Winter is upon us and that means one thing: a plethora of parties! Whether it be Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, New Years, or a winter celebration, it seems like every weekend is another event to attend and/or host. When it comes to hosting my own parties, I love whipping up big batches of cocktails. A little more upscale than giving people a bottle of beer, large-batch cocktail recipes are fun to share and can be put together easily. One of my favorites, in particular, is Cranberry Rosemary White Sangria. Loaded with fresh cranberries, pears, sprigs of fresh rosemary, and a hearty glug of pinot grigio and club soda, this white wine holiday party cocktail will be the star of the show.
All sangria recipes follow the same formula: fruit, wine, and bubbles. Noted as the most popular drink in Spain, Sangrias are typically made with red wine. While untraditional, white wine sangrias have been gaining popularity as an alternative to red wine. Drier than the red wine sangria, white wine sangrias tend to be crisp and lighter. Whichever you prefer, this sangria drink recipe is the perfect holiday cocktail to serve at the company Christmas party.
To make the Christmas cocktail, start by chopping two Barlett pears into small cubes. Add them into a large punch bowl along with 1 cup fresh cranberries and 1 large sprig of rosemary. If you like the look, snip the rosemary into smaller rosemary sprigs. Pour in two bottles of pinot grigio followed by white grape juice, brandy, and granulated sugar. Stir to combine and let chill for 30 minutes. You can make this holiday recipe a few hours in advance. Just wait to add the cranberry seltzer until right before guests arrive to ensure their Christmas drink is nice and bubbly. Bubly sparkling water is a great choice and doesn't add a red hue to your holiday drink.
