This Cranberry Wine Spritzer is a festive drink for the holidays. A cranberry blood orange simple syrup is mixed with bourbon, white wine, warm spices, cranberry and orange juice. Your guests will love sipping on this!
The tree is up, the air is crisp and it is time to be sipping on this Cranberry Wine Spritzer.
This is a light, fruity white wine spritzer recipe. If you like bubbly drinks this cocktail is especially for you.
Not only does this drink taste delicious, it also looks very festive. You can dress it up with slices of blood orange or orange slices, fresh cranberries, a cinnamon stick or star anise.
We might not be having the big holiday gatherings this year but we can still sip on festive drinks. I also like to make this Christmas Sangria this time of year.
Set up a table of your favorite holiday appetizers, like these Cucumber Hummus Bites, Warm Brie Cranberry Naan and these Ham Cheese and Cranberry Rollups and pour a glass of this festive spritzer!
If you like drink recipes check out my drink recipes here. You also might like this Vodka Cherry Limeade, Homemade Chai Tea Latte or this Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Recipe Ingredients You’ll Need
- Juice: This spritzer uses cranberry juice and blood orange juice. If blood orange juice is hard to find you could use regular orange juice.
- Bourbon: There is bourbon added to this recipe but if you don’t like bourbon or don’t want it in the recipe. This recipe is just as good with just the wine and champagne.
- Simple Syrup: A homemade spiced blood orange simple syrup adds a nice sweetness to this spritzer. If you don’t have the blood orange you can just use regular orange.
- White Wine or Champagne: When making this I like to use a crisp, sweet white wine or a bottle of champagne or prosecco.
- Club Soda or Mineral Water: If you use white wine you might want to add some bubbles to your drink. I like to add club soda or mineral water but sprite or sparkling water would also work or any sparkling water.
For exact ingredient amounts and instructions, see the full recipe card below.
How do you Make this Wine Spritzer
FOR THE SIMPLE SYRUP:
- Prepare the simple syrup: In a small pot over low heat mix all the ingredients together.
- Cook for around 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and let it cool down completely.
FOR THE SPRITZER:
- In a tall pitcher combine the cranberry juice, blood orange juice, bourbon and blood orange spiced simple syrup.
- Garnish with some blood orange slices and cinnamon sticks and refrigerate.
- Once you are ready to assembly the cocktails fill a glass with ice. Pour white wine or champagne in half the glass then add the cranberry mix until it is almost fill. Add a splash of club soda, mineral water or sprite if you use wine. If you use champagne there will already be bubbles.
Recipe FAQ
White and rosé wines are the most popular choices for spritzers, but you can also use red wine. Crisp, dry, and fruity wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or Riesling work well.
I think it is best served over ice so it keeps it cold and refreshing. Use large ice cubes so it is slow melting and prevents it from being too watery.
Other Drink Recipes
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Cranberry Wine Spritzer
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:
- Prepare the simple syrup: In a small pot over low heat mix all the ingredients together.
- Cook for around 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and let it cool down completely.
FOR THE SPRITZER:
- In a tall pitcher combine the cranberry juice, blood orange juice, bourbon and blood orange spiced simple syrup.
- Garnish with some blood orange slices and cinnamon sticks and refrigerate.
- Once you are ready to assembly the cocktails fill a glass with ice. Pour white wine or champagne in half the glass then add the cranberry mix until it is almost fill. Add a splash of club soda, mineral water or sprite if you use wine. If you use champagne there will already be bubbles.
Notes
- I love to make the simple syrup and cranberry mix ahead of time. You can keep it refrigerated overnight.
- If you want to make this alcohol free just omit the bourbon and the wine and you create a cranberry blood orange drink 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 wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or Riesling work well.
