Christmas Sangria Recipe: Refreshing Sangria with White Wine (2024)

FAQs

What is the best white wine to make sangria? ›

When it comes to choosing the white wine for your sangria your best bets are dryer, more acidic, and crisp fresh whites like Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino, or Grenache Blanc. An Albariño, Moscato, or rosé would be nice too. But also, we live by the rule, pour what Paso Robles wine you like!

Traditionally, Sangria is made with Spanish red wine, most often Rioja, which is produced from the Tempranillo grape with smaller amounts of Garnacha (Grenache) and Graciano. Tempranillo is still widely used in Spain, but any medium-bodied red wine is suitable, including Merlot and Zinfandel.

White Sangria: Crisp, Refreshing Matches

Think of pairing it with dishes like grilled calamari, lemon-garlic shrimp, hummus, or a fresh peach and goat cheese salad. The crispness of the white wine enhances the freshness of these dishes, creating a harmonious balance between acidity and sweetness.

Any juicy fruits (such as citrus, berries, grapes, pineapple, mango, kiwi, etc.) would be delicious. Add fresh ginger: If you would like to give your sangria a bit of a kick, muddle in a few slices of fresh ginger.

Some of the most popular sweet white wine types include Riesling, Moscato, Gewürztraminer, ice wine, and late harvest wine. These aromatic white wines can range from light and delicate to bold and full-bodied. Sweet white wines can also be called dessert wines for their super sweet characters.

The best wine for sangria is Garnacha (also called Grenache) or Pinot Noir. Garnacha comes from Spain, so it's my top pick for authentic Spanish sangria! Choose an inexpensive wine (under $20) that you would enjoy on its own.

Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight. The sangria gets softer, sweeter, and much more delicious overnight in the fridge. Top with sparkling water. When ready to serve, top off the sangria with sparkling water.

You can definitely make this sangria ahead of time. In fact, it'll taste best if you let it chill in the fridge for about eight hours to allow the flavors to meld. Just don't add the carbonated water until right before serving so it stays nice and bubbly. Get creative!

Gorgonzola or Roquefort – both pair well with naturally sweet fruits and drinks. Parmesan – with its dry texture and salty, nutty profile, this one is a must. Stilton – this creamy, grassy flavored cheese goes perfectly with sugary flavors.

What fruit is good for sangria? ›

It is recommended to add citrus, stone or tropical fruits for the perfect Sangria. If you prefer softer fruits such as berries, watermelon or melon, then add them just before serving so they don't get too soft and mushy. Don't forget to add a splash of sparkling water or soda for a little bit of extra fizz.

White Sangria and Brie

Here's one of the most fitting pairings on our list: White Sangria with Brie—it's hard to find a better duo! We prepare our White Sangria with chardonnay, whose bright, acid touch plays nicely against Brie, a famously soft, creamy cheese.

Red Wine

Sangria / Main ingredient

Red wine is a type of wine made from dark-colored grape varieties. The color of the wine can range from intense violet, typical of young wines, through to brick red for mature wines and brown for older red wines.

Wikipedia

"The fruit will get mealy and limp, and the sangria will taste bitter," says Martinez. In general, aim for at least 30 minutes but no more than 2 hours, as in this recipe for Blood Orange Sangria.

Adding the wrong fruits

Make sure not to use fleshy fruits like custard apple or banana in your sangria, as these will make your sangria cloudy. Instead, focus on citric fruits like strawberries, cherries, apples and pears that will add zing and texture to your sangria.

For the freshest-tasting drink, just avoid a wine with lots of oak. If you want a light and zingy sangria and are using garnishes like herbs, cucumbers, lemons or limes, choose a bright, high-acid white, like Vinho Verde from Portugal or dry Riesling from Germany.

If you're looking for something slightly sweeter, fruity, and well-rounded, try the Pinot Grigio. If you're looking for something with higher acidity levels and a little drier, but still on the lighter side, go with the Sauvignon Blanc.

Sangria blanca (sangria with white wine) is a more recent innovation. For sangria blanca, American food writer Penelope Casas recommends dry white wines such as a Rueda, Jumilla, or Valdepeñas. Ponche de Sangria is a variation for children, often for birthday parties.