This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
This Watermelon Sangria is the must-make cocktail of the summer. Made with fresh watermelon, crisp white wine, orange liqueur, and tart lime juice, this delicious summer beverage is light, fresh, and bursting with watermelon flavor.
Watermelon Sangria is Made for Summer
Nothing screams summer like juicy, sweet watermelon. So what better cocktail to round out your summer BBQ menu than a Watermelon Sangria?!
With fresh watermelon, bright white wine, and notes of lime and orange, this watermelon sangria recipe yields an easy cocktail that is sweet-tart, uber refreshing, and simply tastes like summer.
From dining al fresco and BBQs to pool parties and a crowd-pleasing 4th of July menu, this cocktail is perfect for summer. So what are you waiting for? Throw some beef burgers and BBQ chicken breasts on the grill (or turn to Crockpot pulled pork or Instant Pot pulled pork if the weather isn't cooperating), grab a Watermelon Sangria, and toast to summer at its finest.
Happy Cooking! xo Kristen
Watermelon Sangria Ingredients
- Watermelon: For sweet, prominent watermelon notes, use fresh, ripe, sweet watermelon. To help ensure the best watermelon, select one that feels heavy for its size, has a dull, dark green rind, and a yellow spot on the bottom.
- White Wine: I recommend using a dry wine like Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, or a non-buttery Chardonnay. Avoid sweeter white wines like Moscato, unless you like your sangria really sweet.
- Lime Juice: Use fresh limes, not bottled lime juice, to add tart, bright flavors without an artificial aftertaste.
- Orange Liqueur: Adds rich undertones and citrus notes. Grand Marnier, Cointreau, and Triple Sec are the most common orange liqueurs on the market. Good substitutes for the liqueur include brandy or rum. Both would add sweet, rich undertones to the sangria. Alternatively, use orange juice in place of additional liquor.
- Fruit (optional): For extra flavor and appeal, add orange slices, lime slices, or fresh blueberries to the sangria. Or skip fresh fruit altogether.
- Seltzer water (Optional): Top off each cocktail right before serving with a bit of plain or citrus-flavored seltzer for a nice effervescence. However, it is completely unnecessary and optional.
How to Make Watermelon Sangria
Making a watermelon sangria is incredibly simple. Blend, strain, and mix! And while you will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card, the following tips are provided to help you feel confident with your bartending skills. 😉
- Blend Watermelon. Making watermelon "juice" is as easy as placing cubed watermelon into a blender and blending until smooth.
- Strain. After blending, strain the watermelon juice through a fine-mesh strainer into a large pitcher. This is a crucial step! The strainer catches seeds, chunks, and pulp that can give the sangria an odd texture.
- Prepare Sangria. Add the strained watermelon juice, fresh lime juice, orange liqueur, and white wine to a large pitcher, then stir to combine. Feel free to add sliced oranges, limes, and fresh blueberries now. They will absorb flavor from the sangria as it chills.
- Chill. Chill for 1-2 hours before serving. This gives the flavors time to meld, and a chilled cocktail is ideal in the summer heat.
Tip for Entertaining
Prepare the sangria mixture up to 12 hours in advance. Right before serving, give the mixture a good stir, then serve over ice.
- Serve. Give the sangria a good stir, as the ingredients may separate a bit after chilling. This is normal! Serve over ice, topping off with some seltzer, if desired, and additional fresh blueberries.
Garnish with a Star
I love using a star cookie cutter to cut out stars from thick slices of watermelon. Making this red and blue cocktail that much more festive and patriotic. Perfect for Memorial Day and 4th of July!
Recipe Modifications
- Make it Sweeter: Blend watermelon with ¼ cup honey or sugar, or use a sweet wine like Moscato or Riesling.
- Make it Minty: Add 10-15 mint leaves when combining the watermelon juice, lime juice, and wine for a refreshing twist.
More Refreshing Beverages
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Watermelon Sangria
Ingredients
- 7 cups ripe, seedless watermelon, diced
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice, about 2 limes
- 1 (750ml) bottle dry white wine
- ¼ cup orange liqueur
- 1 cup fresh blueberries, optional
- 1 large orange, thinly sliced, optional
- 1 small lime, thinly sliced, optional
- 1 liter plain seltzer water, optional
Instructions
- Place cubed watermelon into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the pureed watermelon through a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl or pitcher, to remove any seeds or pulp, reserving the juice.
- Add the strained watermelon juice, lime juice, white wine, and orange liqueur to large pitcher. Stir to incorporate. If desired add sliced oranges, sliced limes, and blueberries, stirring to combine.
- Cover and chill for 1-2 hours to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Right before serving, gently stir the sangria to combine the ingredients. Serve over ice, topping with seltzer water if desired.
- Garnish with fresh blueberries and watermelon stars if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This post was originally shared in 2017 and updated in 2025.
This watermelon sangria was so refreshing and perfect for the very hot day we had today! We loved it!
I am so happy to hear you found this refreshing Eden--thanks for sharing!
The absolute BEST summer cocktail ever. I made it for my girlfriends and everyone wanted the recipe!