Holiday Sangria Recipe (White Christmas Sangria with Vodka)

This white wine holiday sangria recipe is so delicious and easy to make. It's so fun and festive for the holiday season and is the perfect big-batch cocktail to make for all the festivities. 

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You'll love this holiday sangria recipe.

It's easy to make. If you are looking for an easy Christmas sangria recipe, this is just what you need. It is perfect for all the holiday parties. 

It's delicious. Not only is it easy, it's so delicious! You can use your favorite white wine and it'll be the star of any holiday party.

It's festive. I mean, white Christmas sangria, plus the fresh cranberries, and slices of fresh citrus, the colors and the taste are so festive. 

What is sangria?

Sangria originated in Spain and it's a wine-based mixed drink. Depending on what region the sangria is from, depends on what would be in a traditional recipe. The type of sangria determines the overall color. If you are making a red wine sangria, it'll be red. If. you are making a white wine sangria, it'll be white. Various recipes may include some of the following ingredients.

• Flavored liqueurs like peach liqueur or apple brandy. 
• Fresh fruit like green apple, citrus fruit, strawberries, and more. 
• Sweeteners like sugar or honey.
• Fruit juice, like orange juice. 

You might also like: Bourbon Cranberry Cocktail

Ingredients

White Wine. I prefer more dry whites, so you'll see me making this with a bottle of pinot grigio. I find it to be the least sweet while also pairing so nicely with the triple sec, grapefruit, and orange juice. 

Vodka. I opt for a plain vodka, rather than playing with more flavors. I like to let the seasonal fruit flavors shine along with the wine. 

Triple Sec. This is an orange liqueur, or you can use Grand Marnier if you have it at your home bar. If you don't have triple sec or Grand Marnier, I recommend picking up a bottle t make a handful of delicious holiday drinks like margaritas or cosmos. 

Grapefruit Juice. I love taking advantage of citrus fruit being in season this time of year. You only need 8 oz. of fresh grapefruit juice, so if you have the time, I highly recommend fresh squeezing some grapefruits to make for a very good sangria. 

Orange Juice. The orange juice adds to the fresh citrus flavor the grapefruit juice brings, but pairs nicely with the sourness of the grapefruit juice. Similar to grapefruit juice, this recipe only calls for 8 oz. of orange juice, so I recommend fresh squeezing your orange juice, too.

Sparkling Water. I think that the wine mixed with the fresh juices makes for a fairly sweet drink. So, in an effort to cut down the sweetness, while also adding some bubbly, I like adding sparkling water, club soda, or diet ginger ale to top off this easy holiday sangria recipe. 

Best white wine for sangria

When making white wine sangria recipes, you want to be sure to pick the best wine! There are a few things to take into consideration when choosing wine: your personal preferences and the other ingredients in the sangria recipe. Here are some good white wine options for this holiday sangria recipe.

• Pinot Grigio
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Chardonnay

How to make this holiday sangria recipe 

This holiday cocktail recipe is the perfect drink to have pre-made before your guests arrive so you can pour them a fun and festive welcome drink. 

1. In a large glass pitcher, add in your bottle of white wine, vodka, triple sec, grapefruit juice, and orange juice. 
2. Add in orange slices, green apple slices and fresh cranberries. 
3. Cover and store in the fridge for a minimum of 2 hours. 
4. Once you're ready to serve, pour over ice and top with sparkling water. 

Can you make this holiday sangria recipe with red wine?

You absolutely can make this into a red sangria recipe! I recommend using a bottle of red wine with low tannins like a pinot noir or Merlot. I also recommend not adding in grapefruit juice, but rather adding in 12 oz. of orange juice. Other than that, you can make this fun festive drink with your favorite red wine! 

Tips for making the best holiday sangria recipe

• Don't forget the bubbly. From soda water to prosecco, don't underestimate the difference topping this holiday sangria recipe makes! 
• Allow for time for the sangria to sit. The flavors of the wine, juices, and liquor have to sit and marinate together. It truly makes a huge difference! 
• Don't be shy with the fruit. I love adding in-season, different fruits to sangria recipes. It's not only a great way to add color but it's a great way to take advantage of in-season produce.
• Use your favorite wines. If you wouldn't drink the bottle of wine by itself, don't use it in this sangria recipe. 

FAQs

How much in advance should you make sangria?

You can make sangria up to 48 hours before serving it! If you can make it and then serve it the next day, that would be ideal.

Is brandy or vodka better in sangria?

Depends on what wine you use! For red wine sangria, I like brandy. For white wine sangria recipes, I like vodka. 

What is the best fruit to put in sangria?

Citrus fruits, pomegranate seeds, red apples, green apples, citrus fruits or strawberries are some of my favorites. 

Amazon home bar finds

You'll absolutely want a large pitcher or punch bowl to serve this in! 

Also, what's more fun than festive glasses to serve holiday cocktails in? 

Pin it for later!

Want more festive cocktail recipes?

• Holiday Cocktails with Skrewball
• 10 Christmas Cocktails with Gin
• Mistletoe Margarita on the Rocks
• 15 Peppermint Schnapps Drinks