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Watermelon Sangria

Watermelon sangria is a blush-pink, pitcher-style summer sangria made with fresh watermelon juice blended and strained for a smooth base. It’s finished by chilling with citrus and mint, then topping with sparkling water for a light, refreshing watermelon cocktail.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
chilling 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Drink
Cuisine: American
Calories: 210
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Watermelon sangria base
  • 2 cup watermelon cubed and seeded; reserved portion for blending
  • 2 cup watermelon cubed and seeded; remaining cubes for the pitcher
  • 1 bottle (750 ml) dry rosé or white wine
  • 0.5 cup watermelon vodka or plain vodka
  • 0.25 cup triple sec
  • 2 tbsp honey or simple syrup
  • 1 lime thinly sliced
  • 1 lemon thinly sliced
  • 1 cup sparkling water or club soda
  • 1 fresh mint sprigs for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 fine mesh sieve
  • 1 blender
  • 1 pitcher

Method
 

Blend and strain the watermelon juice
  1. Blend 2 cups of watermelon cubes until smooth, then pour the puree through a fine mesh sieve to strain until you have 1 cup of fresh watermelon juice.
  2. Let the strained watermelon juice sit for 2 minutes so it drains smoothly and becomes ready to mix.
Build the pitcher
  1. Combine the watermelon juice, rosé wine, vodka, triple sec, and honey in a large pitcher and stir to combine until the honey dissolves.
  2. Add the remaining watermelon cubes, lime slices, and lemon slices to the pitcher, then stir gently so the fruit stays intact.
Chill
  1. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to chill and allow flavors to meld, keeping the pitcher cold before serving.
Serve
  1. Right before serving, top the pitcher with sparkling water or club soda and stir gently.
  2. Pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish each with fresh mint sprigs.

Notes

Pro tip: strain the blended watermelon so the sangria stays smooth instead of pulpy, and slice citrus thin so it floats and releases flavor as it chills. Refrigerate in a covered pitcher up to 2 days; keep the sparkling water for right before serving to preserve bubbles. Freezing is not recommended because watermelon and wine texture can turn watery. For a lower-sugar option, swap honey/simple syrup for an equal amount of sugar-free simple syrup or reduce to 1 tbsp to taste.