Hard Seltzer Sangria

Mix it up in just 15 minutes!

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/13/24
Tested by Joan Velush
Three glasses of hard seltzer sangria garnished with orange slices

The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 15 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Yield: 2 quarts

Nearly every sangria aficionado has their secrets to success, and swears that theirs is the perfect recipe. A little wine and fruit, some brandy and orange liqueur, and an overnight stop in the fridge to marry the flavors. But, you don’t always have time for all that!

When you need to whip up a pitcher of drinks in a hurry, this hard seltzer sangria recipe is the way to go. It’s a fun drink for any party, and easy enough to whip up for a crowd anywhere...tailgating, music fests, anyone?

What Kind of Hard Seltzer to Use

Quick and simple, this sangria recipe replaces the typical hard liquors with hard seltzer. A citrusy seltzer is best, so pick up a couple cans of your favorite orange, lemon, or lime spiked seltzer. It will also work with nearly any flavored seltzer. If your options are limited to other fruits like berries, or even plain seltzer, toss it in! 

The Best Wine to Use for Hard Seltzer Sangria

Unlike traditional sangria, which normally opts for a dry red wine, you want to go sweeter here. Hard seltzers tend to be a smidge bitter with a tart tinge, so starting off with a wine that’s semi-sweet creates a well-balanced flavor.

Look for Zinfandel, Malbec, or Shiraz, or go really sweet with a Lambrusco, wine that says “dolce” on the label, or any sweet table wine. Don’t even bother with high-end wines...seriously, spending $5 or less on wine is perfectly OK for sangria, and this is the recipe to use those cheap finds!

Serving Hard Seltzer Sangria

To keep things ultra simple, this recipe uses just one orange and lemon, because every sangria needs fruit. The strawberries add a hint of much-needed sweetness to offset the tart fruits and seltzer. And, instead of the overnight chill that “marries” the flavors—a step customary with sangria—this one requires just a few minutes, so you can mix it up and start pouring with minimal effort.

Chips and queso, soft pretzel bites, party mix, and roasted peanuts are ideal complements to this sangria. But really, any savory snack you have on hand will be great!


Most of all, have fun with this recipe, and make it your own. It’s a perfect on-the-go pitcher drink with no liquor bottles to tote around. Wine, a few fruits, and a cooler of seltzer are all you need. (And ice...it’s a requirement!) Essentially, it’s a sangria for the thrifty drinker who wants to make a quick stop by the grocery store to pick up a few essentials, then whip up a party drink in minutes wherever their travels take them.

Tips for Making Hard Seltzer Sangria

  • Storing sangria—In a pinch, you can mix and store the sangria base ahead of time and keep it in the cooler. The ideal situation is an air-tight pitcher with a lid. But, it is possible to mix it up in a zip-top bag (double bag it for security). Half gallon mason jars work as well.
  • Add the seltzer last—Hard seltzers are slightly carbonated, and you want to add these at the very last minute or you’ll lose that bit of fizz.
  • Drink-worthy ice is not cooler ice—Whenever you plan to serve drinks over ice, use “clean” ice in the glasses. While it may be convenient when tailgating, camping, or at any outdoor party to just reach into the cooler and pick up a handful of ice, think about what that ice has touched...ICK! It doesn’t belong in a drink! Instead, pack a zipper bag of drink-worthy ice cubes in the cooler and use that for your sangria.

Make Ahead

You can absolutely pull this sangria together ahead of time (it will even be a little bit better if you give it a full night in the fridge). Slice the fruits and add them to the wine, then place it in the fridge so the flavors marry. Just before serving, add the hard seltzer, give it a final stir, and pour into glasses.

“Hard seltzer sangria is quick and easy to make and perfect for a summer party or get-together. I used lemon hard seltzer and really liked the citrus kick it gave to an otherwise sweet mixture. The tart lemon balanced out the flavors beautifully.” —Joan Velush

Hard Seltzer Sangria/Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 (750-milliliter) bottle semi-sweet red wine, chilled

  • 1/4 cup fresh orange juice

  • 1 large orange, sliced

  • 1 large lemon, sliced

  • 5 large strawberries, sliced

  • 24 ounces citrus-flavored hard seltzer, chilled

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients to make hard seltzer sangria

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  2. Pour 1 (750-milliliter) bottle semi-sweet red wine, chilled into a pitcher. Add 1/4 cup fresh orange juice, 1 large orange, sliced, 1 large lemon, sliced, and 5 large strawberries, sliced.

    A large glass pitcher with red wine, orange juice, orange slices, lemon slices, and strawberries

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  3. Stir well to combine, and chill for 10 to 15 minutes.

    A large glass pitcher with red wine, orange juice, orange slices, lemon slices, and strawberries being stirred

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  4. Add 24 ounces citrus-flavored hard seltzer, chilled, and give it a final stir. 

    A large glass pitcher of hard seltzer sangria being stirred with a spoon

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  5. Pour into glasses over ice, ensuring each glass gets a few pieces of fruit.

    Three glasses and a pitcher of hard seltzer sangria

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

Feeling Adventurous? Try This:

  • Use the red wine you have—If you do have a drier wine (Merlot or Pinot Noir, for instance), you’ll likely want to add a touch of sweetener. Stir in a couple tablespoons of simple syrup, honey, or agave nectar, or add an ounce or two of triple sec. Taste the sangria base, and add more according to your preference.
  • Add more fizz—For a bit more sparkle, top each glass with a touch of club soda. Tonic water is a great option as well when you have a really sweet wine, as it will balance out the flavor.
  • Use any fruit—Nearly any fruit will work in this quick sangria recipe...See a carton of cut fruit in the produce section? Pineapple, papaya, tangerines, whatever...Throw them into the mix!
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
91 Calories
0g Fat
5g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 91
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 5g 2%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 18mg 91%
Calcium 18mg 1%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 171mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)