Rosé Sangria with Berries & Lemon

This rosé sangria with berries and lemon is a refreshing, delicious, and super simple cocktail for summer! It comes together in minutes and is the perfect combo of tart, sweet, and fruity. Plus, it’s made in a pitcher for the best batch cocktail situation. It’s amazing for a party with friends!

I officially declare this year ‘sangria girl summer’. It’s like hot girl summer, but in this case, we’re hot temperature-wise and all we really want to be doing in this life is sitting near some water and sipping sangria. You game?

Besides the fact that sangria is delicious, it’s also the best cocktail for warm weather. You can make it in a pitcher and pass it around the table. No need to get out of the comfort of your lawn chair to grab another beer from the cooler or mix up a vodka soda. Save the fancy cocktail-making for winter dinner parties when you’re stuck inside and want to show off that you are now adult enough to own a bar cart and whiskey that costs more than $12.

This year, we’re keeping it pretty. We’re keeping it pink. Let’s talk sangria!

P.S. If you love strawberry cocktails, make sure to try this spiked strawberry lemonade, strawberry gin smash, or strawberry frozen Aperol spritz. For a non-alcoholic drink, this strawberry iced tea is also amazing!

The best summer cocktail

Should you find yourself sitting on a patio, sweating in the sun, and in desperate need of refreshments this summer, might I suggest this sangria? It’s honestly the best. In the 10+ years that I’ve been throwing parties, I can confirm that this sangria is always a hit.

• The berries add a lovely, fruity note but don’t worry, the cocktail isn’t too sweet thanks to the fresh lemon juice.
• This drink is made in a pitcher so it’s really easy to throw together and even easier to serve.
• Since it makes 6-8 servings, it’s great for a crowd. And make-ahead!
• Serve this sangria at BBQs, dinner parties, girls’ nights, bridal showers, or just because!

Here’s what you will need

The ingredient list for this sangria could not be simpler. Here’s what you’ll need!

• Rosé – I prefer a dry rosé so the cocktail isn’t too sweet. But you can use a sweeter wine if you like.
• Orange liqueur – Triple sec or Grand Marnier would both work.
• Berries – strawberries and raspberries are my go-to but you can use whatever is in season.
• Lemons – both sliced and juiced for a hint of tartness.
• Peaches – for a little added sweetness and flavor.
• Sugar – to sweeten the sangria just a bit.

Sparkling sangria

If you like a fizzy cocktail, go with a sparkling rosé instead! But, if you do go with sparkling wine, don’t let the sangria meld for longer than 2-3 hours. The wine will lose its bubbles the longer it sits!

Let’s make sangria!

1. Add the strawberries, raspberries, sugar, and orange liqueur to a pitcher. Then, let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes, until the sugar dissolves.
2. Next, add the lemon slices, peaches, and lemon juice. Stir very gently to combine.
3. Pour an entire bottle of rosé into the pitcher. Stir to mix the cocktail well!
4. Lastly, refrigerate the sangria for at least 2 hours or overnight. Serve over ice and savor summer.

Don’t forget to serve the sangria with toothpicks or cocktail skewers! How else will you enjoy all of the leftover boozy fruit? So good!

The secret to good sangria (make-ahead!)

My favorite tip for making the best sangria is to make it in advance. I like to make this recipe at least two hours before serving because the ingredients need time to meld. But, if I have the time, I try to chill the sangria for 4-6 hours or overnight. This will make the sangria super flavorful.

I would not make this recipe more than 24 hours in advance. I’ve made this recipe dozens of times, and the fruit tends to break down and get a bit mushy after 1 day!

Choosing the right wine

Another trick to making the best sangria is to choose the right wine! Here’s my go-to tips when I’m looking for a good bottle.

• You want something drinkable but nothing too expensive since we’re mixing it with more booze and fruit.
• Since we’re adding sugar and orange liqueur to this recipe, pick something a bit more dry and crisp.
• Lastly, try to choose a wine that has flavors that compliment the fruit in the recipe. I went with a dry rosé with lots of strawberry and peach flavors!

If you do like a very sweet cocktail, you can always choose a sweet wine. However, it’s always easy to add sugar to a recipe, so when in doubt, go with a drier wine and add more sugar or simple syrup to taste.

Grand Marnier vs. Triple Sec

Traditional sangrias are made with brandy or Grand Marnier which is a mix of brandy and orange liqueur. While I’m sure Grand Marnier would be delicious in this recipe, I decided to make it with Triple Sec so that it doesn’t overpower the delicate flavors in the rosé. Triple Sec is a French orange liqueur made without brandy. It has a subtle orange flavor that adds a nice citrus punch to the sangria.

If you make this recipe, I would love it if you left a star rating and review! I read every single comment and love hearing what you think about my recipes. Thank you for supporting Sunday Table!

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xo Sara Lynn

Song of the day – Sunshine Girl by Jakob

Originally posted on May 17, 2022.