Sangria by the glass means you don’t need a whole pitcher to enjoy sangria—sparkling, slightly sweet, with bright berries and fresh basil.
I love sangria, but most recipes assume you want to make a giant pitcher, which leads to three problems: you either need a crowd, you have a lot of leftover alcohol, or the drink goes flat. None of those work for me, so I created a simple solution: sangria made one glass at a time.
This method solves the leftover problem and the over-sweetness problem at once. Store-bought mixes and many homemade recipes rely on soda or syrup and can be too sweet. This version is adjustable—use unsweetened white grape juice if you prefer less sugar, or choose a sweeter juice if you like it candy-sweet.
The result is a mixed-berry and basil sangria made individually, and it works either with white wine for adults or with white grape juice for a mocktail. The trick that makes the single-glass approach possible is flavored ice cubes.
I fill ice cube trays with fresh blueberries (frozen will work in a pinch) and cover them with white grape juice—unsweetened if you want to keep sweetness low. Freeze, then store the cubes in a resealable freezer bag so they’re ready whenever the mood strikes.
When assembling, use distinct glassware so it’s easy to tell adult and kid versions apart. Start each glass the same way: add two or three blueberry-grape juice ice cubes, a couple of halved strawberries, and two or three fresh basil leaves.
For the adult version, pour about 3/4 cup of white wine (Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay work well), add a splash of white grape juice to taste, and top with plain seltzer or hard seltzer. For the mocktail, pour 3/4 cup white grape juice and top with seltzer. Stir and adjust sweetness by adding more grape juice if desired.
This sangria is refreshing and fizzy—berry-and-basil bright—perfect for warm days.
Why basil? Basil pairs beautifully with berries. Try wrapping a thin strip of basil around a berry and taste the combination: the herb’s perfume amplifies the fruit’s flavor. Basil deserves a place beyond sauces—try it with fruit and cocktails.
Sangria by the glass
Make a big batch of blueberry-grape ice cubes and keep them in a gallon-sized resealable bag in the freezer so you can assemble sangria one glass at a time whenever you want.
I prefer unsweetened home-canned white grape juice, but store-bought unsweetened grape juice works well. If you prefer a sweeter drink, use sweetened grape juice. Plain seltzer keeps the drink light, or use hard seltzer for a boozier, bubbly finish.
If you prefer to make a pitcher for a crowd, follow the same ratios in a larger container—but the by-the-glass method helps control portions and keeps drinks crisp.
Use these to make Sangria By The Glass
- Ice cube trays
- Resealable freezer bags for storage
- Stemless wine glasses for the adult version
- Fun glasses for the mocktail version
Mixed Berry and Basil Sangria-By-The-Glass (and mocktail variation)
Rebecca Lindamood
Ingredients
For the Berry Grape Ice Cubes:
- 1 pint fresh blueberries
- 2-4 cups white grape juice preferably unsweetened
For Mixed Berry Sangria-By-The-Glass, per glass:
- 4 Berry Grape Ice Cubes
- 3/4 cup white wine Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay
- 2-4 fresh whole basil leaves
- 2 large or 4 small fresh strawberries hulled and halved
- a splash of white grape juice
- cold plain or hard seltzer
For the Mocktail, per glass:
- 4 Berry Grape Ice Cubes
- 3/4 cup white grape juice
- 2-4 fresh whole basil leaves
- 2 large or 4 small fresh strawberries hulled and halved
- cold seltzer
Instructions
To make Berry Grape Ice Cubes:
- Fill each ice cube tray compartment with fresh blueberries without packing. Pour white grape juice over the blueberries to cover. Freeze until solid, then transfer the cubes to a resealable freezer bag and store until ready to use.
To make Sangria-by-the-Glass (regular or mocktail):
- Add 4 Berry Grape Ice Cubes to each glass along with the strawberries and basil leaves. Pour the wine and/or grape juice over the cubes, top with chilled seltzer, stir briskly, and enjoy.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. Calculate nutrition using the specific ingredients you use.
Did you make this recipe?
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This recipe originally published June 3, 2013; updated May 2016 and June 2017.