After years of experimenting with holiday drinks, I've finally perfected this non-alcoholic white sangria mocktail that consistently wows my guests. This recipe combines crisp non-alcoholic white wine with sweet apple cider, fresh citrus, and warm spices that blend together beautifully as they chill.
What I love most is how incredibly simple it is – just 5 minutes of prep, then into the fridge it goes while you handle everything else. When guests arrive, you'll have a gorgeous, restaurant-quality mocktail ready to serve that looks as impressive as it tastes.
This is hands-down my most requested recipe during the holiday season!
Why I Love This
- Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare this elegant mocktail hours before your event and let the flavors develop while you focus on other hosting duties
- Stunning Presentation: The beautiful combination of sliced fruits and spices creates an Instagram-worthy beverage that impresses before the first sip
- Customizable Sweetness: Easily adjust the sweetness level right before serving to accommodate all taste preferences
- Crowd-Pleasing Flavor Profile: The harmonious blend of apple, cinnamon, and citrus appeals to almost everyone, making it perfect for diverse gatherings
- Alcohol-Free Sophistication: Provides the complexity and visual appeal of traditional sangria without the alcohol, so everyone can partake
- Restaurant-Quality at Home: Serves up the kind of specialty mocktail you'd pay premium prices for at upscale establishments
Ingredients
I carefully selected these ingredients to create the perfect balance of flavors without alcohol. The non-alcoholic white wine provides that classic sangria base, while apple cider adds natural sweetness and depth. Fresh citrus brightens everything up, and the cinnamon and star anise bring warm, holiday spice notes that make this drink special.
I chose maple syrup as an optional sweetener because its rich flavor complements the apple and spices beautifully. When these ingredients mingle in the refrigerator, they create a sophisticated mocktail that tastes like it took hours to make.
- 1 bottle (750ml) non-alcoholic white wine (preferably Sauvignon Blanc)
- 1 cup apple cider or cloudy apple juice
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice 1 apple, thinly sliced
- 1 blood orange (or regular orange), thinly sliced
- 3 cinnamon sticks, plus extra for garnish
- 2 star anise, plus extra for garnish
- Maple syrup to taste (optional)
- Ice for serving
- Additional fruit slices for garnish
Equipment
- Large Glass Pitcher or Punch Bowl (48 oz minimum) - For mixing and showcasing the beautiful colors and ingredients
- Long Mixing Spoon - For gentle stirring without damaging the fruit slices
- Sharp Knife - For creating clean, precise fruit slices
- Cutting Board - To safely prepare your fruit
- Citrus Juicer (optional) - For extracting fresh lemon juice efficiently
- Measuring Cups - For accurate ingredient proportions
- Fine Mesh Strainer (optional) - To remove pulp from fresh lemon juice if desired
- Elegant Serving Glasses - Wine glasses or gold-rimmed tumblers showcase this mocktail beautifully
How To Make
- Pour the non-alcoholic white wine, apple cider, and fresh lemon juice into your pitcher or punch bowl and stir gently to combine.
- Add all the sliced apple, blood orange, cinnamon sticks, and star anise to the liquid mixture.
- Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, though 3-4 hours will give you even better flavor as the fruits and spices infuse the liquid.
- When you're ready to serve, taste the sangria and add maple syrup if you'd like it sweeter, stirring well after each tablespoon.
- To serve, fill glasses with ice, add a few pieces of the infused fruit from the pitcher, pour the sangria over, and garnish with a fresh cinnamon stick if desired.
Substitutions
Non-Alcoholic Wine Alternatives:
- White grape juice (reduce added sweetener if using this option)
- Equal parts white tea and apple juice
- Elderflower cordial diluted with water (use ¼ cup cordial to 3 cups water)
Apple Cider Substitutes:
- Cloudy apple juice
- Pear nectar for a subtle flavor variation
- White cranberry juice for a unique twist
Citrus Options:
- Replace blood orange with regular orange, tangerine, or grapefruit
- Add lemon and lime slices for extra citrus notes
Sweetener Variations:
- Honey (use slightly less than the maple syrup amount)
- Agave nectar
- Simple syrup
- Monk fruit extract or stevia for a sugar-free option
Spice Alternatives:
- Cardamom pods instead of star anise
- Vanilla bean split lengthwise
- Fresh ginger slices for a warming kick
Pro Tips
Quality Matters: Use the highest quality non-alcoholic wine you can find—it's the foundation of your mocktail. Giesen Non-Alcoholic Sauvignon Blanc is excellent.
Thin, Uniform Slices: Cut your fruit into thin, uniform slices for better infusion and more elegant presentation.
Chill Your Glasses: Place serving glasses in the freezer for 15 minutes before serving for an extra-refreshing experience.
Create a Sangria Bar: Set up a self-serve station with the pitcher, glasses, ice, additional garnishes, and sweetener options so guests can customize their drinks.
Ice Cubes with a Twist: Freeze apple cider in ice cube trays to use instead of regular ice—they'll cool the drink without diluting the flavor.
Reserve Fresh Garnish: Set aside some fresh fruit slices specifically for garnishing to ensure they look perfect when serving.
Layer Your Pitcher: For visual impact, arrange some fruit slices against the inside of a clear pitcher before adding the liquid.
Gentle Stirring: When mixing ingredients, stir gently to prevent fruit breakage and maintain the beautiful presentation.
FAQ
You can prepare this mocktail up to 24 hours in advance. In fact, letting it sit in the refrigerator overnight will develop the flavors beautifully. Just wait to add any sparkling components until right before serving.
The lemon juice in the recipe helps prevent oxidation, but for best visual appeal, prepare the sangria no more than 8 hours before your event. Alternatively, you can add the apple slices closer to serving time.
Absolutely! Simply multiply all ingredients proportionally. For very large gatherings, consider making two separate batches rather than one huge batch to maintain quality control.
Yes, this is completely alcohol-free and appropriate for all ages. Children particularly enjoy the fruity flavors and having their own "fancy" drink.
Use a very dry non-alcoholic white wine, reduce the apple cider by half and replace with water, and skip the additional sweetener altogether.
Add maple syrup gradually, one tablespoon at a time, stirring and tasting between additions until you reach your desired sweetness level.
While fresh fruit provides the best presentation, you can use frozen fruit for the infusion process and then garnish with fresh fruit when serving.
This versatile sangria pairs beautifully with: Holiday appetizers and charcuterie boards, Mediterranean dishes, Light seafood, Festive desserts and cookies, and Creamy cheeses and crackers
Refrigerated leftovers will keep for 2-3 days, though the fruit may soften considerably. You can strain out the original fruit and add fresh fruit when serving leftovers.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
White Sangria Mocktail
Ingredients
- 1 bottle 750ml non-alcoholic white wine (preferably Sauvignon Blanc)
- 1 cup apple cider or cloudy apple juice
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 apple thinly sliced
- 1 blood orange or regular orange, thinly sliced
- 3 cinnamon sticks plus extra for garnish
- 2 star anise plus extra for garnish
- Maple syrup to taste optional
- Ice for serving
- Additional fruit slices for garnish
Instructions
- Pour the non-alcoholic white wine, apple cider, and fresh lemon juice into your pitcher or punch bowl and stir gently to combine.
- Add all the sliced apple, blood orange, cinnamon sticks, and star anise to the liquid mixture.
- Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, though 3-4 hours will give you even better flavor as the fruits and spices infuse the liquid.
- When you're ready to serve, taste the sangria and add maple syrup if you'd like it sweeter, stirring well after each tablespoon.
- To serve, fill glasses with ice, add a few pieces of the infused fruit from the pitcher, pour the sangria over, and garnish with a fresh cinnamon stick if desired.
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