Blood Orange Cranberry Wine Sangria
Wine because chaos, am I right? This Blood Orange Cranberry Sangria is one of my favorite drinks for holiday gatherings. It combines Riesling, Prosecco, cranberry juice, fresh oranges, and cranberries for a fruity, festive cocktail.
The best part? You can prepare the sangria ahead of time, then add the Prosecco just before serving. It’s an easy pitcher drink for Christmas parties, Thanksgiving dinner, or any winter get-together.
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A Quick Look at the Recipe
- 🍷 Wine: Riesling and Prosecco
- 🍊 Flavor: Sweet, fruity, and citrusy with tart cranberry notes
- ⏰ Prep Time: 10 minutes, plus overnight chilling
- 🥂 Perfect For: Christmas parties, Thanksgiving, and holiday entertaining
- ❄️ Make Ahead: Prepare the base the day before and add Prosecco just before serving
- ⭐ Why You’ll Love It: A festive pitcher cocktail that takes just minutes to put together
Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need a few ingredients to make this blood orange cranberry sangria, and most are easy to find during the holidays.
- Riesling wine: The base of the sangria. I recommend a dry or off-dry Riesling so the finished drink isn’t overly sweet.
- Prosecco: Adds those lovely bubbles. Keep it chilled and add it right before serving.
- Cranberry juice: Brings the cranberry flavor and a little tartness. The sweetness will depend on the juice you choose.
- Orange juice: Freshly squeezed is wonderful, especially if you have extra blood oranges. Bottled orange juice works too.
- Blood oranges: Give the sangria a beautiful color and fresh citrus flavor. Regular oranges will work if you can’t find them.
- Fresh cranberries: Perfect for muddling and adding a festive touch to the pitcher.
- Club soda: Adds a little extra sparkle without making the sangria sweeter.
- Simple syrup: Balances the tartness of the cranberry juice. Start with less if you’re using a sweet Riesling or cranberry juice cocktail.
You’ll find all the measurements in the recipe card below.
How to Make Blood Orange Cranberry Sangria
This sangria is easy to put together, but you’ll want to make it ahead so the fruit has time to flavor the wine.
Step 1: Prepare the fruit. Slice one blood orange and add it to a large pitcher along with the fresh cranberries. Gently muddle the fruit to release some of the juices.
Step 2: Add the wine and juices. Pour in the Riesling, cranberry juice, orange juice, simple syrup, and club soda. Give everything a gentle stir.
Step 3: Chill overnight. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for 24 hours to let the flavors blend.
Step 4: Add the bubbles and serve. Just before serving, gently stir in the chilled Prosecco. Pour into glasses and garnish with the remaining blood orange slices and cranberries.
Tips for the Best Cranberry Sangria
Choose your Riesling carefully. Riesling ranges from dry to very sweet. Since this recipe also contains fruit juice and simple syrup, a dry or off-dry Riesling is a good choice.
Adjust the sweetness before chilling. Taste the sangria base before adding all the simple syrup. If your wine or cranberry juice is already sweet, you may not need the full amount.
Save the Prosecco for serving. Adding it just before pouring helps keep the sangria bubbly.
Don’t skip the chilling time. The fruit needs time to flavor the wine. Preparing the sangria the day before makes it especially convenient for entertaining.
Keep the garnishes simple. A few blood orange slices and cranberries are all you need to make this drink look festive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make cranberry sangria ahead of time?
Yes! This recipe is designed to chill for 24 hours before serving. Prepare the sangria base the day before your gathering and keep it covered in the refrigerator. Add the chilled Prosecco just before serving.
What if I can’t find blood oranges?
You can use regular navel oranges instead. The drink won’t have quite the same deep citrus color, but it will still have a lovely orange and cranberry flavor.
Do I have to use Riesling?
No. A dry Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc can also work if you prefer a less sweet sangria. Remember that changing the wine will affect the finished flavor.
If you’re planning a holiday party, you might also enjoy my Apple Pie Sangria or browse my other wine cocktail recipes for more easy drinks to share with friends and family.
This recipe card may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Blood Orange Cranberry Wine Sangria
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 bottle 750 ml Riesling wine
- 1 bottle 750 ml Prosecco, chilled
- 1 cup 240 ml cranberry juice
- 1 cup 240 ml orange juice, freshly squeezed or bottled
- 2 blood oranges divided
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- ½ cup 120 ml club soda
- ½ cup 120 ml simple syrup, or to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the orange. Slice one blood orange and add the slices to a large pitcher.
- Add the cranberries. Add the fresh cranberries and gently muddle the fruit to release some of the juices.
- Mix the sangria. Pour in the Riesling, cranberry juice, orange juice, club soda, and simple syrup. Stir gently to combine.
- Chill. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for 24 hours to allow the fruit flavors to blend.
- Add the Prosecco and serve. Just before serving, pour in the chilled Prosecco and stir gently. Serve in glasses garnished with the remaining blood orange slices and cranberries.
Looks very tropical. A bit soft for my taste though 🙂 but surely great for any occasion. You cant go wrong with this drink.
This sounds delicious! I will make it this December month.
Yummmm! I love blood oranges so can’t wait to try this.
Oooh so yummy, refreshing, and fun! Super easy to make too. Thank you for this festive recipe!
Yum I love sangria, pinning to try later..
Wow! This is the perfect drink for the holidays. Blood orange, cranberry and wine? Yes please! Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe!
I may have a little too much fun testing this recipe! I hope you love it!
Your Sangria drink looks very festive. Perfect for the Christmas Hoidays and a New years party. Thanks for sharing