This summer strawberry sangria is sweet, slightly tart, flavorful and incredibly easy to make—just 6 ingredients! A splash of vanilla bean paste perfectly enhances the flavors of fresh fruit, making this summer in a glass!
A classic sangria consists of
Before we change things up, let’s fist understand what goes into a sangria.
The best sangria is a simple sangria. More often than not, too much fruit (and too many different kinds of fruit) are added to a sweetened wine mixture. The result is a muddy-flavored wine cocktail that’s overly sweet and confusing for tastebuds. It’s best to keep the ingredients simple and to not overthink the flavor combination.
Also, don’t be tempted to use an expensive bottle of wine, it won’t benefit the sangria at all.
Here’s what a classic white wine sangria should be made of:
- A mixture of citrus (usually a couple of oranges and a lemon)
- Superfine sugar (start with a ¼ cup)
- Fruity white wine (1 bottle of Pinot Grigio is perfect)
- A few tablespoons of orange liqueur (Triple Sec works just fine, remember expensive doesn’t equal better here)
How to make a white wine sangria
The process is simple.
- Combine fruit and sugar in a pitcher and lightly mash to release juices. Let sit (macerate) for 30 minutes.
- Stir in wine and liqueur and chill for 2 hours.
- Serve over ice.
Break the rules: modernize the classic sangria
OK, so now that we know how to make a classic sangria, now let’s break the rules a bit and make this summer Rhubarb Strawberry Sangria.
Instead of adding sugar to the mixture, I opted to simplify the process and use sweet white wine as opposed to a fruity slightly dry wine. Additionally, I swapped the citrus for tart rhubarb and sweet strawberries. And instead of orange liqueur, I added a hefty dose of vodka because if I’m going to break the rules. let’s really break the rules.
Here’s what you’ll need for this Rhubarb Strawberry Sangria:
- Fresh rhubarb (you can also use frozen and thawed)
- Fresh strawberries (frozen and thawed also work)
- Lemon juice
- Vanilla bean paste (or a whole vanilla bean, scrape the seeds out and add them to the sangria, drop the vanilla bean into the sangria as well)
- Sweet white wine
- Vodka
How to make this rhubarb strawberry sangria:
The process is nearly identical to how you make a classic sangria.
- Combine rhubarb, strawberries, lemon juice and vanilla bean paste in a pitcher; lightly mash to release juices.
- Let sit (macerate) for 30 minutes.
- Stir in wine and vodka and chill for 2 hours.
- Serve over ice.
Have extra rhubarb? Learn how to freeze it so you can use it later in the year!
Mix it up even more
Here are a few more sangria flavor combinations to try this summer
Citrus: use 1 lime, 1 lemon and 2 oranges. Swap the vodka out for tequila and add a splash of triple sec.
Rosé: swap the rhubarb and strawberries out for peaches and raspberries and use rosé wine instead of white.
Green: swap the rhubarb and strawberries out for honeydew melon and cucumber. Add mint or basil.
Make sure to tag me @ZESTFULKITCHEN ON INSTAGRAM or comment below if you make this Rhubarb Strawberry Sangria!
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Strawberry Rhubarb Sangria
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Drinks
- Method: No cook
- Cuisine: American
Description
Slightly sweet and refreshing, this summer rhubarb sangria is perfect for for warm evenings on the patio.
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped rhubarb
- ½ cup chopped strawberries
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
- 1 bottle sweet white wine (750-mL) such as moscato or riesling
- ½ cup vodka
Instructions
Combine rhubarb, strawberries lemon juice, and vanilla bean paste in a pitcher, lightly mash then let sit for 30 minutes.
Stir in wine and vodka and chill thoroughly (at least 2 hours).
Serve over ice.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cocktail
- Calories: 122
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 6mg
- Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Strawberry rhubarb sangria, summer sangria, rhubarb sangria, rhubarb cocktail
