Simple White Wine Sangria

By
Stacy Slinkard
Stacy Slinkard
Freelance writer and wine expert, author of ""Idiots Guides: Wine""; as well as several magazine and online articles.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 08/23/21
Tested by
Tom Macy
Photo of Tom Macy
Tested by Tom Macy
Tom wears many cocktail hats. He is a professional bartender, bar owner, recipe creator, and drink writer, though he prefers the title "obsessive cocktail nerd."
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Simple White Wine Sangria

The Spruce / Laura Scherb
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 5 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Yield: 1 pitcher
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
288 Calories
1g Fat
59g Carbs
3g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 288
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 10mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 59g 21%
Dietary Fiber 8g 27%
Total Sugars 40g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 168mg 841%
Calcium 118mg 9%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 614mg 13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

White wine sangria is light, refreshing, and an ideal drink for a hot summer day, yet this fabulous cocktail requires only a few, easy-to-find ingredients. Although there is no one recipe for sangria—there are many amazing variations—in short, you need wine, some fruit, a bubbly component such as lemon soda, club soda, or sometimes cava or prosecco, and an optional liqueur. But all is fair in the sangria game, so any additions or substitutions you can think of can also yield a flavorful beverage.

Strongly associated with Spain, sangria dates back to Roman times when drinking wine with herbs and fruits was considered safer than consuming water. Nowadays, sangria has captured the whole world's imagination, not the least because it has so many versions and additional ingredients. Nonetheless, our very simple recipe makes a wonderful no-hassle drink that is most welcome with savory and spicy appetizers—think shrimp, small tapas, patatas bravas, cheeseboards, or meatballs.

Sangrias are easy to make and even easier to drink, and each offers a unique taste adventure. White wine lovers enjoy the fresh citrus, apple, and other fruit flavors that are highlighted by the wine's zippy acidity. If you want to give this a quick tropical spin, add mango, pineapple, and kiwi into the mix, or go all berries for a pinkish hue. Choose a white wine like sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio and always use a wine you'd drink by the glass. Although fruit will mask the flavor, use a good bottle—no need to splurge—but avoid cheap wines as their bad flavors do come through and spoil the sangria experience.

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Click Play to See This White Sangria Recipe Come Together

"Sangria is one of the great crowd-pleasing drinks. Most people find it delicious, and it's made in quantities to serve a crowd. There are many ways to customize it. The easiest is to use different fruits. Apples and peaches are wonderful additions. Orange liqueur is also a traditional ingredient in sangria instead of orange juice." —Tom Macy

Simple White Wine Sangria Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 3 medium oranges, cut into wedges, or 1 cup orange juice

  • 1 lemon (2 3/8 inch diameter), cut into wedges

  • 1 lime, cut into wedges

  • 1 (750 milliliter) bottle white wine, chilled

  • 2 ounces brandy, optional

  • 2/3 cup white sugar

  • 2 cups club soda, or ginger ale

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Simple white wine sangria ingredients

    The Spruce / Laura Scherb

  2. Squeeze the juice from the citrus wedges into the pitcher. If possible, remove the seeds and toss in the wedges. If you're using orange juice instead, add it to the pitcher.

    Citrus squeezed into a pitcher

    The Spruce / Laura Scherb

  3. Pour the white wine into the pitcher with the fruit.

    White wine added to the citrus in the pitcher

    The Spruce / Laura Scherb

  4. If using, add the brandy and the sugar. Stir very well to ensure that all of the sugar is dissolved.

    Sugar poured into pitcher with wine and citrus

    The Spruce / Laura Scherb

  5. If not serving right away, place it in the fridge. Add the ginger ale or club soda just before serving so the sangria retains its sparkle. Serve cold and enjoy.

    Simple white wine sangria in a pitcher

    The Spruce / Laura Scherb

Quick Sangria and Marinated Sangria

  • If you need a sangria ASAP, and your wine is not chilled, prepare the sangria but serve it over lots of ice.
  • However, if you have the time, we recommend preparing the sangria—minus any bubbly elements—the night before to allow the flavors to meld. This makes an even tastier drink.

Make Your Own Favorite Sangria

Sangrias are very forgiving. To find a recipe that suits your palate best:

  • Choose a wine: Use a good quality sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, riesling, albariño, gewürztraminer, viognier, or pinot gris.
  • Pick the fruits: The citrus fruits included in the recipe are essential to creating a basic sangria. But add to the flavor with any other types of fruits. In total, you should need only 1 or 2 cups of additional fruit. Two small mangoes, one small apple, one small papaya, or one small pineapple should give you plenty of fruit to work with. A small container each of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries are enough for a berry version.
  • Adjust the sweetness: For a drier sangria, add less sugar and/or use more club soda. For a sweeter sangria, add the sugar as instructed and use ginger ale or lemon-lime soda instead.
  • Add some booze: Many sangria recipes include a small amount of liquor along with the wine. We recommend brandy, a flavorful fortified wine that's a classic ingredient in sangria, but other versions use orange liqueur, like Grand Marnier or Cointreau, or elderflower liqueur.

How Strong Is Sangria?

Sangria is a relatively low-alcohol drink, making it nice for daytime gatherings and summer parties. Even with the brandy included, sangria tends to weigh in at between 5 to 10 percent ABV—lighter than a glass of wine.