A glass of this refreshing Spa Water Sangria tastes like a trip to the spa - with a little kick! Made with white wine, gin, cucumber, melon and mint, this easy batch cocktail is a delicious way to beat the summer heat.
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Our Spa Water Sangria is a slightly boozy take on everyone's favorite spa beverage. Similar in flavor to the fruit-infused water you get when you go to a spa, this spiked spa water recipe is equally as (if not more) thirst-quenching thanks to crisp white wine, herbal gin and a minimal amount of sugar to keep the flavors balanced.
Summer's heat and humidity are no match for this pitcher of refreshment.
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Why you'll love this sangria
➤ Great for groups: Most sangrias, including this Spa Water Sangria, have a lower alcohol content than most mixed drinks making them ideal (and more economical) for large groups. So go ahead and make a double (or triple) batch of this Spa Water Sangria for your backyard BBQ.
➤ Make ahead: Once you've mixed up the ingredients, you're done bartending for the night and can enjoy the party.
➤ Easy to customize: Want a stronger sangria? Add more gin. Prefer a lighter drink? Double up on the club soda. Crave sweeter drinks? Top with ginger ale or a lemon lime soda instead.
Ingredients
This Cucumber Melon Sangria contains some of summer's most refreshing ingredients.
A few ingredient notes:
White wine: A $10-12 bottle of dry, crispy white wine works well here. I used a Sauvignon Blanc, but a Vinho Verde, a dry Riesling or even a Pinot Grigio would work well, too.
Gin: Use your favorite. Our house gin is Tanqueray.
Sugar: I prefer to add superfine sugar to my cocktails. If you're not familiar with it, superfine sugar has a finer grain than regular sugar. It's often used in cold drinks and some baking recipes because it dissolves more quickly. You'll find it in the baking aisle. You can absolutely use regular granulated sugar; just know you may have to stir it for a little longer to get it to dissolve completely.
Cucumber: Any type of cucumber works in this recipe - garden, English or mini. Some people prefer to peel the cucumbers before adding them to the sangria but I don't bother with that extra step.
Club soda: You can also use plain or a flavored sparkling water.
Tip: Not a honeydew melon fan? Try substituting cantaloupe instead!
Instructions
This sangria can be made from 4-8 hours ahead of time and requires little more than chopping, stirring and refrigerating.
Add melon, cucumber, mint and sugar to a pitcher.
Pour gin and wine into pitcher and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate at least four hours. Add club soda and stir again just before serving.
FAQs
Sangria as it's known today is often associated with Spain and Portugal but it actually dates back to Roman times. During that period, people weren't sure their drinking water was safe, so they added fruits, herbs and wine to it. Iterations of the drink have evolved over the years but they all loosely follow a similar recipe: fruits and/or fruit juice, sweetener, sparkling water, liqueur/spirit and wine. The color of sangria depends on the wine used. Red sangria is made with red wine and white sangria is made with white wine.
Fresh, dry white wines like a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc are the best choices for white sangria as they combine well with fruits and herbs. Skip anything that has been aged in oak. Vinho Verde from Portugal and a dry Riesling from Germany are also good choices.
Most sangrias last up to 3 days in the fridge but they definitely start to lose their effervescence after the first day. Store your sangria in a sealed container like this lidded glass pitcher to prolong freshness.
Expert tips for making the best sangria
✔︎ Don't break the bank on a bottle of wine but do choose a wine that you would drink by the glass.
✔︎ Not a gin fan? Substitute vodka instead.
✔︎ Wait to add the chilled club soda until just before serving to preserve its effervescence.
✔︎ Want a sweeter drink? Add more plain simple syrup or stir in more sugar to taste.
✔︎ Serve the sangria over ice to keep it nice and cold.
✔︎ Feel free to eat the fruit and veggies from the sangria. Those boozy bites are my favorite!
More sangria recipes
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Recipe
Spa Water Sangria
Ingredients
- 1 750 ml bottle dry white wine
- ¾ cup gin
- 2 tablespoons superfine sugar
- ½ honeydew melon cubed
- ½ seedless cucumber sliced
- ½ cup packed fresh mint leaves
- 1 cup sparkling water or club soda, chilled
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Instructions
- Combine all ingredients except sparkling water in a large pitcher and still until sugar is dissolved. Refrigerate at least 4 hours (more if possible).1 750 ml bottle dry white wine, ¾ cup gin, 2 tablespoons superfine sugar, ½ honeydew melon, ½ seedless cucumber, ½ cup packed fresh mint leaves
- Just before serving, pour in sparkling water and gently stir to combine. Serve over ice in lowball or stemless wine glasses.1 cup sparkling water or club soda,
Notes
- A dry white wine works best in this recipe. Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Vinho Verde and even some Rieslings are all good options. Don't break the bank on a bottle of wine but do choose a wine that you would drink by the glass.
- Not a gin fan? Substitute vodka instead.
- This drink is well balanced but it's not overly sweet. Taste before serving and add simple syrup or stir in more sugar if a sweeter flavor is desired.
- This sangria is best served the day it is made when the club soda is fresh and bubbly, but it will last when covered in the fridge for another day or two.
- Recipe adapted from Good Housekeeping.
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Nutrition
Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.
Colleen says
Loved this sangria! Sangria is usually way, way too sweet for me, but this was so light and refreshing. I found a bag of frozen honeydew and cantaloupe balls, so that cut out 90% of the prep time. I would definitely make this again!
Anna says
Love the frozen fruit shortcut!
HELENA says
I WOULD LOVE TO TRY THIS RECIPE BUT IN WEST AFRICA, ITS DIFFICULT TO GET
HONEY DEW MELONS. CAN I USE WATER MELONS INSTEAD.
EVEN THOUGH THE COLOURS ARE NOT THE SAME
Anna says
I'd definitely give it a try, Helena. Stop back and let us know how it turns out!
JEN says
Looks great! Can this be made a few days prior to drinking like a typical sangria or will the ingredients not sit well?
Anna says
Hi Jen, I wouldn't make it more than a day in advance as the alcohol will start to break down the melon and cucumber. That is more of a personal preference though, as I enjoy eating those "drunken" pieces straight from the glass. Enjoy!
Mary Helen says
I did use the gin, made it exactly as shown, for a dinner party of 12. Everybody loved it, including me! Thanks for the great idea.
Anna says
Yay! So glad everyone enjoyed it!