Festive Cranberry Wine Spritzer: The Ultimate Holiday Cocktail Recipe
As the holiday season draws near, bringing with it crisp air and festive cheer, there’s nothing quite like a sparkling drink to capture the spirit. This Cranberry Wine Spritzer is an absolutely perfect concoction, designed to delight your senses and impress your guests. Imagine a beautifully balanced blend of sweet and tart cranberries, bright blood orange, subtle warmth from spices, a hint of bourbon, and the effervescence of white wine. It’s more than just a drink; it’s a celebration in a glass!
This light, fruity, and bubbly white wine spritzer recipe is specifically designed for those who appreciate a refreshing cocktail with a festive twist. Its vibrant ruby red hue, courtesy of cranberry and blood orange, combined with thoughtful garnishes, makes it an eye-catching addition to any holiday table.
While holiday gatherings might look a little different this year, the joy of a homemade festive drink remains. This Cranberry Wine Spritzer is perfect for intimate celebrations, cozy evenings by the fireplace, or even a virtual toast with loved ones. It’s a delightful alternative or companion to other seasonal favorites like a rich Christmas Sangria.
Why You’ll Love This Cranberry Wine Spritzer
- Effortlessly Elegant: This drink looks sophisticated with minimal effort. The vibrant colors and simple garnishes create an instant ‘wow’ factor.
- Customizable Flavor: You can adjust the sweetness, the amount of bourbon, or even make it non-alcoholic to suit everyone’s preferences.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: The simple syrup and cranberry mix can be prepared in advance, freeing you up to enjoy your guests when it’s time to serve.
- Seasonal Ingredients: Harnesses the best of winter produce with cranberries and blood oranges, infusing a truly seasonal taste.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: While ideal for holidays, this spritzer is versatile enough for any festive gathering, brunch, or even a relaxing afternoon.
Imagine setting up a beautiful spread of your favorite holiday appetizers, such as these Cucumber Hummus Bites, Warm Brie Cranberry Naan, and these Ham Cheese and Cranberry Rollups. Then, pour a sparkling glass of this exquisite Cranberry Wine Spritzer for an unforgettable experience!
If you’re a fan of unique drink recipes, explore our full collection here. You might also enjoy concoctions like our Vodka Cherry Limeade, a comforting Homemade Chai Tea Latte, or a cozy Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Essential Ingredients for Your Cranberry Wine Spritzer
Crafting this festive spritzer involves a few key ingredients that come together to create a harmonious blend of flavors. Here’s what you’ll need, along with some helpful tips for substitutions and variations:
- Juice: The heart of this spritzer lies in its fruity base. We use both sweet cranberry juice and bright blood orange juice. Blood oranges offer a beautiful color and a slightly more intense, floral citrus flavor. If blood orange juice is unavailable, regular fresh orange juice makes a perfectly delicious substitute. Always opt for 100% juice without added sugars to control the sweetness of your drink.
- Bourbon: A splash of bourbon adds a wonderful layer of warmth and complexity, complementing the fruit and spices. However, if bourbon isn’t to your taste or you prefer an alcohol-free version, feel free to omit it. The spritzer is equally delightful with just the wine/champagne and juices, or entirely without alcohol. For a different spirit, consider gin for a botanical twist or a good quality spiced rum.
- Spiced Simple Syrup: This homemade element is a game-changer! A spiced blood orange simple syrup infuses the drink with natural sweetness and aromatic depth from warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, and star anise. If blood oranges are out of season, regular orange peels work beautifully. This syrup can be made ahead of time and stored, making holiday entertaining a breeze.
- White Wine or Champagne/Prosecco: For the wine component, I recommend a crisp, sweet white wine. Varieties like Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, or a Moscato d’Asti would be excellent choices, providing a lovely balance to the cranberry and orange. Alternatively, for an extra celebratory sparkle, a bottle of champagne or prosecco works wonderfully, adding natural effervescence. The choice here depends on your preference for sweetness and bubbles.
- Club Soda, Mineral Water, or Sparkling Water: If you opt for still white wine, you’ll want to add some fizz! Club soda, mineral water, or sparkling water are ideal for this, providing bubbles without additional sugar. For a slightly sweeter, fruitier kick, you could use a lemon-lime soda like Sprite, but be mindful of the added sugar content.
For exact ingredient amounts and detailed step-by-step instructions, please refer to the complete recipe card provided further down the page.
How to Master this Festive Cranberry Wine Spritzer
Creating this delicious spritzer is a straightforward process, broken down into two main steps: preparing the aromatic simple syrup and then assembling the drink itself. Follow these instructions for a perfect batch every time:
FOR THE SPICED BLOOD ORANGE SIMPLE SYRUP:
The simple syrup is where a lot of the deep, warm holiday flavors come from. Don’t skip this step!
- Combine Ingredients: In a small saucepan, combine sugar, water, blood orange peels (or regular orange peels), star anise (if using), cinnamon stick, and cloves.
- Gentle Simmer: Place the pot over low to medium heat. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring constantly to ensure the sugar fully dissolves.
- Infuse Flavors: Continue to cook for approximately 10 minutes. This allows the spices and orange peels ample time to infuse their beautiful aromas and flavors into the syrup. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Cool Completely: Once the flavors are well-infused, remove the pot from the heat. Let the simple syrup cool down completely to room temperature. This step is crucial, as adding warm syrup to cold juice and wine will dilute the drink and affect its chill. You can even make this syrup a day or two in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
FOR THE SPRITZER ASSEMBLY:
Once your simple syrup is ready and cooled, assembling the spritzer is quick and easy, especially if you’re preparing a batch for guests.
- Mix the Base: In a large, tall pitcher, combine the cranberry juice, blood orange juice, bourbon (if using), and the cooled spiced blood orange simple syrup. Stir everything together until well combined.
- Chill and Garnish (Pitcher): Add some fresh blood orange slices and cinnamon sticks directly into the pitcher for an extra infusion of flavor and a beautiful presentation. Refrigerate the mixture for at least an hour, or even overnight, to allow the flavors to meld and ensure it’s thoroughly chilled. The colder it is, the more refreshing your spritzer will be.
- Individual Serving: When you’re ready to serve, fill individual glasses with plenty of ice.
- With Wine: Pour white wine into about half of the glass. Then, top it off with the chilled cranberry mix until the glass is almost full. Finish with a splash of club soda, mineral water, or sparkling water to add that delightful fizz.
- With Champagne/Prosecco: If you’re using champagne or prosecco, simply pour it into half the glass, then add the cranberry mix. The champagne will naturally provide the bubbles, so no need for additional sparkling water unless you prefer an even lighter drink.
- Final Garnish: Don’t forget the final touch! Garnish each glass with a fresh slice of blood orange or regular orange, a few fresh cranberries, or even a star anise for an aromatic flourish.
This method allows for easy batch preparation and individual customization, ensuring every guest gets a perfectly bubbly and delicious Cranberry Wine Spritzer.
Cranberry Wine Spritzer: Frequently Asked Questions
For a spritzer, versatility is key! While white and rosé wines are the most popular choices, you can certainly use a light-bodied red wine if that’s your preference. Ideal white wines are crisp, dry, and fruity varieties like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or an unoaked Chardonnay. For a sweeter spritzer, a Riesling or Moscato would be excellent. When using champagne or prosecco, a “brut” (dry) option works well to balance the sweetness of the fruit juices and simple syrup, but a “dry” or “extra dry” sparkling wine can also be wonderful.
Absolutely! A spritzer is meant to be a cold and refreshing drink, and serving it over ice is essential to maintain its chill and effervescence. I recommend using large ice cubes if possible, as they melt slower than smaller cubes, preventing your drink from becoming watery too quickly. Always ensure your cranberry mix is well-chilled before mixing for the best results, as this will reduce the amount of ice melt needed to cool the drink.
Yes, and it’s highly recommended for easy entertaining! You can prepare the spiced blood orange simple syrup several days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The cranberry juice, blood orange juice, bourbon (if using), and simple syrup mixture can also be combined in a pitcher and refrigerated overnight. Just before serving, add the wine or champagne and sparkling water (if using wine) and garnishes to individual glasses. This way, your spritzer remains fresh and bubbly!
It’s incredibly easy to adapt this recipe into a delicious mocktail! Simply omit the bourbon and the white wine or champagne. Increase the amount of sparkling water (club soda, mineral water, or even a lemon-lime sparkling water) to fill the remainder of the glass. You’ll still enjoy the wonderful, spiced cranberry and blood orange flavors, making it a refreshing option for guests of all ages.
Variations and Customizations for Your Spritzer
This Cranberry Wine Spritzer is wonderfully adaptable. Here are a few ideas to customize it to your taste or for different occasions:
- Different Fruits: Experiment with other berry juices like pomegranate or raspberry. You could also infuse your simple syrup with lemon or lime zest instead of orange.
- Herbaceous Touch: Add a sprig of rosemary or thyme to your simple syrup or as a garnish for an unexpected herbal note.
- Spiced Up: For an even bolder spice profile, consider adding a pinch of ground ginger or cardamom to your simple syrup.
- Sweetness Level: Adjust the amount of simple syrup to your preference. Start with less and add more if needed. If your wine is very sweet, you might need less syrup.
- Beyond Bourbon: While bourbon adds a lovely depth, you could try brandy for a fruity warmth, or even vodka for a cleaner, more neutral base.
Perfect Pairings and Serving Suggestions
This Cranberry Wine Spritzer is incredibly versatile for holiday entertaining. It pairs beautifully with a wide range of appetizers and light bites. Think savory cheese boards, salty prosciutto-wrapped melon, creamy brie and cranberry tarts, or even festive bruschetta. Its refreshing acidity also makes it a great palate cleanser, complementing richer holiday dishes without overpowering them. Serve it in elegant wine glasses or classic highball glasses for a touch of sophistication. A chilled pitcher ready for self-service allows guests to customize their fizz level, making hosting a breeze!
More Festive Drink Recipes to Explore
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The Best Red Sangria Recipe
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White Sangria Recipe
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Cranberry Wine Spritzer
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Ingredients
- 6 Cups cranberry juice
- 1/2 Cup blood orange juice or orange juice
- 1/2 Cup bourbon
- 1/2 Cup spiced simple syrup
- 1 white wine or Champagne bottle
- 1 or 2 cans of club soda or a small bottle of mineral water
- Garnish with Blood orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves and star anise or cranberries
For the Spiced Blood Orange Simple Syrup
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 blood orange or orange peels
- 1 star anise {optional}
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3-4 cloves
Instructions
FOR THE SIMPLE SYRUP:
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Prepare the simple syrup: In a small pot over low heat mix all the ingredients together (sugar, water, blood orange/orange peels, star anise, cinnamon stick, and cloves).
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Cook for around 10 minutes, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves and flavors infuse. Remove from heat and let it cool down completely.
FOR THE SPRITZER:
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In a tall pitcher combine the cranberry juice, blood orange juice, bourbon (if using), and the cooled blood orange spiced simple syrup. Stir to combine.
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Garnish the pitcher with some fresh blood orange slices and cinnamon sticks. Refrigerate the mixture for at least 1 hour, or preferably longer, to ensure it’s well-chilled and flavors meld.
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Once you are ready to assemble the cocktails, fill a glass with ice. Pour white wine or champagne into about half of the glass. Then, add the chilled cranberry mix until the glass is almost full. If you used white wine, add a splash of club soda, mineral water, or Sprite for effervescence. If you used champagne, the bubbles will already be present. Garnish each glass with a fresh slice of blood orange or orange, and a few cranberries or a star anise. Serve immediately.
Notes
- I love to make the simple syrup and cranberry mix ahead of time. You can keep it refrigerated overnight or even for up to 2-3 days for maximum convenience.
- If you want to make this alcohol-free, just omit the bourbon and the wine. You can create a delightful cranberry blood orange mocktail by using the simple syrup, club soda, and the juices.
- White and rosé wines are the most popular choices for spritzers, but you can also use red wine. Crisp, dry, and fruity white wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or Riesling work exceptionally well.
- For a sweeter spritzer, choose a sweeter white wine or sparkling wine, or increase the amount of simple syrup. For a less sweet option, reduce the simple syrup or use unsweetened cranberry juice.
- Always taste and adjust! Everyone’s palate is different, so feel free to tweak the ratios of juice, syrup, and wine to suit your personal preference.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.