Festive Christmas Rosé Sangria with Cranberries and Rosemary

Light, sparkling, and full of colour – this Festive Christmas Rosé Sangria with Cranberries and Rosemary is a cheerful holiday cocktail that’s both elegant and easy to make. Featuring rosé wine, Cointreau, cranberries, honey, and fragrant rosemary, this drink is the perfect balance of refreshing and festive.

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If you’re looking for a holiday cocktail that’s bright and refreshing yet still feels festive, this festive Christmas rosé sangria is exactly that. It’s crisp and fruity with subtle herbal notes, making it ideal for Christmas brunches, cozy evenings, or any cheerful gathering. Even better, it’s simple to prepare and can easily be made ahead — which means more time for celebration and less time mixing.

What Is Sangria

Sangria is a traditional Spanish punch made by mixing wine with fruit, sweeteners, and often a splash of liqueur. It’s refreshing, colourful, and endlessly adaptable. While classic versions use red wine, this festive Christmas rosé sangria gives the tradition a lighter, brighter twist — perfect for the holiday season.

Why You’ll Love This Festive Christmas Rosé Sangria

• Beautifully festive: A bright pink hue with floating cranberries and rosemary sprigs – it looks like Christmas in a glass.
• Light and refreshing: Not too strong or sweet, making it perfect for long holiday meals or casual gatherings.
• Easy to prepare: Minimal effort, maximum visual and flavour impact.
• Customizable: Adjust the sweetness, fruit, or liqueur to suit your taste and the occasion.

Festive Christmas Rosé Sangria: Flavour Profile

This festive Christmas rosé sangria is crisp, slightly sweet, and aromatic. The rosé gives it a refreshing, fruity base, while the cranberries add tang and the rosemary brings subtle herbal warmth. The honey ties it all together, creating a drink that’s light yet layered. Each sip tastes fresh and festive – the perfect balance between elegant and easy-going.

Ingredients You’ll Need for This Recipe

• Rosé wine: The star of the sangria – dry or semi-sweet rosé works best. It brings a lovely pink tone and crisp berry notes that complement the fruit.
• Cointreau (or other orange liqueur): Adds warmth, depth, and a hint of citrus that brightens the flavour. You can also use Triple Sec or Grand Marnier.
• Cranberries: Fresh or frozen cranberries not only add festive colour but also a subtle tartness.
• Honey: Natural sweetness balances the fruit and wine. Adjust to taste or replace with simple syrup if preferred.
• Rosemary: A few sprigs infuse a delicate piney aroma that pairs beautifully with the cranberries – it’s a simple touch that makes the drink feel extra festive.
• Orange slices: Optional but lovely for added colour and citrus aroma.
• Ice or sparkling water (optional): For serving – keeps the drink chilled and slightly effervescent if you like a lighter version.

Possible Additions and Variations

• Make it sparkling: Top with sparkling rosé or prosecco just before serving.
• Add more fruit: Try pomegranate seeds, apple slices, or raspberries for colour and texture.
• Non-alcoholic version: Use non-alcoholic rosé or cranberry juice with a splash of orange juice.

More Christmas Cocktail Recipes

Are you looking for more festive cocktail ideas, just like this festive Christmas rosé sangria? Please be sure to check some:

• Cranberry Amaretto Sangria
• Festive Cranberry and Rosemary Cocktail
• Festive Cranberry Orange Brandy Cocktail

I hope you enjoy this festive Christmas rosé sangria and will give the recipe a try. If you do, please let me know in the comment section below, send me a message on Instagram, or share your photos using the hashtag #havocinthekitchen.e your photos by adding the hashtag #havocinthekitchen.

Cheers!

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Festive Christmas Rosé Sangria with Cranberries and Rosemary

Recipe by Ben | Havocinthekitchen

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: Christmas, Festive Holiday Drinks, CocktailsDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4-6

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

10

minutes

Chilling time

3-5

hours

A Festive Christmas Rosé Sangria with Cranberries and Rosemary – light, refreshing, festive drink that is perfect for the holidays.

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Ingredients

• 2 cups (about 220-250 g) fresh or frozen cranberries

• 1 bottle (750 ml) rosé wine of your choice, divided

• 1/4 cup (60 ml) Cointreau or other Triple sec

• 2-3 tbsp. (40-50 ml) honey

• juice of 1 orange

• 1-2 small rosemary sprigs

• fresh cranberries (optional)

Directions

• In a small saucepan combine 1/2 cup of wine with cranberries. Bring to a boil then simmer for about 5-7 minutes until soft and juices have been released. Remove from heat and let the mixture cool for about 30 minutes.
• Using a fine sieve mesh, mash the cranberries releasing as much of the juices as possible then discard the cranberries. (You don’t need to follow this step. Add the entire mixture to the sangria and filter, if desired, just before serving.) Alternatively, you can use good quality cranberry sauce; so in this case just skip this step.
• In a large pitcher, combine the wine, Cointreau, cranberry juice (made in the previous step), orange juice, honey, and rosemary. Optionally add in some (~1/2 cup or so) fresh cranberries. Stir to combine. Try and adjust the taste by adding more wine (Cointreau, orange liquor, or honey). Chill in the fridge for 2-4 hours or until ready to serve. You can serve it immediately over crushed ice, but chilling is strongly recommended.
• Garnish as desired and serve. Enjoy!

Notes

• You can use white or red wine of your choice in place of rosé.
• You can use cranberry juice instead of making cranberry base.