This is the sangria recipe that your friends and family will be asking you for after every cook out! Strawberry Sangria is pleasantly sweet and floral with an impressive amount of strawberry flavor balanced with dry sparkling wine.
The fresh strawberry flavor is the first thing you’ll notice and the elderflower adds the perfect amount of floral notes without being in your face about it. It’s also just the right amount of sweet too.
I’ve made this sangria recipe several times already after testing it for you guys and its just as delicious every. single. time.
Personal opinion but you might be with me on this…a too-sweet sangria is the worst. This particular strawberry wine concoction will definitely leave you wanting another glass.
Same goes for this strawberry rhubarb sangria or this grapefruit and rose inspired sangria. Both with all the classic sangria components (wine, liquor, fruit juice) but a just right balance of sweet and refreshing.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INGREDIENTS & SUBSTITUTIONS
Strawberry Simple Syrup: The star ingredient here is the fresh strawberry syrup. This is the part you don’t want to skip or substitute with a pre-made syrup.
You can use fresh or frozen strawberries to make the simple syrup and it can be made in advance.
Wine: use whichever style of wine makes your mouth happy! My personal recommendation is a sparkling rosé or sparkling white. If bubbles aren’t your thing, any rosé or a drier white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio will do the job. You can also use red wine too if that’s your preference.
Liquor: The elderflower liquor is a unique ingredient and is a little sweet and a little floral without tasting like you’re chewing a bouquet of flowers. If the idea of anything floral does not work for you, substitute with plain simple syrup, peach liquor, triple sec, or any other low alcohol flavored liquor you like.
HOW TO MAKE STRAWBERRY SANGRIA
The only time-consuming part of this recipe is the fresh strawberry syrup, which takes less than 10 minutes to make.
The syrup recipe will make enough for TWO batches of sangria.
Optional: you can let the syrup cool for about 5 minutes if you don’t want the ingredients to absorb the heat, but if you’re planning on serving the drink over ice, it doesn’t make a huge difference.
FAQS & TIPS
I’d recommend using fresh sliced strawberries, lemon slices, or even edible flowers for this particular recipe! Traditionally, sangria is served with lemons, limes, and orange slices but you can adapt your garnish depending on the flavors of the recipe you are using.
Traditional red sangria: a medium-bodied, medium tannin red wine works best. Something like malbec, grenache, rioja, (red) zinfandel, temprenillo are all great.
White sangria: any medium-bodied white wine should do the trick. Sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, verddicchio, or even an un-oaked chardonnay (though fuller bodied) will work.
Pretty much any rosé is great for a white sangria recipe as well.
Most traditional red sangria is made with wine, brandy, and orange juice, but the recipe has been reinvented with so many different ingredients you really can make it with whatever you have on hand using wine, liquor, and fruit juice.
You can definitely freeze sangria and serve it as a slushie! Because the alcohol percentage is lower than grain spirit - like vodka - it will partially freeze.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH IT
If you're looking to pair the sangria with the food your serving, keep it light and crisp! Foods that are flavorful but won't compete.
Honey fig and goat cheese flatbread, puff pastry baked brie, or peach burrata salad with prosciutto!
For a heartier pairing, this chicken milanese is crispy, flavorful but still light and served over lemony arugula.
Or to truly double down on the strawberry celebration, serve your strawberry sangria with strawberry salsa as appetitizer or rich, velvety strawberry cheesecake for a dessert and wine pairing!
Be sure to let me know how you enjoyed and served yours! If you love this recipe please leave a rating in the recipe card below. Thank you as always for your support!
Strawberry Sangria
Ingredients
- 750ml bottle sparkling rosé wine or prosecco
- ¼ cup elderflower liquor
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ½ cup strawberry syrup
Strawberry Simple Syrup
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 cup sliced strawberries
Instructions
- In a saucepan, combine the ½ cup water, ½ cup sugar, and 1 cup sliced strawberries. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 5 minutes. Strain into a storage container.
- In a serving pitcher, combine the strawberry simple syrup, sparkling rosé, elderflower liquor, and lemon juice. Give it a light stir to mix together.
- Serve over crushed ice with slices of fresh strawberry or dried edible flowers.
Notes
- The strawberry simple syrup will yield enough for two batches of sangria
- Serving size is estimated using cocktail glasses filled with ice. If serving without ice, double the recipe to yield enough for 6 to 8 people.
- You can make this recipe using any style of wine and it will still be just as delicious, so if you don't love rosé or sparkling wine, feel free to substitute your favorite.
Leave a Reply