This Moscato sangria is a light, crisp white wine cocktail made with sweet, bubbly Moscato wine, fresh mint, and strawberries, peaches, and juicy citrus infused with orange liqueur.
Looking for more summer cocktail recipes? Try this salty dog cocktail, my watermelon vodka cocktail, or my rosé sangria recipe next!
One of the first wines I ever drank was Moscato. It’s not overly dry, and of course, it has bubbles! With summer coming up, this Moscato sangria recipe puts a light, sweet spin on a classic white wine sangria.
This sweet and fruity Moscato sangria is an irresistible blend of bubbly Moscato wine and heaps of fresh fruit infused with orange liqueur. I think you’re going to love it! The bright, crisp flavors pair so well with summer salads and seafood, like this sweet-spicy honey sriracha grilled shrimp and my Nobu-inspired spicy tuna crispy rice bites.
What Makes This the Best Moscato Sangria Recipe
- Quick and easy. Spanish sangria is one of the easiest cocktails you can make. Traditionally made with red wine and chopped fruit, all you need to do is combine the ingredients in a glass or pitcher with ice, and enjoy! This sweet Moscato version is perfect for summer.
- Fresh and fruity. Served cold over ice, homemade Moscato sangria is like adult fruit punch! I recommend serving it in clear glass cups or wine glasses so you can see all the beautiful colors.
- Infusion of flavor. As it sits in the sangria, the fruit is infused with the wine and liquor. It’s incredibly deep in flavor, while super light and refreshing.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here are the ingredients needed to make this easy summer cocktail. Scroll to the recipe card for the complete list with amounts for each ingredient.
- Moscato Wine – You’ll find Moscato in most places that sell wine. It’ll be in the white wine or Italian wine sections.
- Orange Liqueur – I recommend using either Grand Marnier, triple sec, or Cointreau.
- Citrus – Sliced limes and oranges are a staple in sangria recipes, and that’s what I use here as well.
- Fresh Fruit – I added sliced strawberries and peaches, but you can use any fresh fruit you’d like. Mango, pears, or fresh raspberries would also pair well with the sweet Moscato.
- Mint – Adding fresh mint leaves gives the drink a nice herbaceous flavor that also balances out the sweetness.
- Ginger Ale or Sparkling Water – Ginger ale adds a subtle ginger flavor and extra sweetness, while sparkling water or soda water mellows the flavors and cuts down on calories. Use whichever you prefer.
How to Make Moscato Sangria
Making sangria takes minutes. I like to make it ahead and let it rest, so the flavors can sit and infuse together for a smooth, delicious cocktail. Here’s how to make it:
- Mix. Add Grand Marnier, lime slices, orange slices, strawberries, peaches, mint leaves, and Moscato to a large pitcher.
- Let Infuse and Chill. Stir, and then place the sangria in the fridge for at least 1 hour. For best results, let it sit for up to 4 hours.
- Serve. When ready to serve, you can top up the sangria with ginger ale or sparkling water if you’d like. Serve this white sangria over ice garnished with the liquor-infused fruit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moscato (pronounced “mo-ska-toh”) is a sweet white wine from Italy. It’s known for its fruity notes of mandarin orange, ripe pear, Meyer lemon, and honeysuckle, with a hint of fizz. If you’re a sweet wine person, Moscato sangria is a perfect twist on traditional sangria!
My philosophy when making sangria is to use a wine that you’d like to drink on its own. It doesn’t have to be expensive or top-shelf, since it’ll be mixed with the other ingredients anyway.
Yes! If you’d prefer to make this recipe with another white wine, or even red wine, that’s fine, too. It’ll be delicious either way.
Sure. To make a non-alcoholic sangria, replace the Moscato with a non-alcoholic sparkling wine, and leave out the orange liqueur or replace it with a splash of orange juice.
What to Serve with Sangria
Being a sweet wine, Moscato pairs deliciously with an easy summer cheese board with fruit, salty or spicy appetizers, and light desserts. Here are easy serving suggestions for this Moscato sangria.
- Appetizers: Serve with these smoked salmon tea sandwiches, sweet-savory bacon-wrapped figs with goat cheese, or strawberry bruschetta.
- Pizza: Summer meals don’t get better than grilled pizza, or this prosciutto peach grilled flatbread that complements the peaches in the sangria.
- Salad: This sweet sangria goes well with the flavors in this strawberry spinach salad, spicy grilled Buffalo chicken salad, or this avocado corn salad.
Storing Leftovers
- Refrigerate. Due to the fizzy Moscato wine and fresh fruit, this sangria is best served the same day. That being said, you can store leftovers in the fridge overnight. It’ll lose most of its fizz, though. Top up the sangria with extra Moscato or a splash of soda water/sparkling water to refresh the bubbles before serving again.
More Summer Drink Recipes
Moscato Sangria
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 5-6 1x
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: Spanish
Description
This refreshing Moscato sangria recipe is a light, crisp summer cocktail made with sweet Moscato wine, orange liqueur, heaps of fruit, and fresh mint.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Grand Marnier or Cointreau
- 1 lime, sliced
- 1 orange, sliced
- 1 cup strawberries, sliced
- 1 cup frozen peaches
- 6–7 mint leaves
- 1 bottle of moscato
- optional: 1 cup ginger ale or sparkling water
Instructions
- Add Grand Marnier, lime slices, orange slices, strawberries, peaches, mint leaves, and Moscato to a large pitcher.
- Stir and let sit for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator. But for the best results, let it sit for 4 hours.
- When ready to serve, (optional) top with ginger ale or sparkling water. Serve over ice with liqueur-infused fruit from sangria.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 oz.
