Sparkling Red, White and Blue Sangria

This Sparkling Red, White and Blue Sangria is super easy to make, full of fresh and delicious flavors, and the perfect drink to celebrate the 4th of July or Memorial Day!

Growing up in my family, a “sparkling” fireworks display on the 4th of July was not something you watched.

Heck, no. Fireworks were what we did. ;)

From the days when I was a toddler and could ooh and ahhh over holding my first sparkler, to the epic days in college when we would light up hundreds of dollars of the craziest behind-the-counter fireworks we could get our hands on (and then once those ran out, naturally, blow up just about anything else we could find), the 4th of July in our family was a participatory celebration of patriotism and pyromania. Everyone got involved. Everyone lit or blew at least one thing up. And everyone always had an epically good time.

In fact, I still remember being completely perplexed the first summer that I had moved to Kansas City and piled in the car with some friends to “go out” for fireworks that evening…and they drove us to a big park to watch them being shot off a mile away into the sky. I couldn’t believe it! I mean, what was the fun in that?!?

Well, as all of my cousins have grown up into their 20s and 30s and have now mostly moved out of state or out of the country, unfortunately our family’s pyro parties now rarely happen. And living in a city where fireworks are outlawed, I have finally learned to appreciate a good rooftop party with good friends watching everything sparkle and boom from afar. But this year, I’m actually going to be back home again on the 4th of July taking care of my mom after her surgery. And it just so happens that I spied a fireworks stand just down the road from them when I was in town last weekend. So I think it only seems reasonable that I blow up light up a little something sparkly. You know, just for old time’s sake, right? Right?? :)

Well, whether you’re the type of person who spends your 4th of July lighting up bottle rockets or kicking it back with a bottle of beer, I have a new recipe today that’s sure to also help make your holiday a little extra sparkling. It’s super easy to make. It’s fresh and sweet and delicious. And I’m pretty sure it’s guaranteed to be the hit of your patriotic party.

Let’s make some red, white and blue sparkling sangria!

Sparkling Sangria Ingredients:

To make this red, white and blue sparkling sangria recipe, you will need:

• White wine: One bottle of any kind of (still, not sparkling) white wine that you love best. I recommend a more dry white wine, so that the sangria is not overly-sweet, but any white wine will do. Also, no need to splurge on an expensive bottle! Sangria here in Spain is typically made with less-expensive or leftover wine. ;)
• Sparkling white wine: We will also add in a bottle of sparkling white wine (such as cava or champagne) just before serving to make the sangria “sparkle.”
• Berries: Strawberries, raspberries and blueberries will serve as our “red and blue”.
• Apples: Then just thinly slice some crisp apples to serve as our “white.” If you have a small star cookie cutter (affiliate link) on hand, you can cut the apple slices into star shapes. Or for an easier option, just add the apple slices straight to the sangria whole.
• Liqueur: Brandy is the liqueur that is most traditionally added to sangria. But you’re welcome to add cognac, orange liqueur (such as Grand Marnier, Cointreau or Triple Sec), white vermouth, or whatever sounds good.
• Ice: For serving.

How To Make Sangria:

To make this easy sangria recipe, simply…

1. Mix together the base ingredients. Stir together white wine, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and orange in a large pitcher.
2. Cover and refrigerate. Pop the pitcher in the refrigerator for anywhere from 1-4 hours, so that the drink can chill and all of those fruity flavors can meld.
3. Stir in the “sparkles.” Once you’re ready to serve the sangria, stir in the sparkling white wine, apples and a handful of ice.
4. Serve! Then pour the sangria over ice, serve and enjoy!

Possible Variations:

Here are a few other options that you’re welcome to try!

• Use different red fruits: In place of (or in addition to) the strawberries and raspberries, feel free to add in watermelon, cherries, plums, red grapes, or pomegranate arils.
• Use different white fruits: In place of (or in addition to) the apples, feel free to add in pears, jicama, pineapple or starfruit.
• Use rosé wine: In keeping with the red, white and blue theme, rosé wine would also work as a base for this sangria.
• Nix the “sparkling”: If you don’t have a bottle of sparkling wine on hand, feel free to just use two bottles of (still) white wine.

More Red, White & Blue Recipes:

Looking for some more recipe inspiration for the 4th of July or Memorial Day? Here are a few of my favorite red, white and blue recipes here on the blog!

• Red, White & Blue Fruit Pizza
• Berry Cream Cheese Pastries
• Red, White & Blueberry Margaritas

Sparkling Red, White and Blue Sangria

5 from 4 votes

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Makes: 8 -12 servings

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This Sparkling Red, White and Blue Sangria recipe is fun, delicious, easy to make, and guaranteed to be the hit of your patriotic party!

Ingredients

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• 1 bottle dry white wine, chilled
• 1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 2 cups fresh blueberries
• 1 cup fresh raspberries
• 1/2 cup brandy or orange liqueur (such as Grand Marnier or Cointreau)
• 1 bottle sparkling white wine, chilled (such as cava or champagne)
• 3-4 Granny Smith apples, cut into star shapes if desired
• ice

Instructions

• ▢
  Stir together white wine, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and orange in a large pitcher.  Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours*, so that the flavors can meld.
• ▢
  Once you’re ready to serve the sangria, stir in the sparkling white wine, apples and a handful of ice.
• ▢
  Serve immediately over ice and enjoy!

Notes

*Recipe Update: The original version of this recipe called for 1 cup of apple juice (or white juice) instead of the brandy.  I prefer the liqueur to give it more of a kick and reduce the sweetness of the sangria.

*Chilling Time: Heads up that the longer the sangria sits, the redder it will likely become.  So if you would like a whiter sangria, I recommend serving it immediately.

Additional Info

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Did you make this?Let me know how it turned out in the comments below!

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