This Sparkling Winter Sangria is the perfect party drink!
It’s a little sweet, a little tart, and packed with fresh fruit like apples, oranges and pomegranate.
Plus it’s so easy and takes just a few minutes to make!
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Sparkling Winter Sangria
When you think of a winter drink or cocktail, you might think of warm drinks like hot toddies.
So it might sound odd to have a chilled drink like sangria when it’s cold outside, but there’s something about the combination of red wine, orange liqueur and fresh fruit that is irresistible.
This version also includes pomegranate juice to add to the tart/sweet flavor.
And then you top it off with Prosecco (or champagne) for that extra bubbly, festive touch!
What you need for Sparkling Winter Sangria
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of red wine, such as Zinfandel
- 1 cup of 100% pure pomegranate juice
- 3/4 cup orange liqueur, such as Triple Sec or Cointreau
- 1 bottle Prosecco
- 1 red or green apple
- 1 orange
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds (also called arils), plus more for garnishing each drink
Equipment:
How to make Sparkling Winter Sangria
Core and dice the apple and add to a large pitcher.
Slice off the top and bottom of the orange. Then place the orange cut-side down on the cutting board and use your knife to cut down the side of the orange to remove the peel down to the flesh. Then cut the orange into quarters lengthwise and chop the quarters crosswise into bite-sized chunks. Add to the pitcher.
Add the cinnamon sticks and pomegranate seeds to the pitcher.
Add the orange liqueur, then the pomegranate juice, then the red wine and stir.
Chill in the fridge for at least one hour or up to one day.
Add ice to glasses and fill about 2/3 of the way with the sangria. If necessary, use a slotted spoon to scoop some fruit into the glasses (the pomegranate seeds will sink to the bottom of the pitcher over time). Then top off each glass with Prosecco and add a few more pomegranate seeds on top, if desired.
Substitutions and variations
- Classic red sangria often uses brandy. I’m not a fan of brown liquor, but if you are, you could add 1/2 cup when you add the other liquids.
- You can use cranberry juice instead of pomegranate juice. Feel free to add fresh cranberries to the sangria as well (in addition to or instead of the pomegranate seeds).
- Different kinds of oranges and citrus would also work, like mandarins, satsumas or tangerines.
- You can use a pear instead of the apple.
- You can omit the cinnamon sticks if you don’t have them.
Other recipes you might like:
- Pomegranate Old Fashioned
- Mulled Apple Cider
- Pumpkin Cider Margarita
- Carrot Bloody Mary
- Negroni Sbagliato
Sparkling Winter Sangria
Ingredients
- 1 red or green apple
- 1 orange
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- ½ cup pomegranate seeds (also called arils), plus more garnish, if desired
- ¾ cup orange liqueur, such as Triple Sec or Cointreau
- 1 cup 100% pure pomegranate juice
- 1 bottle red wine, such as Zinfandel
- 1 bottle Prosecco
Instructions
- Core and dice the apple. Add to a large pitcher.
- Slice off the top and bottom of the orange. Then place the orange cut-side down on the cutting board and use your knife to cut down the side or orange to remove the peel down to the flesh. Then cut the orange into quarters lengthwise and chop the quarters crosswise into bite-sized chunks. Add to the pitcher.
- Add the cinnamon sticks and pomegranate seeds to the pitcher.
- Add the orange liqueur, then the pomegranate juice, then the red wine and stir. Chill in the fridge for at least one hour or up to one day.
- Add ice to glasses and fill about 2/3 of the way with the sangria. If necessary, use a slotted spoon to scoop some fruit into the glasses (the pomegranate seeds will sink to the bottom of the pitcher over time). Then top off each glass with Prosecco and add a few more pomegranate seeds on top, if desired.
Notes
- Classic red sangria often uses brandy. I'm not a fan of brown liquor, but if you are, you could add 1/2 cup when you add the other liquids.
- You can use cranberry juice instead of pomegranate juice. Feel free to add fresh cranberries to the sangria as well (in addition to or instead of the pomegranate seeds).
- Different kinds of oranges and citrus would also work, like mandarins, satsumas or tangerines.
- You can use a pear instead of the apple.
- You can omit the cinnamon sticks if you don't have them.
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