Sparkling sangria is a bright, festive cocktail that combines dry sparkling wine with citrus, fresh fruit and floral liqueurs for a refreshing drink perfect for celebrations. There’s no “regular” wine here — just the sparkling variety! This version blends elderflower and ginger liqueurs with fresh lemon and fruit, then finishes with bubbly prosecco or champagne just before serving.
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About this Sparkling Sangria recipe
Traditional sangria is usually made ahead of time and chilled so the fruit and wine can mingle. But when I dreamed up this Sparkling Sangria, I realized it would need to work a little differently because the wine brings carbonation to the mix. If you refrigerate the finished drink too long, the bubbles will fade and the drink will lose its lively texture.
Instead, this recipe builds a flavorful base first. Lemon juice, elderflower liqueur, ginger liqueur and simple syrup are combined with sliced fruit and rosemary, creating a fragrant mixture that can infuse ahead of time. When you’re ready to serve, chilled sparkling wine is added to bring brightness and effervescence.
The result is a sangria that’s elegant and easy to make. It’s perfect for holidays, dinner parties or seasonal gatherings when you want something refreshing that can be assembled quickly at the last moment.
If you enjoy sparkling wine cocktails, it’s also helpful to understand how different bubbly styles behave in drinks. Our Champagne 101 guide explains the differences between champagne, prosecco and other sparkling wines and how to choose the best bottle for cocktails.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Great for celebrations. Sparkling sangria feels festive enough for New Year’s Eve, holiday parties or special occasions.
- Flexible fruit combinations. Lemon and pear add a bright winter profile, but you can easily adapt the fruit to include options like orange, strawberry, peach or blueberry depending on what’s in season.
- Make-ahead friendly base. The citrus, liqueurs and fruit can infuse ahead of time so the final drink comes together quickly.
- Light and refreshing. The bubbles from prosecco or champagne make this sangria lively, bright and balanced.
Ingredients & essentials
To start, you’ll need a few simple pieces of equipment. A pitcher and a wooden spoon or other stirring device are needed to mix the ingredients.
Then, you’ll need a base of elderflower liqueur, ginger liqueur and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Together they create a fragrant, lightly sweet foundation. Totally optional, simple syrup allows you to adjust the sweetness to your preference. Because sparkling wine varies in dryness, you can taste the mixture and add more syrup if needed.
Lemon slices brighten the drink, while pear adds delicate sweetness and pairs nicely with the earthy aroma of rosemary.
Finally, a chilled bottle of dry sparkling wine finishes the sangria. Prosecco or brut champagne both work well. The key is choosing a dry option so the drink stays balanced instead of leaning too sweet.
If you enjoy fruit-forward wine cocktails, you may also like some of our other sangria recipes, which use different wines and seasonal fruit combinations. I think you’ll love this watermelon sangria and this peach sangria.
Best sparkling wine for sangria
Look for a dry sparkling wine such as brut champagne or prosecco. These styles provide crispness, acidity and lively bubbles that make the drink refreshing.
Avoid sweet sparkling wines, which can make the sangria taste sugary once the liqueurs and fruit are added.
Prosecco is often the easiest option because it is more affordable and widely available. Champagne or other traditional-method sparkling wines will create a slightly more refined flavor but are not required for a great result.
Whatever bottle you choose, make sure it is well chilled before adding it to the pitcher. Cold sparkling wine helps maintain carbonation and keeps the drink tasting light.
Instructions
Now let’s get into the recipe. This sparkling sangria comes together quickly by first making a flavorful fruit and liqueur base, then adding chilled sparkling wine right before serving.
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- First, juice some fresh lemons and pour it into a pitcher.
- Add the elderflower liqueur.
- Next top it with ginger liqueur.
- Add any fruit you are adding. (Only fruit that won’t brown if you aren’t serving it right away.) Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Top with sparkling wine.
- Add any other fruits and garnishes.
- Stir it all together. Be gentle! Taste and add simple syrup if desired.
- Pour into wine glasses or champagne flutes with ice and slices of fruit and herbs.
Tips & tricks
Tips & tricks
- Taste before sweetening. Because sparkling wines vary in flavor, adjust the simple syrup only after tasting the finished drink.
- Try different fruit. You can change the flavor of this sangria by experimenting with different fruit. Try pineapple and lime for a tropical variation or add in apples for a fall variation.
- Slice the fruit thinly. Thin slices make it easier to serve fruit in each glass without overwhelming the drink.
Serving suggestions
This recipe is perfect for festive gatherings and celebrations. Serve a glass of sangria for New Year’s Eve, Christmas parties or winter dinners where a pitcher cocktail makes entertaining easier. You can even make it for spring and summer with fresh berries.
The bright citrus and floral notes pair well with savory or rich appetizers like charcuterie boards, cheese boards, nut mixes or pastries.
It’s also delicious served alongside your favorite dessert, like mini strawberry shortcakes.
FAQ
You can prepare the fruit and liqueur base in advance and let it infuse in the refrigerator. Add the sparkling wine just before serving so the drink keeps its carbonation.
Citrus, pears and apples work especially well with sparkling wine. You can also experiment with berries or stone fruit depending on the season.
While this recipe is intended to be made with alcohol, I recommend you try our virgin sangria for a non-alcoholic option.
More sparkling drink recipes
Sparkling Sangria
ingredients
- 750 ml prosecco or brut champagne, chilled
- ¼ cup lemon juice freshly-squeezed
- ½ cup elderflower liqueur such as St-Germain
- ½ cup ginger liqueur such as Domaine de Canton
- ½ cup simple syrup to taste
- 1 lemon sliced
- 1 pear sliced
- 1 bunch fresh rosemary
instructions
- In a large pitcher, combine elderflower liqueur, ginger liqueur and lemon juice.¼ cup lemon juice, ½ cup elderflower liqueur, ½ cup ginger liqueur
- Add lemon slices, pear slices, and rosemary sprigs. Chill for one to two hours, if desired.1 lemon, 1 pear, 1 bunch fresh rosemary
- Just before serving, top with chilled prosecco. Taste and add simple syrup if desired.750 ml prosecco, ½ cup simple syrup
- Pour into wine glasses or champagne flutes with ice and slices of fruit and herbs.
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