This easy rose sangria recipe is the perfect pitcher cocktail for the Spring or Summer. Enjoy for Easter, Mother’s Day Brunch, or your average warm night! It’s made with sparkling rosé, St. Germain Elderflower liqueur, and berries.
I’m such a huge fan of sangrias. They’re honestly so easy to make, boozy and light. It’s the perfect pitcher drink to serve a crowd (or yourself!).
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I became a fan of sangria when I lived in NYC. There I would get tapas almost every time I would go out to eat. (Tell me how you could ever get tired of croquettes or patatas bravas!?) My favorite sangrias were boozy and fruity.
Red wine sangria is usually my go-to! But there’s something so special about a sangria that’s light and floral. It makes you want to sit outside with a light breeze, sipping forever. And that is exactly what I plan on doing every summer night!
What is elderflower liqueur?
Elderflower liqueur is made from elderflowers. Elderflower is a small white flower present in the Spring and Summers. St. Germain liqueur is the most popular and well-known of elderflower liqueur brands. It is a personal favorite. (The bottle is also just so pretty and gives me Great Gatsby vibes!)
I love making cocktails with elderflower liqueur, like my Elderflower Prosecco Cocktail.
What does elderflower liqueur taste like?
Elderflower liqueur tastes very floral and fruity. It is very sweet and should only be used in small proportions. Elderflower liqueur cocktails tend to be very dainty and light in flavor. It pairs well with citrus, floral, berries, and sparkling flavors. Some say that elderflower liqueur has a faint pear taste.
How to Make a Strawberry Rose Sangria
Making a sangria is easy and fun! Add everything to a large pitcher and you’re ready to keep in the fridge until serving a crowd!
STEP ONE: Add fruit and sugar into the pitcher.
STEP TWO: Top with rosé and elderflower liqueur and stir.
STEP THREE: Into the fridge for 30-minutes up to four hours before drinking.
STEP FOUR: Top with flavored sparkling water or club soda and serve!
Sangria is all about the proportions. There are only four classic ingredients to every kind of sangria:
- WINE
- FRUIT
- SWEETENER
- LIQUOR or LIQUEUR
Ingredients and Substitutions
- ELDERFLOWER LIQUEUR. While St. Germain is the most well known of elderflower liqueur brands, there are others. As a substitute, use a citrus liqueur like Gran Marnier or Cointreau. Triple Sec works as well but the flavor is less subtle.
- DRY ROSÉ. A dry rosé is necessary in this rose sangria. Even if you like more sweet wines, the sugar balances out the dryness. If you only have sweeter rosé that’s fine, but definitely watch the sugar.
- SUGAR. I used raw sugar in this rose sangria with berries. You could use a simple syrup to dissolve easier.
- BERRIES. I used strawberries and raspberries because of their sweetness and color. You could always make a blackberry sangria or use whatever berries are your favorite! Always feel free to add more berries, they taste so good after sucking up the flavor!
- BERRY SPARKLING WATER. After infusing the rosé with the sugar and berries, top with a sparkling water when ready to serve. This makes the rose sangria bubbly and light.
Make this into a Mocktail
Swap the dry rosé and elderflower liqueur for sparkling white grape or red grape juice.
Tips & Tricks
- Make the sangria ahead. BUT NOT TOO AHEAD. It tastes better when it has time to sit in the fridge – at least 30-minutes and up to four hours before. (If you leave the sangria for too long the berries will get mushy! I wouldn’t suggest more than 1-day in the fridge.)
- In a rush? No worries, place ice in individual cups and pour sangria directly over.
- Don’t go too cheap with wine. The rosé is the base of the sangria, so choose a wine that is good enough to drink by itself. I like to choose a bottle around $8-12.
More Types of Sangria to Try
There are so many different ways to make a sangria. I love both traditional and super creative ways to change up this classic drink.
📖 Recipe
Rose Sangria with Berries
Ingredients
- 750 ML Dry Rose Wine
- ⅓ Cup Elderflower Liqueur
- ¼ Cup White Sugar
- ½ Cup Raspberries
- ½ Cup Strawberries
- 4 Cups Raspberry or Mixed Berry Sparkling Water
Instructions
- Add berries and sugar to a large pitcher.
- Pour elderflower liqueur and then the rosé.
- Stir together and place into fridge for 30-minutes up to 4-hours.
- Top with sparkling water and serve in glasses with ice.