White Sangria

Spiced and fruity, classic red sangria is one of our go-to cocktail choices all year long when serving a crowd. But when I'm craving something lighter (both in color and on the palate), I turn to this white sangria recipe. All your favorite fruits get soaked in Grand Marnier—an orange liqueur—before being added into the sangria pitcher with white wine and bubbly seltzer. The result is an extra-refreshing summer drink that was made to be sipped poolside. Read on for how to make this wine cocktail completely your own.

Sangria Origins

Sangria’s history dates back to the Middle Ages when fermented drinks—like wine—mixed with spices and herbs were safer to drink than water. Hailing from Spain, red sangria is arguably the most well-known version of the classic drink today. But, over time, sangria has evolved into different regional variations, which led us to this white wine-based version.

How To Make White Sangria

INGREDIENTS

• Fruit: I love anything that screams spring or summer—berries, mango, peaches, or grapes would all work great. Hint: Taste your wine, and add any fruits that it reminds you of!
• Sugar: Adding a little sweetener helps balance the entire drink out. My basic recipe includes sugar, but you could use honey, a fruit juice, or agave.
• Wine: Since you're adding a lot of other sweet components to this drink, I like to keep the white wine dry and high in acidity. Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdejo or a dry Riesling would all work great here.
• Seltzer: Top it all off with some bubbly. I like seltzer, but club soda, ginger ale, or Sprite are all great options. Want to add a bit more booze? You could go all out Spanish and use Cava (the Spanish version of Champagne), but truly any sparkling wine would do.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

The most prep work you have to do is cut up the fruit. For this first step, I opted to slice up some strawberries, cut a mango into cubes, and slice a peach. More fruits to come! I thought it was the perfect combination of summertime produce, but feel free to use up whatever you have! Mix the strawberries, mango, peach, sugar, and Grand Marnier in a medium bowl, then refrigerate until well chilled.

After everything is cold, transfer the fruit mixture to a large pitcher. Top it off with the apple, orange, and lime slices.

Simply pour in the wine and seltzer and stir to combine. Be sure it's well chilled before you serve!

The full list of ingredients and directions can be found in the recipe below.

Variations

Our ideal version of this white sangria requires 5 things: Wine, liqueur, fruit, sweetener, and something bubbly. Customize and pick your favorite of each so that your white sangria will be completely your own! While an added liqueur isn't required, it’s highly advised. I love an orange liqueur like Grand Marnier or Cointreau, but a brandy is also a nice addition.

Storage

The best thing about this sangria? It gets better the longer it sits. Give the sangria time to chill in the fridge before serving and the flavors will meld together, developing and becoming sweeter. Just remember to wait to top it off with seltzer until you're ready to serve!