You can find a lot of inventive ways to make cocktails on the internet these days—whether or not you're even actively looking for them. And the latest fad to grab the attention of home bartenders? French press sangria. Ready to put this to the test, I went off the store, grabbed my ingredients, and went straight back into the kitchen to play with how to make French press sangria.
So, can you really make sangria in a French press? You sure can! And as for sharing, you'll find that each of these recipes makes approximately two to three servings, depending on how much you pour.
French Press White Peach Sangria
White sangria is a gorgeous choice for a Saturday afternoon in August or alongside a dinner on Wednesday night in February. Its versatility makes it a great recipe to have ready to go at any time. And when you make it in a French press? Perfection.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces white wine, sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, or chardonnay
- 2 lemon wedges
- 3-4 orange wedges
- 1 peach, pitted and thickly sliced
- 4-6 strawberries, sliced and cut in half once
- Ice
- Strawberry for garnish
Instructions
- In a French press, add lemons, oranges, peach, and strawberries.
- Pour white wine over the top.
- Slowly press the fruit four to five times.
- In a wine glass, fill a third of the way with ice.
- Add four to six ounces of the sangria.
- Garnish with a strawberry.
The most important thing when you're picking a wine for your French press white sangria is opting for one that isn't too citrusy. You want the fruit flavors to have a chance to shine.
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French Press Red Sangria
The beauty of making your own red sangria in a French press, including ABC Fine Wine Spirits' recipe, is you can go as juicy, earthy, complex or simple as you want. And if you start with a simple recipe, you can doctor and tweak each glass to be the perfect sip for the drinker.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces red wine, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, or pinot noir
- 1 pint blueberries
- ½ orange, cut into wedges
- ½ apple, cut into thick chunks
- ½ ounce cinnamon simple syrup, optional
- Ice
- Strawberry, lemon peel, and blueberry for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a one-quarter measuring cup with blueberries.
- Muddle blueberries thoroughly.
- Top off with fresh blueberries.
- Muddle again.
- In a French press, add blueberry mash, orange, apple, cinnamon simple syrup, and red wine.
- Slowly press the fruit four to five times.
- Fill a wine glass a third of the way with ice.
- Add four to six ounces of sangria.
- Garnish with a strawberry, lemon peel, and blueberry pierced together on a skewer.
Go ahead and add some of the sangria fruit to your glasses to allow the fruit to mingle some more and infuse more flavor while you sip.
French Press Rosé Basil Sangria
Rosé sangria is for everybody. It's for the whiskey drinkers, the wine spritzer lovers, gin fans, and all the liquors in between.
Ingredients
- 10 ounces rosé
- 2 ounces orange liqueur
- 6-8 fresh basil leaves
- 1 pint blueberries
- 6-8 strawberries, hulled and cut in half once
- 1 grapefruit wedge, cut into quarters
- Ice
- Lemon slice for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a one-third measuring cup with blueberries.
- Muddle blueberries thoroughly.
- Top off with fresh blueberries.
- Muddle again.
- In a French press, add blueberries, strawberries, and grapefruit wedges. Then top with the basil leaves.
- Add orange liqueur and rosé.
- Slowly press the fruit four to five times.
- Fill a wine glass a third of the way with ice.
- Add four to six ounces of sangria.
- Garnish with a lemon slice.
French Press Berry White Sangria
I'll be honest, this recipe is purely selfish: I wanted to go for the juiciest and berriest white sangria of my dreams.
Ingredients
- 10 ounces white wine
- 2 ounces orange liqueur
- ½ ounce orange juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 5-6 strawberries, hulled and sliced in half
- ¼ cup blueberries
- 1 grapefruit wedge
- Ice
- Blueberries and strawberry for garnish
Instructions
- Muddle a quarter cup of blueberries.
- In a French press, add blueberries, strawberries, and grapefruit wedge.
- Top off with white wine, orange liqueur, orange juice, and simple syrup.
- Slowly press the mix four to five times.
- Fill a wine glass a third of the way with ice.
- Add four to six ounces of prepared sangria.
- Garnish with a strawberry on the glass, dropping several blueberries into the glass.
How the French Press Basil Did in a Gimlet Martini
Here is where the French press fell short when it comes to other muddling and mashing cocktails. While I thought for sure I had a quick solution to mass-making mojitos or other herb cocktails, you would need handfuls of mint or basil in order for the press to extract enough flavors. I wound up muddling the mix by hand and then repeating with the French press.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 8-10 fresh basil leaves
- 2-3 lemon wedges
Instructions
- Chill a coupe glass.
- In a French press, gently muddle basil leaves with simple syrup.
- Add gin and lemon wedges.
- Slowly press the mixture a couple of times to extract the lemon juice.
- Pour into chilled coupe. Alternatively, pour over fresh ice in a rocks glass.
French Press Sangria Tips and Tricks
The French press sangria method is pretty foolproof, but there are ways to make it even better.
- For a quicker sangria infusion, mash your berries gently before adding to the French press.
- If you're using a white wine that's more grapefruit-forward, skip the grapefruit wedges.
- Add simple syrup, plain or flavored, to taste as you master recipes.
- Top off your sangria with additional juice, such as orange juice, or add splashes of lemon or lime juice.
- Give your French press sangria a fizzy kiss by adding a splash of flavored or unflavored club soda to the glass just before enjoying.
- Tropical fruits such as mango or pineapple will taste great with a white sangria, too.
- Make sure you don't cut the fruit too thin, or else the press won't be able to apply as much pressure.
French Press Sangria: It's a Yes!
This is one hack that amazed me. The press brings out those fruit flavors for when you don't want to wait for the fruit and their juices to infuse their way into the wine. Of course, you can press your fruit, chill your French press over night, and press again for a sangria that's a nectar of the gods.
