Christmas White Wine Sangria

Christmas White Wine Sangria

White wine and apple juice make a pale golden base for apple chunks, whole cranberries, lime, and rosemary. A few hours in the refrigerator chills the sangria and lets the fruit infuse it without losing its shape. The drink is still, not sparkling, and its sweetness can be adjusted after chilling to suit the wine and juice you use.

Serve it in clear tumblers so the fruit shows through. Add ice to each glass just before pouring rather than to the pitcher, where it would melt and dilute the batch.

Ingredients for Christmas White Wine Sangria

• 1 bottle (750 ml) dry or off-dry white wine, chilled
• 1 cup (240 ml) apple juice
• 2 medium apples (about 300 g), cut into bite-size chunks
• 1 cup (about 100 g) fresh or thawed whole cranberries
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• 6 small fresh rosemary sprigs, plus 6 sprigs for garnish
• 3 to 4 cups large ice cubes, for serving
• Optional: 1 to 2 tablespoons granulated sugar or honey, or to taste

How to Make Christmas White Wine Sangria

1. Prepare the fruit: Cut the apples into bite-size chunks and the lime into wedges. Leave the cranberries whole.
2. Mix the sangria: Pour the wine and apple juice into a large pitcher with room to stir. Add the apples, cranberries, lime wedges, and 6 small rosemary sprigs. Stir gently to distribute the fruit without crushing it.
3. Chill: Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight. Keep the serving ice out of the pitcher.
4. Taste and adjust: Taste after the initial chill and again before serving if the sangria has been refrigerated overnight. Remove the infused rosemary if its aroma is strong. If the drink needs more sweetness, stir in a little sugar or honey and taste again.
5. Serve: Gently stir to redistribute the fruit. Fill 6 clear tumblers with ice, then pour in the sangria and fruit. Give each glass apple pieces, whole cranberries, a lime wedge, and an upright fresh rosemary sprig.

How Long to Chill the Sangria

Two hours gives the drink time to get cold and the fruit time to lightly infuse the wine. Overnight works well for making it ahead, but avoid leaving the cut fruit in the pitcher substantially longer; it can soften and lose its shape.

Christmas Sangria Variations

Bubbly Christmas Sangria

For a fizzy version, add one chilled mixer—ginger ale, sparkling apple juice, or sparkling wine—to individual glasses just before serving. Keep it out of the pitcher while the sangria chills so it retains its fizz.

Nonalcoholic Apple Cider Sangria

Replace the white wine with apple cider and keep the fruit, lime, and rosemary. If serving both versions, label the pitchers clearly.

How to Store Leftover Sangria

Cover and refrigerate leftovers, keeping any serving ice separate. Use the remaining sangria promptly: the fruit can soften as it sits, and there is no reliable fixed storage time for this fruit-filled pitcher. Do not freeze the finished sangria.

Nutrition

Approximate nutrition per drink, based on 6 servings and excluding optional sweetener and serving ice: 160 calories, 1 g protein, 0 g fat, and 18 g carbohydrates. Per 100 g: approximately 65 calories, 0 g protein, 0 g fat, and 7 g carbohydrates. Values vary with the wine and juice used.