juice and sugar instead of sweetening it with simple syrup.
- For an extra kick of flavor, I simmer my lemon syrup with lemon peels. The result is worth every second you spend making the syrup. You can make this syrup in advance.
- Ripe fruit? Yes. The fruit should be ripe but firm. You can dice it or slice it. I like to have everything bite-size.
- To infuse the fruit with the citrus flavor of the lemon syrup and the Triple Sec, add the fruit, the syrup, and the liquor to a large pitcher and let marinate in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. That is more than enough time, and it will prevent mushy fruit.
- Have your wine chilled and pour it into the pitcher at serving time. Then, with a bar spoon, stir gently so all the flavors marry.
- Since the fruit tends to set in the bottom of the pitcher, the day before, I make some ice cubes with raspberry, lemon slices, and grapes inside. Those ice cubes are cute and will give the impression that the sangria fruit is evenly distributed.
- Add ice to every glass at serving time instead of ice to the pitcher to avoid a watery sangria.
- On top of the ice, add a few spoons of fruit, then the sangria mixture, and top off with sparkling water. If you want, garnish with a sprig of fresh mint for the perfect summer cocktail.
Best white wine sangria recipe
White sangría is known for its refreshing and fruity taste. Served chilled over ice, it’s a popular choice for summer gatherings, as it’s lighter and more citrusy than traditional red sangría. Follow my step-by-step recipe to elevate your sangria game.
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White Wine Sangria
Ingredients
- 1 bottle white wine I used Pinot Grigio
- 3 oz. Triple Sec
- the peel of a lemon
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 orange sliced and then every slice quartered
- 1 lemon sliced and then every slice quartered
- 3 apricots sliced
- 4 strawberries sliced
- 3/4 cup green grapes seedless and quartered
- 8 raspberries
Instructions
- Add the sugar, lemon juice, and peel to a small or medium saucepan. Cook at medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Then, lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and discard the peel. Let it cool down completely.
- Add all the fruit to a pitcher, and pour the lemon syrup and the Triple Sec. Refrigerate por 15 minutes.
- Add the wine and stir with a bar spoon.
- Add ice to a wine glass, pour 3-4 tablespoons of the sangria fruit on top, and serve the sangria liquid.
- Complete with sparkling water, stir and enjoy
Nutrition
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