Summer parties call for light, refreshing drinks, and sparkling wine is a great base for a myriad of cool cocktail options.
Lifestyle expert Shoana Jensen suggests combining either sparkling wine, cava, or prosecco with flavoured vodkas, fruit juices, or liqueurs to create a drink that you and your guests will love.
Don’t be afraid to experiment, but it’s important to keep a few things in mind.
Purchase an inexpensive bubbly for these drinks — the finer notes of expensive Champagne will be lost in these drinks.
Consider the little touches. Whether that means a few frozen grapes at the bottom of the glass standing in for ice cubes, or the use of 100% natural fruit juice instead of a sugary variety, those considerations will add elegance to the drink.
Don’t forget about the non-drinkers. Offer them virgin versions of your cocktails by subbing in club soda or tonic water. Better yet, create one or two special drinks for them.
Grape Sparkler:
Grape-flavoured vodka (1oz) — (or choose your favourite flavour)
Sparkling wine, cava, or prosecco
White grape juice
Frozen grapes
Add 1 oz vodka to the bottom of a champagne flute or wine glass.
Fill the rest of the glass with a 50/50 mixture of sparkling wine and juice.
Add a few frozen grapes to the glass to help keep the drink cold.
Serve.
Kir Royale:
Sparkling wine, cava or prosecco
Splash of cassis
Fill flute with sparkling wine.
Top off with a splash of cassis.
Serve.
Sparkling Kiwi-Cran (non-alcoholic):
Club soda
Kiwi-cranberry juice, or your favourite flavour of fruit juice (use a 100% natural juice, not one with artificial sweeteners)
Mix together one part club soda and one part kiwi-cranberry juice in flute or wine glass.
Serve.
Sonic (non-alcoholic):
Club soda
Tonic water
Raspberry compote (crushed raspberries)
Mix together one part club soda, one part tonic water in a flute or wine glass.
Add a spoonful of raspberry compote to give the drink some colour and an additional flavour element.
Serve.
What’s your favourite way to use sparkling wine? Add your ideas in the comments below.