This Easy Moscato Sangria Recipe blends Moscato wine and melon to create a delicious, fruity homemade sangria. A sangria recipe that makes a beautiful presentation perfect for summer entertaining or any time of year.
This fruity sangria recipe takes about an hour to get ready and fills a 32-ounce pitcher in the most wonderful way. It's the perfect fruity summer sangria!!
True wine connoisseurs or purists might minimize the value of homemade sangria because it involves wine with fruit and other ingredients, including other liquors.
It's unfortunate because this easy Moscato sangria recipe is refreshing and perfect for entertaining. Sangria is so versatile that virtually everyone can create a homemade sangria to suit their own tastes.
That being said, you can buy sangrias that are already made, but let me tell you how much fun you will have creating your own sangria drink. I particularly enjoy a sangria with white wine, particularly Moscato, and melon pairs perfectly with white wine.
If you enjoy making sangria and other adult beverages for home entertaining, you need to try this orange gin and tonic cocktail or easy ranch water seltzer.
Throw in some easy appetizers like this amazing bagel dip and pulled pork fries and your guests may never leave.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Sangria is easy to customize. Use whatever combination of wines and fruits you like.
- You can make sangria in large batches for get-togethers.
- The fruit imparts a wonderful fresh flavor to the wine.
- This sangria recipe comes together quickly and easily for entertaining.
What is Sangria?
Sangria is an alcoholic beverage, similar to a punch, that originated in Spain in the 18th century and is still popular in Spain and Portugal today.
The actual word “sangria” derives from the Latin word meaning "blood." This name comes from the reddish hue of sangria which is a result of the red wine traditionally used to make it.
Sangria was introduced to the United States around the start of World War II by Spanish Americans. There is no right way to make sangria but a few guidelines to follow when creating your own perfect homemade sangria.
Ingredients in Moscato Sangria with Melon
A quick trip to the local grocery store and liquor store is all it takes to get what you need to make this melon-flavored sangria!
- Honeydew and Cantaloupe: This recipe uses frozen melon balls that you freeze ahead. These melons pair perfectly with white wines.
- Midori: Made from real fresh fruit, Midori is a wonderfully sweet, bright green, melon-flavored liqueur that is generally only used in cocktails. Usually with sour ingredients to balance the sweetness. This melon liqueur adds a fabulous punch of flavor to the Moscato sangria.
- Moscato, sparkling Italian wine: Made from muscat grapes, Moscato is traditionally a popular Italian wine, close to a dessert wine, with just the right amount of carbonation or bubbles. In addition, Moscato has a low alcohol content.
- Sparkling rosé wine: This bottle of wine pairs wonderfully with Moscato. If you don't care for rosé, any sparkling white wine will work.
How to Make Moscato Sangria with Melon
Here are step-by-step instructions on how to prepare the Moscato sangria. For the complete instructions and nutrition information see the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
TOP TIP: Allow time to prepare and freeze the melon balls ahead of time. Once the melon balls are frozen, this easy sangria recipe comes together quickly.
- Prepare frozen melon balls. Cut honeydew melon and cantaloupe in half. Scoop out seeds.
2. Use a melon ball scoop and scoop out 1 ½ cups of honeydew melon.
3. Use a melon ball scoop and scoop out 1 ½ cups of cantaloupe melon.
4. Arrange in an ice cube tray, or on a tray without touching each other. Freeze for one hour.
5. In a large pitcher, add the melon liqueur.
6. Add Moscato and sparkling rose.
7. Cut lime into slices.
8. Gently stir to combine, and add frozen melon balls.
9. If serving immediately, allow the mixture to stand for as close to 30 minutes as you can for the flavors to meld a little together. Two hours or even better overnight is the ideal length of time to refrigerate before the drink is ready to serve.
10. Pour into wine glasses to serve and enjoy! This cocktail recipe is a keeper!
Substitutions
Don’t have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this Moscato Sangria recipe.
- Fruit: You can easily make changes to the fruit used in this recipe. Substitute watermelon for the cantaloupe or honeydew. You can also substitute the frozen melon balls for fresh melon balls, but the frozen melon helps keep the sangria chilled without watering it down.
- Moscato: The sweetness of this wine is key so swap it out with a sweet wine such as Riesling. Rieslings usually have peach, honey, citrus, and tropical fruit flavors which work well with the rest of the drink.
- Sparkling Wine: While the sparkling wines are particularly nice in this Moscato sangria, you can use wines without bubbles.
- Midori: I absolutely love the flavor the Midori adds to the sangria, but you can choose to leave it out or replace it with Melon Schnapps.
Variations
Want to personalize this sangria? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.
- Fruit: Instead of using melons, make a green apple sangria instead. Some alternate fruits are peaches, mangos, berries, oranges, nectarines, pears, pineapple, oranges and lemons. However, the melon balls freeze especially well.
- Herbs: A sprig of mint would add a nice touch.
- Sweetness: If you like things extra sweet, you could add a bit of honey, simple syrup or some citrus juice.
If you love homemade drink recipes, you may also enjoy a tequila berry cocktail.
Equipment
All you need are a few tools to make Moscato Sangria with Melon Balls.
- Large glass pitcher
- Melon baller
- Cutting board and knife
- Measuring cups
- Wooden spoon
Tips
- Don't skimp on the chilling time. You want all of your ingredients to be nice and cold to give your fruits a chance to infuse the wine with flavor.
- Taste and adjust. As with cooking, you want to taste and adjust the recipe as you go to make sure it is to your liking.
- Use a large glass pitcher for a dramatic presentation or serve it up chilled in a tumbler or white wine glass.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours, though the wine may lose its bubbles while it sits.
- To keep it bubbly! Add everything except your sparkling wine together and chill until needed. Then, right before serving, add your sparkling wine.
- Gone flat? If your sangria loses its bubbles, top it off with some more sparkling wine or some bubbly water of some kind.
FAQ
Do you have questions about Moscato Sangria with Melon? Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.
The basic ingredients for Sangria are wine and fruit, and sometimes herbs, and fruity liqueurs.
Simply put, red sangria is made with red wine, and white sangria with white. I wasn't kidding when I said this is an easy homemade sangria recipe!
Yes, in Spanish this drink is called Ponche de Sangria (sangria punch). Usually, this version is prepared for children and includes soda pop like ginger ale or club soda (instead of wine), fruits like oranges, berries, or peaches, and may include food coloring to simulate the red color of sangria. In this recipe, you can swap out the moscato and sparkling wine with ginger ale, club soda, or a blend. Then puree some melon to mix into the sangria punch to give it the melon flavor.
A punch bowl, a large pitcher, or a large beverage dispenser with a spout is perfect when serving a large group. For smaller groups, you can also have it available in individual serving glasses.
What is the Best Wine to Use for Sangria?
The best wine for sangria is a dry, fruity wine that you would also enjoy all by itself. I mean, if you don't enjoy the base of this amazing cocktail you won't LOVE the final product as you should.
Red Wine
Originally, red wine was the base to making sangria. For this easy homemade sangria recipe, you'll need to find a red wine that is dry with simple fruity flavors and aromas. These wines are generally inexpensive and produced recently.
White Wine
Many white wines contain a fruity profile so pay attention to which fruit profile you're purchasing. Then you need to consider whether or not the flavor profile will work with the other fruits and spirits you're adding to make your perfect fruity sangria drink.
Stick to simple, recently bottled, generally inexpensive, less complex flavored white wines.
You also want to avoid any fruity flavors from becoming overwhelming and ruining your homemade sangria.
Rosé Wine
Choose a dry rosé wine, usually with hints of berries, and have a look at how pink the wine is. This way you can imagine the color of your homemade sangria drink.
Rose wines go well with melons and peaches, not just raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, and cranberries.
Sparkling Wine
I LOVE using sparkling wine in my sangria drinks. Love the color of rosé and all the bubbles. Again, you're looking for simple, inexpensive, recently produced, and fruity sparkling wine.
What's important is how you get your sangria ready. Most sangrias want you to soak your fruit and all of the ingredients together for a period of time before serving which may result in a slightly flat sangria! For best results, add it right before serving!
Dessert Wine
With the proper planning, you can use sweet dessert wines to make sangria. Find simple, fruity dessert wines with less sugar and alcohol content. All dessert wines are sweet but the amount of sweetness is reduced by finding one with less sugar and alcohol.
Next, choose fruit that isn't as sweet, like granny smith apples, lemons, limes, or oranges. Your sangria needs to be balanced. A little sweet and a little sour.
Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Madeira, Vermouth, and Marsala wines won't work well with this fruity sangria drink.
More Drink Recipes
Some of my favorites are this Spiked Dalgona Coffee Recipe, Simple Cranberry Christmas Punch, and Hot Chocolate Cocoa Bombs!!
Moscato Sangria with Melon Balls
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups frozen honeydew melon balls
- 1 ½ cups frozen cantaloupe balls
- 4 oz midori, melon liqueur
- 8 oz moscato, sparkling Italian wine
- 16 oz sparkling rose wine
Instructions
- Get out and measure your ingredients.
- Prepare frozen melon balls. Cut honeydew melon and cantaloupe in half. Scoop out seeds.
- Use a melon ball scoop and scoop out 1 ½ cups of honeydew melon.
- Use a melon ball scoop and scoop out 1 ½ cups of cantaloupe melon.
- Arrange in an ice cube tray, or on a tray without touching each other. Freeze for 1 hour.
- In a large pitcher, add melon liqueur.
- Add moscato, and sparkling rose.
- Cut lime into slices.
- Gently stir, and add frozen melon balls. If serving immediately, allow to stand for at as close to 30 minutes as you can for the flavors to meld a little together. Two hours to overnight is the ideal length of time to refrigerate before serving.
- Pour into wine glasses to serve and enjoy!
- Sangria lasts in your fridge for about 5 days. Simply add a can or two of soda water, soda pop or some kind of bubbly water right before serving to refresh your sangria, if desired.
Notes
- Don't skimp on the chilling time. You want all of your ingredients to be nice and cold to give your fruits a chance to infuse the wine with flavor.
- Taste and adjust. As with cooking, you want to taste and adjust the recipe as you go to make sure it is to your liking.
- Use a large glass pitcher for a dramatic presentation or serve it up chilled in a tumbler or white wine glass.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours, though the wine may lose its bubbles while it sits.
- To keep it bubbly! Add everything except your sparkling wine together and chill until needed. Then, right before serving, add your sparkling wine.
- Gone flat? If your sangria loses its bubbles, top it off with some more sparkling wine or some bubbly water of some kind.
Nutrition
Margarita says
This is my go to when I do brunch with the girls. ( Sundays of course) I have even had to use other fruits like watermelon ( it can get grainy) and mangoes. Always a sweet treat for the gold. Thank you.
Karin and Ken says
I’m glad you enjoy this sangria recipe as much as I do! It’s so refreshing and perfect for brunch! Thank you for taking the time to let me know. 😊 All the best. Karin