Why I love this Grinch Sangria recipe
If you’re looking for a fun holiday drink that channels a little Whoville spirit, this Grinch Sangria is such a cute (and delicious!) option.
It starts with a light Pinot Grigio base, gets its signature green color from melon liqueur, and has plenty of fresh fruit mixed in so it feels bright and festive.
It’s easy to mix up ahead of time, perfect for parties, and always a hit with guests who like their cocktails on the lighter, fruitier side.
And if you’re willing to put in a little extra work, you can make heart-shaped strawberries for garnish. It’s the perfect little nod to the Grinch’s growing heart and makes every glass feel extra special.
Looking for more Grinch recipes? You'll love these Grinch Party Food Drink Ideas.
Ingredients
Here is your shopping list (for 8 6-ounce glasses):
- Alcohol – 1 bottle Pinot Grigio, 1½ cups Midori Melon Liqueur
- Fresh produce – 16 ounces strawberries plus extra for garnish, ½ cup fresh cranberries, ¼ cup pomegranate arils, 2 green apples
- Juice – ¼ cup pineapple juice
- Soda – 1 cup Sprite
Substitutions & Additions
- You can use any dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, or even a light Riesling if you prefer a touch of sweetness.
- For a non-alcoholic version, use white grape juice or apple juice instead of the wine and melon-flavored syrup* instead of the liqueur.
How to make Grinch sangria
1 | Prep work
Wash your strawberries thoroughly under cold water to remove any dirt or residue.
Then hull them by removing the green leafy top. Use a small paring knife or a strawberry huller* to cut around the stem.
Finally, slice them into thirds.
Wash, core and slice the apples. I like to use one of these slicer/corer tools* to do this.
2 | Mix the cocktail
In a large pitcher, pour in the Pinot Grigio, Melon Liqueur, and pineapple juice.
Use a long spoon or a stir stick to mix everything well.
Add the sliced strawberries, cranberries, green apple slices and pomegranate seeds to the pitcher.
Chill it in the fridge for at least 2 hours. This chilling time allows the flavors to meld, making the drink tastier.
3 | Prepare the garnish
While the sangria is chilling, cut some extra strawberries into heart shapes.
Wash and remove the hulls, then use a knife to cut each strawberry into a heart shape. They are already close to being a heart so you should just have to trim a little off the top and the bottom.
Then thread them onto a cocktail stick so that the top of the strawberry is close to the top of the stick.
Keep the strawberries chilled until you’re ready to use them so they stay firm and fresh.
4 | Serve
Right before serving, add one cup of Sprite to the pitcher. It’s important not to add the Sprite too early because it will go flat and lose its fizz.
When serving, put ice into each individual glass rather than into the pitcher. Putting ice directly into the pitcher can water down the sangria as it melts.
Then pour the sangria over it and garnish each glass with one of your heart-shaped strawberry cocktail sticks.
How to make a big batch
For a big batch, just double or triple the ingredients.
But make sure you have something big enough to hold it. Each batch of the recipe needs about 56 to 60 ounces.
I like to use a large beverage dispenser for this. Plus it has the extra benefit that it’s easy for people to help themselves.
How to make ahead
The mixture of alcohol and fruit can be made up to 24 hours in advance and stored in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.
I don’t like to make it much earlier than that because the fruit starts to get mushy.
You can also cut the strawberries into heart shapes ahead of time and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
When you’re ready to serve at the Sprite to the pitcher and serve as usual.
Grinch Sangria
Ingredients
- 1 750 mL bottle Pinot Grigio
- 1½ cups Midori Melon Liqueur
- ¼ cup pineapple juice
- 16 ounces strawberries, sliced, plus extra for garnish
- 2 green apples sliced
- ½ cup fresh cranberries
- ¼ cup pomegranate arils
- 1 cup Sprite
Equipment
- strawberry huller
- apple corer/slicer
- pitcher
- Sharp knife
- measuring cups
- punch glasses
- cocktail stir sticks
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, combine the Pinot Grigio, Melon Liqueur, and pineapple juice. Stir well.1 750 mL bottle Pinot Grigio, 1½ cups Midori Melon Liqueur, ¼ cup pineapple juice
- Add in the sliced strawberries, sliced apples, cranberries and pomegranate arils.16 ounces strawberries, , 2 green apples, ½ cup fresh cranberries, ¼ cup pomegranate arils
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
- In the meantime, cut strawberries into a heart shape. Then thread them onto cocktail stir sticks. Cover and store in the refrigerator until you are ready to use them.16 ounces strawberries,
- Just before serving, add 1 cup Sprite to the pitcher.1 cup Sprite
- Serve over ice in glasses
- Add one of the strawberry heart-shaped cocktail stirrers.
Notes
- You can use any dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, or even a light Riesling if you prefer a touch of sweetness.
- For a non-alcoholic version, use white grape juice or apple juice instead of the wine and melon-flavored syrup* instead of the liqueur.
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Have comments or questions about our Grinch sangria? Tell us in the section below.