Bubbly and refreshing – Learn how to make the best homemade sangria! Featuring Champagne, Sparkling or Rosé wine, along with sweet white wine, a hint of liqueur and plenty of wine-soaked fruit and berries, this Strawberry Sangria recipe is the perfect balance of fruity, dry and sweet!
This beautiful wine cocktail is perfect for any celebration – from Galantine’s or Valentine’s day, to Mother’s Day and Memorial Weekend! Here’s everything you need to know about this stunning strawberry champagne sangria…
Update: This post was originally published in February 2016. I made a few tweaks to the sangria recipe. Plus, I added step by step photos to show you how exactly how easy it is to make this fruity wine cocktail at home!
Hi, Friends! If you love summer fresh strawberries and also happen to love a good cocktail, then today’s drink recipe is for you!
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About this strawberry sangria recipe
Bubbly, effervescent, and beautifully refreshing, this homemade sangria recipe is the perfect balance of dry, sweet, and fruity flavors! Featuring dry brut champagne or sparkling wine paired with sweet white wine, orange liqueur, pomegranate juice and plenty of fresh fruit. The wines are bright and crisp, the sweet berries shine and the orange liqueur adds just enough flavor. Serve it over fruit-infused ice cubes or stretch your budget by adding a splash of club soda. Either way, this sparkling sangria is downright delicious and the perfect pour for any and every occasion! Make it as a flirty Valentine’s drink, a refreshing summer poolside drink, or any time you need a fizzy, celebratory beverage!
When it comes to serving, the wine-soaked fruit is (arguably) the best part of sangria! If serving guests, I recommend offering disposable spoons or forks to make easy work out of fruit fishing. Alternatively, you can add fresh fruit onto skewers and serve those on the side!
Plus, this sparkling strawberry sangria recipe only requires 5 minutes of hands-on preparation before it is ready to chill! It’s easy enough to enjoy with your Sunday brunch, yet elegant enough to serve to family and friends at your next holiday gathering or outdoor picnic!
What is Sangria?
Sangria is a chilled alcoholic beverage consisting of wine and freshly chopped fruits paired with flavored liqueurs or fizzy spirits. Traditional Sangria from Spain and Portugal use red wine, but there are endless variations. Sangria Blanca is a more recent version that uses white wine instead, just like this recipe!
Ingredients for strawberry sangria
This strawberry sangria recipe features sparkling wine or champagne, sweet white wine and fresh berries, for a creative and delicious spin on the classic Spanish Sangria. You will need the following ingredients.
What you need to make white sangria with strawberries
- Wines: This sangria recipe uses a combination of two wines: Brut champagne or sparkling wine (such as Cava or Prosecco) and sweet white wine or dessert wine, such as Riesling. The blend of wines creates a cocktail that is refreshing, effervescent and the perfect balance of dry and sweet!
- Liqueur: Orange liqueur (Grand Marnier, Cointreau and Triple Sec) is a traditional addition to sangria; however, you can also use blood orange or strawberry liqueur in this recipe! Plus, brandy works in a pinch, as it’s commonly used in sangria as well.
- Fruit Juice: Pomegranate juice provides a rich, tart, winey flavor that makes this sangria recipe extra special. Make sure you use 100% pure pomegranate juice, and not diluted juice for the best flavor.
- Fresh Fruit: The wine-soaked fruit is one of the best parts of this fruity wine punch!
- Strawberries: Fresh strawberries lend a beautiful sweet, fruity flavor to sangria. When looking for ripe strawberries, check for a bright red color. If there’s any whiteness around the stem of the berries, they weren’t picked at peak ripeness. Perfectly ripe berries will have a vibrant red hue and minimal discoloration.
- Raspberries: Fresh raspberries add a delicious layer of tart and sweet flavor. When picking raspberries at the store, look for berries that are full and firm with consistent coloring.
- Oranges: You’ll need 3 oranges for this sangria recipe – two for juicing and one for slicing. While you can use any variety you love, the best oranges for juicing include Navel oranges, Valencia oranges, blood oranges, tangerines, clementines and satsumas.
- Lemons: Fresh lemon slices provide a zing of tangy flavor and lend a lightness to summer sangria.
Optional ingredients
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Mint: Fresh mint leaves lend a sweet, cooling flavor. But mint has a strong flavor, so I recommend using just a few leaves so you don’t overpower the sangria.
- Sweetener: If you prefer a sweet sangria, soak the fruit in white sugar, honey or agave for 20 minutes at room temperature (before adding the mint, wine, liqueur, etc.). Soaking berries in sugar is a process known as maceration – you have probably done this when preparing strawberry shortcake or making an easy strawberry sauce for sundaes! Alternatively, you can sweeten the sangria after preparing it by dropping in a cube of sugar or stirring in a bit of honey or agave.
- To stretch your sangria: If you want to stretch your budget or make your sangria serve more people, top each glass of white sangria with a splash or two of club soda, soda water or lemon-lime soda.
Sparkling strawberry sangria variations!
When it comes to flavor combinations, the sky is the limit with homemade sangria! I love the sweet and tangy combination of strawberries with raspberries, pomegranates, oranges and lemons. However, there are so many other fruits you can use with strawberries in this sangria recipe.
Try using slices of fleshy peaches, apricots, nectarines, and other stone fruits. You can also give your fruit and wine cocktail a tropical flair by adding kiwis, mangoes, and pineapples instead! Use different liqueur flavors to match the fruits you are using. Here are some of my favorite formulas:
- Strawberry Peach Sangria: Use a combination of strawberries with peaches, lemons and peach schnapps.
- Blood Orange Strawberry: Swap the fresh oranges out for blood oranges and use blood orange liqueur.
- Strawberry Kiwi Cocktail: A tropical combination of strawberries, kiwis, limes and strawberry vodka.
- Fall Sangria: Slice up strawberries along with a couple apples and throw in a cinnamon stick.
How to make sparkling strawberry sangria at home
This strawberry white wine sangria recipe is so easy and legitimately takes 10 minutes, tops! If you prefer a sweeter sangria, I recommend macerating (soaking) the berries and citrus slices in a tablespoon or two of granulated sugar, honey or agave before adding the wines.
- Combine fruits: Add strawberries, raspberries, the rounds from 1 orange, all the lemon rounds, and mint to a large pitcher, serving or punch bowl.
- For a sweet white sangria: Don’t add the mint. Instead, sprinkle sugar or sugar substitute over the berries and citrus slices. Stir to coat. Set aside for 15-20 minutes to macerate. Add the mint and proceed!
- Add liquids: Add the Grand Marnier, pomegranate juice, orange juice and sweet white wine. Stir to combine.
- Chill: Cover and place the strawberry wine sangria in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or up to 4 hours.
- Add Champagne: Pour the champagne into the sangria.
- Serve: Pour the strawberry sangria into ice-filled wine glasses. Top with a splash or two of club soda if you are looking to stretch your budget. Enjoy!
Tips for making champagne sangria
- Use cold ingredients. I recommend starting with cold ingredients (wines, liqueur, juices) as it just makes a better sangria. Also, you need to chill the champagne before adding it to the white sangria.
- Ice cubes on glasses. When serving, make sure you add ice cubes to glasses, and not to the pitcher of strawberry sangria. Adding ice in pitcher will water down the strawberry white wine sangria and dilute all the delicious flavors.
- Infused Ice Cubes: I recommend making your own infused ice cubes! Depending upon the size of your ice cube tray, chop up fruit or keep it whole and add it to the tray. Add a few mint leaves and a small pinch of white sugar. (I typically make mine with pomegranate arils + mint + honey). Or you can use frozen fruits instead! Frozen grapes or melon balls can be excellent substitutes for ice cubes!
- Keeping Sangria cold: Make sure all your ingredients are cold to start with. If you are not serving it right away, properly store it in the refrigerator.
- Let the flavors meld! Make this at least 1 hours in advance before serving to allow the flavors to fuse and the berries to soak!
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of wine is best for sangria?
For this strawberry sangria I recommend using a Moscato or Riesling. However, a French Pinot Gris or any Semi-Sweet to Sweet White Wine works great. While you can use a drier white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc, you will probably need to add a sweetener to the sangria. You can either macerate the fruits in sugar, or add a sweetener, such as sugar cubes or honey to the sangria.
What type of champagne should I use?
You can use champagne, sparkling wine, rosé wine, or pink champagne in this sangria recipe. However, I do recommend selecting a dry or brut wine.
Can I make a non-alcoholic sparkling sangria?
Absolutely! To make a virgin sangria you can use alcohol-removed wines along with club soda or lemon-lime soda instead of champagne.
Can I puree the strawberries instead of chopping them?
Yes, of course, you can! I recommend pureeing half of the strawberries and chopping the rest so you can have the best of both worlds!
What alcohol can I add to sangria?
When it comes to making sangria at home, the world is your oyster! Get creative with your sparkling strawberry sangria and try adding brandy, vodka, rum and/or schnapps, plus whatever your heart desires!
Serving homemade sangria
Sangria is always best when enjoyed properly chilled! For small gatherings, you can make and serve your Sangria in a pitcher. However, I urge you to bring out your punch bowl or glass serving bowl instead for larger crowds! I typically use my large trifle bowl and it works just great!
Sangria is traditionally enjoyed with Spanish tapas. I typically pair it with small bites and party appetizers, such as Sweet & Spicy Roasted Nuts and Goat Cheese Tartlets if serving a large crowd. However, this sparkling strawberry sangria pairs perfect with everything from juicy cheeseburgers and pasta salad to grilled chicken with corn salad!
Storing this strawberry sangria recipe
- Cover before storing. Make sure you cover the sangria punch bowl or pitcher with a lid or plastic wrap. This ensures that the flavors remain undiluted from the other food inside your refrigerator.
- Make ahead and storage time. Homemade sangria should last in the fridge for three to five days. Make sure to check that the fruits have not spoiled first before serving.
- Longer storage option. Separate the fruits using a sieve and store them separately if you want your Sangria to stay fresh longer!
Smooth and easy to sip (or gulp), I know you guys are going to love this Sparkling Strawberry Sangria! Make this restaurant-quality sangria this Memorial day, and let us know what you think!
Craving MORE? Follow all the deliciousness on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram!
More fancy wine cocktail recipes!
If you love this festive Strawberry Sangria Recipe, try one of these sparkling wine drinks next!
- 007 Champagne Cocktail (James Bond Cocktail, plus the French 75!)
- Champagne Float
How to make Sparkling Strawberry Sangria Recipe!👇
Homemade Strawberry Sangria
Equipment
- 1 Pitcher, Punch Bowl or Serving Bowl
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Strawberries – hulled and sliced (12 ounces)
- 1 1/2 Cups Raspberries (6 ounces)
- 3 large Oranges - DIVIDED (2 = juiced) (1 = thinly sliced)
- 1 Lemon - thinly sliced
- Handful Fresh Mint Leaves
- 1/2 Cup Liqueur - Orange, Blood Orange or Strawberry Liqueur
- 1/4 Cup Pomegranate Juice
- 1 750-ml Bottle Sweet White Wine or Dessert Wine (Moscato, Riesling, or Wine of Choice) (SEE NOTES)
- 1 750-ml Bottle Brut Champagne, Sparkling Wine or Rose CHILLED (SEE NOTES)
- Optional for sweet Sangria: Granulated Sugar, Sugar Cubes, Honey, or Agave (SEE NOTES)
- Optional: ½ - 1 Cup Club Soda or Lemon Lime Soda – to taste (if you’re looking to stretch your budget!)
- Optional Garnish: Pomegranate Arils
Instructions
- Combine fruits: Add strawberries, raspberries, the slices from 1 orange, lemon slices, and mint to a large pitcher, serving or punch bowl.(Optional) For Sweet Sangria: Don't add the mint! Instead, sprinkle 1 to 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar or sugar substitute over the fruit. Gently stir and let the fruit stand for 15-20 minutes at room temperature. Add mint before proceeding to next step.
- Add liqueur, juices + wine: Add the orange liqueur, pomegranate juice, ½ cup of orange juice and sweet white wine. Stir to combine.
- Chill: Cover and place the wine sangria in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or up to 4 hours.
- Just before serving, add Champagne: Pour the champagne into the sangria.
- Adjust to taste: Taste the strawberry sangria and adjust as needed, adding a sugar cube for a sweeter sangria or more citrus juice if the sangria is too sweet.
- Serve: Fill wine glasses with fruit-infused ice cubes (see notes) and add the sangria. If you want to stretch your budget, top the sangria with a few splashes of club soda or lemon lime soda. Serve and Enjoy!
Notes
- Cold ingredients: I recommend starting with cold ingredients (wines, liqueur, juices) as it just makes a better sangria. Also, the champagne needs to be chilled before being added!
- Champagne Substitutions: You can use champagne, sparkling wine, rose or pink champagne in this sangria recipe. Alternatively, you can make a mock-sangria by using your favorite alcohol-removed wines.
- Sweet White Wines: I typically use a Moscato or Riesling; however, a French Pinot Gris or any Semi-Sweet to Sweet White Wine works great.
- Substitution: You can use a drier white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc. However, you will need to macerate (sweeten) the fruit! Make sure you follow the option for a sweeter sangria in step one! Alternately, you can add a simple syrup if you prefer.
- Fruit variations: You can use any berries or fruits you love! Some delicious ideas include:
- Strawberries + peaches + lemon + peach schnapps
- Strawberries + kiwis + lime + strawberry liqueur
- Keeping sangria cold: Make sure all your ingredients are cold to start with and if not serving right away, properly store in the refrigerator.
- Ice Cubes: Never add ice cubes to the sangria; instead, add them to the serving glasses. I recommend infusing your ice cubes! Not only are they simple to make and pretty to look at, but they also add flavor to the sangria once they melt!
- To infuse ice cubes: Depending upon the size of your ice cube tray, chop up fruit or keep it whole, and add it to the tray. I like to add a few mint leaves, pomegranate arils, chopped strawberries and a small pinch of white sugar.
- Frozen fruit: Instead of using ice cubes, use frozen fruit! Place fruits like grapes or melon balls in the freezer and use as a delicious substitute for ice cubes!
Nutrition
I love blood oranges. This drink looks so delicious and refreshing. Perfect summer drink on a hot day.
This drink looks fabulous! I’ve never tried a drink with Pomegranate in it.
ooooooo…this sounds delicious! i’ve never had blood orange liqueur but clearly I need to! pinned!
Now I wish I had this cocktail with me today as we watched the game. But the winter is still young, I shall make it before it ends!!
Oh yayayyay..to this giveaway which I am a bit late too as always i think.
Goodness Chey, that is an amazing Sangria with a lot of yumminess. I wouldn’t mind at all sipping this with you one day and chatting about camera and lens.
I am big lowest fstop gal like many. I just got a wide angle which I love but I’ve loved the 1.4 quite a bit. Honestly, I have eyed this tripod which extends horizontally for a while.
Cheers my lovely friend.
xx
I don’t have that tilt-shift lens, but I can vouch for my beloved 105mm macro – I adore it more than I could ever say. AND, I can tell that I would also adore this gorgeous cup of deliciousness – I am envisioning holding it my hands and saying, Cheers to you!! xx
What a wonderful flavor combination and it is totally gorgeous!
This must be really refreshing ♥
summerdaisy.net
I love it.. MSN dot com land! That made me LOL!! Then, this drink looks so classy!! I love these posts of yours, you should make an ebook with then 🙂 🙂
Hi Cheyanne, Just came across your blog and see so many awesome recipes and this one jumps out in particular as I have been wanting to try/make a blood orange sangria recipe! I will have to try this one. Thank you for sharing! Lauren
Thank you so much, Lauren! So glad you stopped by! Hope you do try this sangria, because it’s delish! Cheers to a wonderful day!! 🙂
This sangria looks gorgeous, fruity, and refreshing. I’d love to have a glass right now! Your photos are beautiful…so crisp, and clear! And that is quite some lens! I can see why it’s on your wish list. Have a wonderful weekend!!
Wow! That is the most beautiful drink!! I’m putting it on my Sunday menu. Football needs great cocktails IMO 🙂
How pretty is this sangria!? So sad I can’t drink right now, but definitely saving this for post-baby! Blood orange liquor sounds amazing. This looks super refreshing!
Wow this sangria is beautiful Cheyanne! Sangria is one of my favourite drinks, and I love everything about this recipe! Such a great idea to use champagne, and such an amazing combination of fruits! I wish I could grab a glass of this out of my screen right now! Pinned <3
OMG I love sangria, and this one is so beautiful! I’d love to have the pitcher of that! What vibrant colors, this sangria is full of life! Pinned!
Omg yesss!! I love sangria! It tastes like juice and is as easy to drink! Love this version with the blood orange. Looks absolutely gorgeous, doll! <3
What a great big ole’ fun giveaway Chey! That is some nice scratch for sure… and this sangria. Oh my! So pretty and colorful! I had no idea there is such a thing as Orange Liqueur! I’m going to be on the hunt for it! RE: the lens? I don’t know about a 24mm. I use 35 and 50 mm and I really really love the lowest f stop money can buy, because low light is a photo killer when using only natural light (I have plenty of examples 😀 ). And you know those short, gray winter days we have up here in the PNW! It’s a big decision! Look on Craigs list first!! xo
Wow. This would be a very dangerous drink to have around me. Pomegranate juice is one of my faves anyway…and who doesn’t like sangria? This looks flipping amazing!
Okay, so it is Friday afternoon here, so I can officially make myself one of these, can’t I?! I just love adding pomegranate in to my drinks to make them more refreshing. Perfect for a summer day, or a winter day where I am wishing it was summer.
You are on a blood orange kick this week! I had no idea there was a blood orange liqueur! Go figure!!! This drink looks fabulous and just what I need for this weekend! Hope yours is fabulous!
It’s 8am and I’m ready for this cocktail! I’m pretty sure it’s the prettiest drink EVER. Beautiful photos 🙂 Have a great weekend, Cheyanne! Pinned!
Awwwww, this drink looks so so adorable that I can have it everyday! You know what you are doing! One of the prettiest drinks I have ever seen —so gorgeous! Cheers to the weekend!
Oh my, this looks like the perfect way to finish off my Friday! Cheers, lovely lady! Hope you have a fantastic weekend!
This Sangria looks so amazing and SO refreshing! Makes me so excited for summer!
Beautiful cocktail, I need to get this liqueur! Gorgeous photos, too! And the Super Bowl recipe roundup is awesome, love it!
You so fancy Chey! This is the type of drink that I can feel good about drinking because it’s filled with a bunch of antioxidants with all that fruit. It’s like a health drink! I could probably have this for breakfast tomorrow morning and even skip taking my multi-vitamin. Yeah!
You are gonna make a drinker of me, Cheyanne! This is gorgeous! I mean – I was mesmerized looking at your photos – stunning – this here glass of gorgeousness makes me do a double take and stare at it like I would do if Ian Somerhalder walked into a room!
Sangria is my drink of choice (well, other than wine!). This is such a fun fun flavor! And so festive with the champagne! I need a pitcher of this after the day I’ve had!! hahaha Okay fine, I’d settle for a big glass 🙂
You make the most beautiful drinks! The pictures are gorgeous!!
This sangria is gorgeous, girl! I am totally swooning over the pretty color and flavors — and the blood orange liqueur sounds amazing!!
That liqueur sounds amazing!! I am definitely going to try and scout that out here, hopefully it’s sold here!! Mmm love all the flavours, colours, and fruit in this sangria. I think I like winter sangria even better than summer sangria!
Oh my goodness Cheyanne, that is one sexy sangria! Love the blood orange flavor and all the fruit! Also I am totally intrigued by this lense now, I want to know more about it!
I love a good cocktail and this one looks delicious and refreshing. Love the fruity combo of orange, pomegranate and strawberry! Really pretty photos, Cheyanne! Wishing you guys a happy V day!!
Is it bad that it’s only 11AM and I’m DYING for this cocktail?? I love sangria and all the fruit in here, and the addition of champagne and that blood orange liqueur makes this extra amazing! Gorgeous photos, Cheyanne!
Yummmm! Nothing like a delicious sangria to get the party started! I love this recipe – and who knew blood orange liqueur existed? I need to find me some of that! And how pretty is this drink? I don’t know if I want to look at it or drink it? Gorgeous photos, my friend! Saluté! xo
I would visit my friends in California! Nettie
I need this right now, it looks so refreshing! Everytime I hear the word sangria I have to think about our vacation in Tenerife where we paid about 20 dollars for 2 glasses bad sangria…. 🙁 Yours looks like a billion times better!
Oh this is SO flipping pretty, Cheyanne! I love the color and the bubbles and how the heck did I not know about blood orange liqueur! This is a tragedy. I need to take myself to the store ASAP!
I hear ya! I feel like all the attention is on the Super Bowl, but on my blog (and yours too!) it’s nice to have some things devoted to Valentine’s Day. Cheers to this stunning drink! I can’t get enough of those strawberries — absolute perfection dear! XOXO <3
Yay to V-day Blog Post Twinning! Thanks so much for the sweet comment, Lauren! Cheers, sweets! XO
Beautiful pictures — I would love a nice glass (or two) of this right now! (Is it too early?!) It sounds so fruity and refreshing — pitchers of sangria win every time! Especially when there’s a little bubbly involved.
Never too early for a little bubbly, Michelle! Thanks so much for the comment, girlie! Cheers! 🙂
Whoa! That lens is pricey!!!! I’m going to get over my sticker shock with this champagne sangria! Who knew that there is such a thing as blood orange liquor? You find the most interesting and delicious varieties of booze to make yummy cocktails! We’re totally gearing up for the big game over here with the rest of the peeps in Charlotte! #KeepPounding #PanthersNation 🙂
I know! The price is the only thing holding me back, Rachelle.. I’m hoping a couple grand will fall off a tree in my back yard. Blood orange liqueur is SO delish! You MUST try it! Excited for the game!! GO PANTHERS! Cheers doll and thanks for the comment love!
girl, sangria is the way to my heart. . I love this! and I would totally buy a new lens with that $1,000. . that could get me ONE rad lens right?! dang, soooo expensive!
Your heart and my heart work alike, Alice! 😉 Glad to hear I’m not the only one who would buy a lens! Pricey but SO worth it… I think? Lol. Cheers, my dear!
definitely a great investment for our line of work I think for sure!
This sangria looks amazing and your pictures are beautiful!!
Thank you so much, Brita! Cheers!
I need this bubbly fruity glass of refreshing in my life, oh, right about now! No? Too early in the day? OK, fine. But I am super excited to get this gorgeous drink in my hand as soon as it’s appropriate 🙂 Pinned! Cheers to a wonderful weekend girl!
5 O’clock somewhere, Kathryn! 😉 Thanks so much for the sweet comment and pin, my dear! Cheers!! <3
Cheyanne, this drink is SO pretty! Is it bad that I want this for breakfast? I love the blood oranges and pomegranates in here. Sounds so refreshing! And just what I need for these cold winter days, too. Love it! Pinned, of course!
Nahhh, it’s not bad you want this for breakfast… I mean on a Sunday it would be perfectly acceptable! So why not Thursday? 😉 Thanks so much for the comment and pin, friend!! Cheers!
OMG Cheyanne, I must be living under a rock, because I’ve never seen blood orange liqueur! What I’ve been missing! I’ll need to make up time and whip up this crazy delicious looking cocktail asap to catch up! That lens looks awesome! Hope you enjoy your weekend! Go Panthers!
Lol, I don’t think you are living under a rock, Mary Ann! I discovered that liqueur last year and I have been adding it to ALL the things! It was a little pricey, but totally worth it! Thanks so much for the comment love! And YES GO PANTHERS!!
Wow, wow and wow. You had me at sangria, girl! Gorgeous photos and wish I had this drink in hand. Amazing combination with pomegranate, blood orange and strawberry. Wish we could sit on the patio and enjoy one together. Would have to be your patio though, ours is covered in ice. Then again, maybe yours is too. But I think you’ve gotten more snow already than we have this year. Cheers, my dear! Clink clink. XO
Thanks so much, Allie! The weather here has been beautiful, well up until the monsoon last night. 😉 So come on over! We got snow just for that storm and haven’t had any since. Sad. Guess I’ll just have to keep drinking this sangria! 😉 Cheers, doll! xoxo