You’ll always be dreaming of a White Christmas Sangria the second you take your first sip.
Every year, when the stores begin to decorate their aisles and shelves for the winter holiday season—usually before Halloween these days—the music begins to get piped in over the speaker system. Mariah Carey, of course, often ushers in the festivities with her juggernaut and meme-able classic, soon to be followed by a long conga line of other Christmassy hits.
One of the big ones that never fails to please or get played is the Bing Crosby standard “White Christmas”, which is also the title of a traditional holiday movie from 1954 that starred the blue-eyed crooner. The song and film have become so ingrained in our collective consciousness and popular culture that even here in Los Angeles, we’ll sometimes ask each other if we think it’ll be a white Christmas, meaning, of course, inches of fluffy snow.
That familiarity has even carried over to tonight’s recipe, the White Christmas Sangria. No matter where you are in the world, and no matter what the weather might be like, passing around a few fruity and potent glasses of this white wine and brandy cocktail will ensure your friends and family will indeed have a tasty and memorable white Christmas.
What is the best alcohol to use in a White Christmas Sangria?
We’ll need some white wine and brandy as the alcohol base in our White Christmas Sangria. Our recipe recommends a pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc, as both are crisp and dry libations that will mix nicely with the fruity and strong brandy. The blanc will be bolder and have a more pronounced bouquet, while the grigio will be lighter and feature a subtler flavor profile.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle white wine pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc work well
- 1/2 cup brandy
- 1/4 cup simple syrup or agave nectar
- 1 green apple cored and thinly sliced
- 1 firm pear cored and thinly sliced
- 1 cup fresh or frozen whole cranberries
- 1/4 cup pomegranate arils
- 3 fresh rosemary sprigs plus more for garnish
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 cups chilled prosecco, sparkling water, or ginger ale for topping just before serving
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, combine the white wine, brandy, and simple syrup. Stir well.
- Add the sliced apple, sliced pear, fresh cranberries, pomegranate arils, rosemary sprigs, and cinnamon sticks to the pitcher. Gently stir, cover the pitcher, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- When you're ready to serve, fill wine glasses with ice. Pour the sangria into the glasses, making sure to get some of the fruit in each serving. Top off each glass with a splash of chilled prosecco, sparkling water, or ginger ale.
- Garnish each glass with a fresh rosemary sprig.
Nutrition
What glassware and garnish are used?
You’ll need a large pitcher to mix and serve your sangria out of, and a number of long-stemmed ice-filled wine glasses to pour into. Garnish with a number of the fruits used in the recipe, as much or as little as you like.
What is the best bubbly topper to use?
Finishing off this mixture with either a sparkling wine, club soda, or ginger ale is a matter of preference. For an extra boozy bite, go with a fizzy wine or prosecco. For a lighter effervescence, some club soda works wonderfully, and ginger ale will add a little extra spice and flavor.
Other Sangrias Worth Trying
When large groups of people gather to celebrate, party, or just to simply hang out, a large, cold, and fruit-filled pitcher of sangria is always a crowd-pleaser. If you have a get-together coming up soon and are searching for the perfect large-batch drink to serve, allow Twist & Toast to introduce you to a few of these recipes below.
- Holiday Sangria – Here’s another festive treat to enjoy around the Christmas season.
- Sangria Margarita – Combine two summertime favorites for a delicious sipping experience.
- Sweet July Rosé Sangria – Celebrate the warmer months by sitting outside with a glass or two of this concoction.
- Moscato Sangria – A drink that’s a little sweeter but still very refreshing.
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