There is a thing in the world… it’s called Really Bad Sangria. This is not that.
Really Bad Sangria is a mixture of cheap red wine (not cool, but not a crime), sliced oranges (fairly benign), and grapes (questionable, but tolerable). The combination of bad wine and boring fruit… that’s Really Bad Sangria.
Let’s talk about Really Good Sangria!
Really Good Sangria is pink. Really Good Sangria contains fruit that feels like a treat! See: watermelon and fresh strawberries. Really Good Sangria is layered with wine, and vodka, and lemon or orange liquor. Really Good Sangria is REALLY GOOD! This is that.
It’s the weekend! Get at that melon!
Dreamy dreams!
This sangria is a muddled mixture of the following radness:
– fresh strawberries – watermelon juice from fresh watermelon – great pink wine – vodka – limoncello (or cointreau) – fresh lime juice and slices – and fresh orange juice and slices.
Let’s do it!
Toss a few strawberries in the jar. What could go wrong?
Mish-mash. Smish-smash.
Pour in that pink wine. The whole bottle. Don’t you be shy.
Pour in four cups of fresh watermelon strawberry juice.
This juice smells better than anything ever.
Yea… we’re adding vodka.
We’re also adding a nice dose of limoncello (or cointreau). Whatever you have on hand.
As long as the mixture stays pink, you can toss it in. We’re vain about our sangria.
After adding a splash of orange juice, lime juice and all sorts of sliced fruit, we’re allowed to call this giant jug sangria. It’s sweet and summery. It’s boozy and pink. What more do we need? (Don’t say chocolate… mostly because you’re right.)
Grab the ice and a big ol’ glass. We’re worth it.
Thank you to Jon for styling mo-jo, pouring skills, and being my partner in sangria consumption.
Watermelon Strawberry Citrus Sangria
makes a big bunch
4 cups watermelon juice, from one small watermelon
1 pound fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
1 bottle Rose wine, not too sweet is best
1 cup vodka
1 cup limoncello or Contreau
juice of 2 oranges
juice of 1 lime
1 orange sliced
1 lime sliced
Slice a watermelon into large chunks. Reserve a few smaller chunks for the sangria jar and for garnish. Blend watermelon chunks with a handful of sliced strawberries until smooth. Depending on the size of your blender, you may need to blend the fruit in two batches. Strain fruit juice through a fine mesh strainer and into a large measuring cup. You’ll need about 4 cups of watermelon/strawberry juice.
In a large container stir together, watermelon/strawberry juice, wine, vodka, limoncello, orange juice, and lime juice. Stir in the remaining sliced strawberries, a few watermelon chunks, sliced oranges, and sliced lime. Chill thoroughly before serving. Serve over ice.
Elissa
I make this every year for my annual Mother’s Day brunch. I love this sangria and how it’s not sweet, but has tons of flavor. Thank you for posting this and giving my family something to look forward to every year!
Edenpassante
This sounds so refreshing right now! Even though it’s fall, I still crave watermelon!
Tameka
Can the orange juice be replaced with another juice?
Jennifer @ Recipe for Random
I want to nose dive into this … watermelon is finally right for the picking. Time to head to the ABC (alcohol) store again.
Nina A.
This looks lovely- do you think it would work with raspberries?
Peggy
Would this be good with peach flavored vodka?? I’m a sangria novice, and I happen to have peach vodka on hand. I’d hate to be the one who brings Bad Sangria to a cookout. :D Your thoughts?
joythebaker
Yeah, sure, go for it!
Jason
Looks delicious! Any recommendation on the Rose to use?
Amanda
Joy, where did you get that GORGEOUS muddler?! I was just thinking yesterday (as I was staring at my mint plant) that I need a muddler for summer cocktails!
Marta Lorena Rodriguez
This looks so yummy! I’m a sangria+ watermelon lover. This looks amazing. I will definitely try it.
Maureen Diaz
Forgot the strawberries but used a mango instead. And Grand Marnier. Pureed watermelon rather than just the juice, and used a couple drops of mint EO. Pure yum!
Wikki
Soo cool!! I’m going to pre-make fruit juice ice cubes to go with this awesome Sangria!
livescoaches
Made this yesterday for a graduation–amazing! Loved eating the boozy fruit too!
Jessica Robinson
Cannot wait for summer to be here so I can try this recipe! LOVE Sangria
Lauren
I made this for a Fourth of July party this weekend, and it was FABULOUS. Not too sweet–just super fruity and delicious, and the most gorgeous color! Thanks for a great summer drink recipe :)
Ali
Does anyone know if limoncello spoils? I made this sangria last summer (huge hit with my friends!) and the same bottle of limoncello has been sitting in my freezer since. Is it still good to use, or should I spring for a new one?
Cortney
I loooove this sangria!! I wanted to ask where your masher is from…I absolutely love it! It looks like a super handy tool!
Edith-Nicole
This is crazy good. I didn’t strain or muddle the fruit – just blended it in a VitaMix. Boozy heaven. Went down almost too quickly. Almost. Thanks Joy!
Edith-Nicole
This is crazy good. I blended the fruit in a VitaMix and didn’t strain it. Super crazy boozy goodness. Went down almost too easily. Thanks, Joy!
Liz
Hi Joy! I just made that picture of the watermelon hunk my desktop background, it’s so clean and refreshing looking. Have you ever made any of your photos available for wallpapers? If you’re taking requests, I’d love to decorate my electronics with your beautiful pictures. If I may be so bold as to further request something with rainbow sprinkles like that toast picture you have near your desk, that would brighten up my day :)
hugzzzz,
Liz
Diana Sudduth
Made this twice over the weekend. The watermelon juice makes this so delicious. This is a keeper for sure.
Becca
My friend and I made this for our beach day yesterday. This sangria totally rocks! Such a great flavor combination!
Cathy
Made this and it was awesome!!! So easy to make and what a great sangria. I was worried it may be too sweet, but it was just perfect. What a great summer drink. I used a medium watermelon and had left over “juice” so I froze the leftover juice to make this again in a flash. I used homemade lemoncello.
Aly
Love the watermelon addition to pink sangria! Just wondering, where did you get your wooden muddler? It’s delightful.
Thanks! Aly
Aly
Whoa. Two comment-girl. Geeeesh.
joythebaker
the muddler is a super vintage piece i borrowed from a friend. gorgeous!
Aly
Thanks Joy! Have to hit some antique shops. :)
Aly
Looks Fabulous… We Have Been On A Sangria Kick Lately And This Will Be Great To Add To The List :)
Where Did You Get Your Muddler?
Also, Apologies For The Weird Caps. On My Husband’s Phone.
Thanks! -Aly
Rachel (De Ma Cuisine)
Love this idea!!
choco girl
Love the glasses and vessels too!
Lauren @ Sophisticated Sass
This looks absolutely delicious! Can’t wait to try and make a batch this weekend!
Skazka Vostoka
Great idea for juice. It was in July and August Arbus and other berries our body really wants. Thanks for the idea! However, never tried to push the watermelon juice.
Lizzy (Good Things)
Very delicious! Bring on summer!
Sarah | The Sugar Hit
Get right out of town.
Melanie @ Just Some Salt and Pepper
I absolutely LOVE sangria and this flavor combination sounds amazing!
Heidi - Apples Under My Bed
So much love for this. Don’t you be shy! Ok. Have been wanting a rad sangrai recipe to follow. & this one has limoncello or cointreau in it and that is rad. Thanks!
Heidi xo
Karen
Drinking this as I type – it is AMAZING! Love you Joy and loved meeting you when you were in Boston last winter. Can’t wait for your next book!
Kamille@Redeeming_table
And this must be why I have disliked sangria, because it has been done improperly. I tried some this summer (vowing to give anything at least a second shot), and it wasn’t too bad. It put me on a quest to find the perfect sangria recipe.
Well Joy, I’m a thinking your recipe is it!
Kaylin
Wow! This sounds heavenly! Deff going to have to try this out. :)
Abbie @ Needs Salt
Beautiful pictures!!
I love watermelon. It’s got to be one of the best things ever.
And strawberries, too! It would be awful to live without those two.
In a Trendy Town
Everything is great with watermelon!
http://inatrendytown.blogspot.com.es/
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com
Totally loving this! We always use rose wine for sangria. It’s the best!
Becca from Cookie Jar Treats
I bet my dad would love this…. He likes the fruity drinks haha.
Mel
What brands of liquor did you use? I’m unsure of what type of rose wine to purchase.
joythebaker
I don’t really have a go-to brand, but I would recommend a rose wine that’s not too sweet. Depending on where you purchase your wine, the sales person might be able to help navigate you to a good choice. I know both Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s have really knowledgeable clerks. I hope this helps!
Maxime
Looks amazing! I need this in my life :)
XO
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic
This pink sangria is so perfect for the summer. I can imagine how well watermelon and strawberry go together!
Lauren
This looks so good- definitely going to try it!
laurenslittleblogs.blogspot.co.uk
xx
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe
Adding watermelon to sangria = summer genius. I’d like to dive right into that jug!
Andj
Ugh I won’t say really bad sangria is the worst, but is definitely disappointing. This looks perfect, I love the watermelon juice. Yumm
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
oh yes, love this pretty pink drink!
Lucia
This will be my weekend treat. I looove sangria!
Toyota Smith
I want sangria, I want watermelon and I want to go on holiday and laze on white beaches! Dammit I am so needy!
maria
Top-Notch Sangria for sures…but these pics are some oil-painting-worthy, still life gorgeous!! Yum and Yum!!(:
Arthur in the Garden!
Watermelon is just the best!
lizz
where are these amazing glasses from?
joythebaker
I think they were a vintage find.
johannaberger64
I was just going to ask about the glasses. The sangria? No big deal. The glasses? Wow! They are what I’ve been looking for all my life.
Grace Beekman
Love this post!! And beautiful photos! My husband isn’t a drinker, but sometimes I can convince him to sip something fruity. Can’t wait to try this before the summer is gone!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
So many fun summer flavours in here joy! this sounds awesome!
axelle the french cook
It seems to be THE PERFECT SUMMER DRINK !
Mafalda
Great!!!! I am fron Spain, Sangria comes from Spain & Portugal. I love Sangria and I love yours!!!!
Jamie
YES. This looks divine. A perfect summer sangria!
Janis
This looks sooo good.
Martyna
My friend does something very similar, it’s so delicious! xx
Martyna | NEON MIZZLE
Caz
Sangria is one of my favourite drinks and you are so right, it has to be done properly! This version looks amazing. Perfect for warm summer evenings. :)
Averie @ Averie Cooks
Oh I would love this. Me and this, would be BFFs :) I know it’s probably not technically sangria is I swapped the rose wine for rose champagne but that sounds good to me, too. But exactly as you have it, watermelon, strawberries, oranges, Contreau, yes please!
Ellen
Oooh, gorgeousness. The limoncello idea is killer.
Holiday Baker Man
perfect… using this for next weekend’s fireworks party on the deck!
Ash- foodfashionparty
I hate really bad sangria, and this is not THAT…It’s Friday night and I could one of that.
Laura
I love a Really Good Sangria, and this one sounds fantastic! I don’t typically associate watermelon with sangria, but I definitely want to try this.
Elana
I’m always on the quest for good sangria. This sounds DELICIOUS and not just cause I’ve been drinking my own for hours tonight. Watermelon= awesome.