This refreshing Strawberry Sangria Recipe is a crowd-winner-over. With fresh fruit, white wine and a sweet yet tart kick, this is one of my favorite sangria recipes to sip during the spring and summer!
Who doesn’t love a good sangria? One of the things I look forward to most about summer is a delicious sangria recipe like our Blackberry Sangria, Moscato Sangria, and Cranberry Christmas Punch. Today, I am adding this easy strawberry sangria recipe as possibly my personal favorite to celebrate a festive occasion. You can serve this sweet and fruity cocktail at casual summer parties or even a simple brunch with your girlfriends.
While sangria is known as the perfect summer drink, peak strawberry season is generally considered April through June, so that is the best time for great tasting strawberry sangria.
Strawberries and limes go together so perfectly with their mix of sweet and mild sour flavors. However, you could use other fruits such as peaches, lemons, or mangos if you want to try something different.
What you will need
I love how simple this is, but I have included a few notes for anyone who has questions about the ingredients.
Limes and Lime Juice – You need about ¼ cup of lime juice plus limes for garnish. You can use lime juice, Rose’s lime juice (has some added sugar), or fresh limes (if they are RIPE) to make the juice. Additionally, you can also use lemons and lemon juice to make Strawberry Lemonade Sangria!
Soda – I use ginger ale. You can also use sprite or sparkling soda for less sugar. Diet or sugar-free sodas are options as well.
Wine – I have a rule: If you like the wine, you will like the sangria. Pino grigio, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, or Riesling are excellent choices.
How To Make Strawberry Sangria
For this recipe, start by making a delicious strawberry syrup. Toss the entire 2lbs of fresh sliced strawberries with â…” cup of sugar to coat. I muddle the strawberries a bit – crush them a little with the back of a spoon. You aren’t trying to break up the strawberries, just expose more surface to the sugar. As the strawberries sit, the sugar causes them to release their juices. Strain the juice through a cheesecloth or mesh strainer to remove any pulp.
Don’t toss the leftover strawberries though! Reserve half (or more) of the larger slices to put into the pitcher itself. Gently rinse and drain any pulp or small pieces away before adding to a large pitcher.
For the sangria itself, it’s as easy as pouring your favorite wine, fruit juices along with some lime slices and soda to create the perfect drink.
Tips for Making Sangria
- The leftover sugared strawberries can be used for a delicious strawberry topping for pancakes, angel cake, punch bowl cake or in smoothies.
- Pino grigio, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, or Riesling are excellent choices for the wine.
- Buy a wine you like, but don’t waste an expensive bottle on Sangria. An everyday grade of wine (around $7-10) is perfect.
- You will need 1.5 liters of wine, or 2- 750ml bottles.
- I chill all of my ingredients before starting the recipe, just to get a jump on keeping the cocktails cold for serving.
- This recipe easily doubles! I would probably keep the amount of strawberry syrup the same or add more slices to the glass pitcher. Double the other ingredients.
- I like to add the Ginger Ale just before serving. It doesn’t affect the taste, but I really like the bubbles.
- Can be served immediately, but it is better to let the flavors mellow and mix for 1-2 hours in the refrigerator. Then add the Ginger ale.
Want More Cocktail Ideas? Check out these Recipes:
- Winter Vodka Punch
- Pumpkin Spice White Russian
- Caramel Apple Sangria
- Blackberry Sangria
- Blueberry Margaritas
- Royal Apple Cocktail
Frequently asked questions:
There are a few ways to adjust the sweetness to your personal preference. Firstly, the wine you choose will change how sweet or dry the sangria will turn out. If you prefer a sweet tasting sangria, then Moscato, Riesling, or White Zinfandel are a few options. If you prefer a lighter, less sweet flavor, then Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, or a Chardonnay are some good choices.
You can also reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe or substitute soda water for the Ginger Ale.
This sangria is such a beautiful cocktail. Fancy it up even more with slices of lime cut into wheels, whole or sliced strawberries, or go wild and do both!
I don’t recommend letting it sit overnight with the fruit in it. While the flavor will still be delicious, the strawberries may start to break down and the limes will not be as vibrant in color. Without fruit, the sangria will last about 3-4 days.
Pino grigio, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, or Riesling are good choices for sangria. Buy a wine you like, but don’t waste an expensive bottle on Sangria. An every day grade of wine (around $7-10) is perfect.
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More Delicious Cocktails to Try!
Strawberry Sangria
Ingredients
- 2 lbs strawberries
- ¼ cup lime juice
- â…” cups sugar
- 1 cup lemon lime soda sprite, ginger ale or sparkling water
- 1.5 liters white wine pino grigio, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, or reisling are good choices.
- 3 limes for garnish
Instructions
- Hull and slice the strawberries. In a large bowl, toss all strawberries in â…” cup sugar to coat. With the back of a spoon, gently press the strawberries to help release some of the juices. You aren't trying to break the strawberries up, just rub the sugar into them a bit. Allow to sit for at least 30 minutes at room temperature.
- With cheesecloth or a mesh strainer, strain the juice from the strawberries to remove any pulp. You should have about 1 cup of syrup. A little less won't make a huge difference though. Reserve strawberries.
- In a pitcher, pour the wine, lime juice, and strawberry syrup to the pitcher and stir.
- In a colander, gently rinse half of the reserved strawberries to remove any small bits of pulp and excess sugar. Drain well and to the pitcher.
- Can be served immediately, but it is better to let the flavors mellow and mix for 1-2 hours in the refrigerator.
- Just before serving, add soda (or sparkling water if you prefer less sugar). Slice 2 limes into circles and add to pitcher. The rest of the limes can be used for garnishing glasses.
Notes
- I ensure to chill all of my ingredients before starting the recipe, just to get a jump on keeping the cocktails cold for serving.
- This is a sweet sangria, but if you prefer less sugar, use sparkling water instead of sprite or ginger ale.
- This recipe easily doubles! I would probably keep the amount of strawberry syrup the same or add more slices to the pitcher. Double all the other ingredients.
- I like to add the soda just before serving rather than during making. It doesn’t affect the taste, but I really like the bubbles.
Anne says
Made this for a party and it was delish!
Roxanne says
I will absolutely be making this sangria this summer, it looks perfect!!