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This refreshing White Sangria is packed with fresh berries, crisp apples, and citrus liqueur for an easy summer cocktail everyone will love.
Know Before You Scroll
What You’ll Need
White wine, citrus liqueur, apples, fresh raspberries, blueberries, and sugar.
Flavor Profile
Large pitcher, wooden spoon, measuring jigger, knife, cutting board, serving glasses.
Difficulty Level
Easy
Equipment Needed
Light, fruity, crisp, citrusy, and refreshing with bursts of fresh berries.
Top Tip
Chill the wine mixture before serving and add the fruit to each glass instead of the pitcher to keep it fresh and vibrant.
Time-Saving Tips
Swap blueberries or raspberries with strawberries, peaches, nectarines, or green grapes. Use Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, or an unoaked Chardonnay.
Ingredient Swaps
Swap blueberries or raspberries with strawberries, peaches, nectarines, or green grapes. Use Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, or an unoaked Chardonnay.
Why This Recipe Works
This White Sangria recipe has been on Erren’s Kitchen since 2014, and it was definitely ready for a little update. The original used apples, raspberries, and blueberries for a festive red, white, and blue look, but there’s no reason to limit sangria to those three fruits.
The updated recipe lets you use whatever fresh fruit looks good and gives you two ways to serve it. You can let the fruit mingle with the wine in the pitcher for a more traditional sangria, or put the fruit straight into the glasses so it stays crisp, fresh, and beautiful.
Whichever method you choose, the combination stays simple: crisp white wine, orange liqueur, a little sugar, and plenty of fresh fruit. Chill it well, pour it over ice, and you have one very easy summer drink.
Ingredient Notes
White Wine
Best Choice
Choose a crisp, dry white wine like Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, or Albariño.
Substitutions
An unoaked Chardonnay also works well if you prefer a slightly richer flavor.
Orange Liqueur
Best Choice
Cointreau gives bright orange flavor without being overly sweet.
Substitutions
Triple Sec or Grand Marnier.
Fresh Fruit
Best Choice
Use about 3 cups total and choose a combination of colors and textures. Apples, peaches, nectarines, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, grapes, oranges, and pineapple are all great choices.
Substitutions
This is completely flexible—use whatever ripe seasonal fruit you enjoy.
Where to Find
Produce section year-round.
Sugar
Best Choice
Regular granulated sugar dissolves easily and gives you control over the sweetness without adding another flavor.
Substitutions
Superfine sugar dissolves even faster. If your fruit and wine are already quite sweet, you can reduce the amount to taste.
Where to Find
The baking aisle of any grocery store.
You can find the full, printable recipe at the top of this post, but you can read the detailed instructions with photos for each step below.
Step By Step Instructions
1
Build the Sangria Base
Add the orange liqueur and sugar to a 2-quart pitcher and stir well before adding the wine. This gives the sugar a head start on dissolving so you don’t end up with a gritty layer at the bottom. Pour in the chilled white wine and stir again until the mixture looks clear and well combined.
2
Add Your Fruit
For the pitcher method, add about 3 cups of prepared fruit directly to the pitcher. Firmer fruits like apples, grapes, peaches, and citrus hold up especially well during chilling.
For the glass method, keep the fruit separate for now. This is the better option if you’re using delicate berries or want the fruit to stay especially fresh and crisp.
3
Chill & Serve
Cover the pitcher and refrigerate the sangria for at least 2 hours. This chilling time does more than make the drink cold—it gives the orange liqueur, wine, sugar, and fruit flavors time to come together.
If you’re making the pitcher version, stir once before serving because some of the fruit may float while heavier pieces settle.
Serve immediately while ice cold and garnish with extra berries if desired.
Recipe
White Sangria
Ingredients
- bottle dry white wine (750ml, chilled)
- 3 oz orange liqueur (such as Cointreau or Triple Sec)
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 3 cups chopped or sliced fresh fruit of your choice
- ice (for serving)
- club soda (or sparkling water, optional)
- fruit (see notes for suggestions)
Instructions
Method 1: Classic Pitcher Sangria
- Add the prepared fruit, orange liqueur, and sugar to a 2-quart (64-ounce) pitcher. Stir gently to combine and let stand for 10 minutes to help dissolve the sugar and allow the fruit to begin releasing its juices.
- Pour in the chilled white wine and stir gently to combine.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 8 hours to allow the flavors to blend.
- When ready to serve, stir the sangria and pour it into ice-filled glasses, spooning some of the fruit into each serving.
- If desired, top each glass with a splash of club soda or sparkling water for a lighter, bubbly sangria.
Method 2: Fresh Fruit in the Glass
- Combine the white wine, orange liqueur, and sugar in a 2-quart (64-ounce) pitcher. Stir well until the sugar has dissolved.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until thoroughly chilled.
- When ready to serve, divide the fresh fruit among the glasses and add ice, if desired.
- Pour the chilled sangria over the fruit and serve immediately.
Tips
Erren’s Top Tips
- Start with everything cold. Chill the wine, orange liqueur, and fruit before mixing for the coldest, most refreshing sangria.
- Choose a dry white wine. Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, or another crisp, dry white keeps the sangria fruity without making it overly sweet.
- Give it time to chill. Let the sangria rest in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours so the flavors have time to blend.
- Keep the fruit fresh. For the freshest, crispest fruit, use the second method and add it directly to individual glasses just before serving.
- Use your favorite fruit. Apples, peaches, nectarines, berries, grapes, oranges, and pineapple all work well. Aim for about 3 cups total.
- Make it sparkling. Top each glass with club soda or sparkling water just before serving. For a sweeter sangria, use ginger ale instead.
- Add ice to the glasses, not the pitcher. This keeps the sangria cold without watering down the entire batch.
- Serving a crowd? Make a double batch—it tends to disappear quickly. Use two pitchers rather than trying to squeeze everything into one.
Variations & Add-Ins
- Add sliced peaches or nectarines during stone fruit season.
- Toss in green grapes for extra sweetness and texture.
- Stir in sparkling water or club soda just before serving for a bubbly version.
- Add fresh mint or basil for a garden-fresh twist.
- Include thin slices of orange or lemon for extra citrus flavor.
Storage & Freezing
Storage: Keep the wine mixture refrigerated for up to 2 days. Store the prepared fruit separately until serving for the freshest texture. Freezing: Sangria isn’t ideal for freezing, but you can freeze leftover fruit to blend into smoothies or frozen cocktails.
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FAQs
What is the best white wine for White Sangria?
Dry wines like Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Albariño, or an unoaked Chardonnay provide the freshest flavor without making the drink overly sweet.
Can I make White Sangria ahead of time?
Yes. Mix the wine, liqueur, and sugar up to one day ahead. Add the fresh fruit just before serving for the best texture.
Should White Sangria be served over ice?
It’s best served very cold. If your ingredients are well chilled, ice isn’t necessary, but it can be added on hot days.
Can I use frozen fruit?
Yes. Frozen berries work well and help keep the sangria cold without watering it down.
How long does White Sangria last?
The wine mixture will keep for about 2 days in the refrigerator. Fresh fruit is best added just before serving.
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