Savor the season with a summer sip to share: Watermelon Sangria. Made with white wine, lemon and ripe watermelon, it’s bright, fruity and ultra quaffable. It’s pitcher-perfect for summer gatherings from holidays to casual weekend get-togethers.
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About this Watermelon Sangria recipe
Sangria is one of the best summertime shareable beverages. There’s classic sangria, made with red wine and fresh fruit, and it is oh-so-delicious. And then there’s every other kind of sangria, made with red wine and fresh fruit too — but also white wine or rosé wine, and just about any fresh fruit. The creativity and variety is what makes sangria so good!.
This sangria recipe hones in on something that’s very summery to me: watermelon! At every summer gathering in my memory, there’s been a platter of sweet, succulent slices of watermelon. Summer just wouldn’t be the same without it.
In case you feel the same way I do about watermelon, here’s a recipe for a boozy watermelon sangria. It only has a few ingredients, but you can dress it up with other fruits if you choose! Blueberries, strawberries, citrus slices and basil would all be great additions to this light and refreshing cocktail.
More summer cocktail recipes: Red, White and Blue Mojito • Michelada • Watermelon Mimosas • Frozen Sangria
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Watermelon is ultra summery and this drink helps you savor every last drop of melony goodness!
- Sangria is shareable and scalable. It’s perfect for big crowds, whether they are casual or a little upscale.
- It’s super simple to make. Sangria is very customizable and easy-peasy to throw together.
Tools & glassware
This simple recipe only requires a few basic tools. You’ll need an extra large pitcher to hold the sangria, and a measuring cup to measure out all of the ingredients.
Make sure you’ve got something to juice the lemon and a knife to slice up the fruit. You will also need a large spoon to stir everything together! That’s it!
favorite pitchers
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Ingredients
These everyday ingredients come together to make this watermelon sangria recipe. Here’s what you need:
👇 For full measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to the printable recipe card. It’s all there waiting for you!
- fresh watermelon: You can buy pre-cut watermelon at the store, but I recommend cutting your own for the best flavor. Here’s a guide to picking the perfect watermelon.
- orange liqueur: Triple sec is just fine for a big batch drink where it helps to enhance the sweet melon flavor.
- lemon: Lemon slices add their zesty zing as the sangria sits. Feel free to throw in lime or orange slices too (instead or in addition).
- fresh mint: Other fresh herbs would be welcome here, like basil or thyme. Mint is a delicious complement to fresh melon though — try it in this melon salad!
- white wine: Choose a dry or semi-dry white wine for your sangria to let the melon shine (and help sweeten the drink).
- club soda: Optional, but bubbles add a little texture and help to stretch the drink a little further. You can also use sparkling wine in sangria if you’d like a boozier twist!
Garnishes
Sangria doesn’t really need extra garnishes, as the fruit in the mix is typically visually appealing enough! Save some extra, fresh herbs to add on top of each drink.
You can also get creative with melon shapes if you want — use a melon baller * for spheres or a cookie cutter to make shapes from watermelon slices, like stars for July 4. Some berry ice cubes could also add some color (and flavor as they melt, too).
melon essentials
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Best white wine for sangria
White wine ranges from sweet to dry (not sweet). Though sangria is typically sweet, it’s better to start with a dry or semi-sweet wine, which lets the fruit and other additions do the work of sweetening.
I like to use Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio, but you could go with a Vinho Verde or Sauvignon Blanc, too — all of these are nice and dry, but not too dry. I don’t recommend Moscato and Riesling, as they are too sweet on their own.
Substitutions & variations
Sangria mocktail: You can try this recipe with a non-alcoholic white wine. White grape juice would work too, but it’s a bit sweeter. Add a little bit of lemon juice if you go this route. For the orange liqueur, use orange juice.
More melon: Swap or add in other melon into this sangria. Cantaloupe and honeydew melon would add pretty colors into the mix. Aim for about 4 cups total of melon pieces.
Fruit fun: In addition to melon, you can customize this recipe with whatever you’d like! Blueberries, strawberries, lime slices and basil would all add pretty color and flavor to this sangria. You could also use them for another flavor of sangria if you want to serve options — try this berry sangria or peach sangria.
Instructions
Making a Watermelon Sangria is easy — here’s what to do!
Place big watermelon pieces (cubes or spheres) in the bottom of a pitcher. Make sure they’re cold — room temperature watermelon makes for mushy sangria! Then add lemon slices, orange liqueur and wine.
Add fresh mint and stir with a wooden spoon. Continue with the recipe if serving immediately. Otherwise, refrigerate until ready to serve.
Before serving, add club soda. Totally optional, but it adds a lightness to the drink and helps to stretch it to serve a few more glasses.
Pour sangria into ice-filled glasses, making sure some of the fruit makes its way into the glass.
Tips & tricks
- Cut the melon ahead of time and stash it in the fridge until you’re ready to make sangria. This prevents mushy sangria.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve to keep the sangria cold. Only add ice and the soda water just before serving.
- Use a dry white wine. You can always sweeten it with a little bit of simple syrup. Lemon-lime soda instead of club soda would work too.
make a big batch
This drink is a great one to serve a crowd for a party. Make the base ahead of time in a pitcher and stash it in the fridge. Add any bubbly ingredients just before serving. Use the +/- buttons in the recipe below to multiply the ingredients.
Food pairings
Watermelon Sangria is delicious with summery dishes, especially when melon is on the menu. This watermelon green salad goes with lunch or dinner. For a party, a fruit charcuterie board with different types of melon is also perfect.
Other summery dishes like berry salad, lemon bars and baked peaches are always welcome, too. Watermelon goes with summer, period!
FAQ
Use cold watermelon when you add it to the sangria, and then keep the sangria cold. Letting the sangria sit for more than a day can also help to break down the watermelon, so it’s best enjoyed freshly-made.
You can! Be sure you wait to add the bubbly ingredients until just before serving, or use it to top up each glass. Don’t make it more than 24 hours ahead, though, or the melon can get mushy. (You can always add it the day of though!)
More watermelon cocktail recipes
- Watermelon Margarita
- Watermelon Lemonade
- Tequila Mockingbird
- Watermelon Mojito
- Mexican Candy Shot
- Watermelon Agua Fresca
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Watermelon Sangria
ingredients
- 4 cups watermelon chunks made with a melon baller *, or 2-inch cubes, chilled or frozen for 30 minutes)
- ½ cup orange liqueur such as Cointreau or triple sec
- 1 large lemon sliced thinly (substitute or add lime or orange)
- 4 to 6 sprigs mint optional
- 750 ml white wine such as moscato or chardonnay, chilled
- 3 cups club soda chilled
instructions
- Place watermelon balls/cubes in the bottom of a pitcher. (Make sure they’re cold — room temperature watermelon makes for mushy sangria.)
- Add lemon slices, orange liqueur and white wine. Stir with a wooden spoon. (If making ahead, refrigerate until just before serving.)
- Pour in the club soda right before serving. Pour sangria into ice-filled glasses. Top off each glass with a few melon balls and a slice of lemon.
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