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Christmas Sangria (Holiday Sangria)

5 from 3 votes
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posted: 12/06/19

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy
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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

This Christmas Sangria is perfect for your holiday party! Made with only three ingredients, this is the perfect Christmas cocktail.

tumbler with christmas sangria in it, garnished with fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary

I was on my way to my dad’s for Thanksgiving and texting with a good friend. She was telling me about some family holiday drama – raise your hand if you can relate – and telling me she needed a good cocktail to bring to Thanksgiving.

She asked me for a recipe, knowing that I am the friend you call for a good cocktail. This Christmas Sangria recipe is the perfect holiday cocktail.

The bad news is family drama is as common as overplayed Christmas songs. The good news is now you (and she) are armed with this Pomegranate Cranberry Sangria.

Honestly, I have found that Christmas cookies and sangria are great ways to distract someone from starting up drama.

a tall pitcher filled with red holiday sangria with floating cranberries in it against a gray background

Christmas Sangria Ingredients

The main flavor of this sangria recipe is pomegranate. One of my favorites for holiday drinks. For the full recipe with all of the measurements see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

  • White Wine: I used Moscato, because my friends like their drinks sweet. If you don’t, use a drier wine like Pinot Grigio. If you would like something more in the middle, Riesling is a sweet but not over-powering wine. Whatever wine you use, make sure to chill it.
  • Pomegranate Liqueur: I used PAMA. It is delicious, and can also be used in my Pomegranate Cranberry Champagne Cocktail. Alternatively, you can use pomegranate juice.
  • Pomegranate Cranberry Juice: If you don’t think you will use the bottle for anything else, but know the kids will drink cranberry cocktail, just use that.
a woman wearing a blue sweater pouring a glass of red sangria

How to Make Christmas Sangria

Sangria is my favorite for get togethers because it’s so easy to make. Grab more sangria recipes below! Find the full recipe with all of the measurements in the recipe card below.

  1. Combine your ingredients together in a large pitcher. You will want to make sure that your wine is well chilled so the sangria is cold when you serve it.
  2. Serve and enjoy. This sangria is great in small tumblers or stemless wine glasses. I love to garnish with sprigs of thyme.

A Note on Sweetness

I always struggle when I bring cocktails to gatherings because different people like their cocktails at different levels of sweet. I used to love my drinks super sweet and not as much anymore, so I get it.

This Holiday Sangria is very easy to modify to create a sangria that is perfect for different palates. Use the information below as a guide, keeping in mind that if you opt for a less sweet version, you can set out simple syrup that guests can add to their glasses.

  • For a very sweet sangria: Use Moscoto as the white wine, pomegranate juice, and cranberry pomegranate juice.
  • For slightly less sweet version: Use Pinot Grigio, pomegranate juice, and cranberry pomegranate juice.
  • For the least sweet version: Use Pinot Grigio, pomegranate liqueur, and cranberry pomegranate juice.
overhead view of two glasses full of red sangria with fresh cranberries and sprigs of rosemary in them

Rosemary Infused Sangria

Perhaps my favorite version of this cocktail involves making rosemary infused simple syrup. Simple Syrup is just sugar and water. To make Rosemary Infused Sangria:

  1. Boil 1/4 cup of sugar and a 1/4 cup of water, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Toss in a sprig of fresh rosemary and refrigerate for half an hour.
  2. Combine 750 ml Pinot Grigio, 1/2 cup pomegranate liqueur, 1/2 cup pomegranate cranberry juice, and the rosemary simple syrup. Serve very cold.

Serving

I love to serve this sangria in tumblers or stemless wine glasses with fresh cranberries and fresh pomegranate seeds. Finally, I add a sprig of rosemary to each glass. It makes for such a gorgeous cocktail.

hand holding a pitcher of sangria pouring it into a glass with a full glass garnished with fresh cranberries in the background

More Holiday Drinks

If you are looking for more great Christmas cocktails, try these:

If you make this holiday sangria or any of my cocktail recipes, please let me know what you think!

tumbler with christmas sangria in it, garnished with fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary
5 from 3 votes

Christmas Sangria

Serves: 8 glasses
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
This Christmas Sangria is perfect for your holiday party! Made with only three ingredients, this is the perfect Christmas cocktail.

Ingredients

  • 750 ml moscato or pinto grigio chilled (see note)
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate liqueur or pomegranate juice (see note)
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate and cranberry mix juice
  • fresh pomegranate seeds (optional)
  • fresh cranberries (optional)
  • fresh rosemary sprigs (optional)

Instructions

  • In a large pitcher mix together the moscato, pomegranate juice, and pomegranate-cranberry juice.
  • Serve cold with fresh pomegranate seeds, cranberries, and rosemary sprigs.

Notes

The sweetest version of this recipe is with all juice and moscato wine. The least sweet version is with PAMA liqueur and pinot grigio. So you have a lot of room to work with based on your crowd. See details in the post for how to kick this sangria up a notch.
Serving: 4ounces Calories: 90kcal (5%) Carbohydrates: 14g (5%) Protein: 1g (2%) Sodium: 6mg Potassium: 17mg Sugar: 12g (13%) Vitamin C: 4mg (5%)
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
tumbler with christmas sangria in it, garnished with fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary

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Christmas Sangria

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Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

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  1. [email protected] says

    Sharing on the weekend edit on Saturday! Love the lower cal option! I hate to drink my calories! laura at everyday edits dot co

    • Lisa Longley says

      Thanks Laura!

  2. Candace @ Our Zesty Life says

    5 stars
    Lisa, I want to share a cup of this with you!! I LOVE cranberry and sangria both.

    • Lisa Longley says

      Yes please!!

  3. Rofy says

    It looks awesome. I am just scared that if i make this tonight, it will be long gone by the Christmas.

  4. Heather says

    Can you make this ahead of time? 6 hours before?

    • Lisa Longley says

      Yes!

  5. Kristi Cullen says

    I bought some pomegranate & cranberry juice & some real cranberries
    I was wanting to make it a non alcoholic drink

    Is there anything I need to add to the drink ?

    • Lisa Longley says

      I would consider adding in something sparkling. Like club soda or 7Up, or maybe a combination of the two.

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