Sparkling Cocktails Make Your Bridal Shower Shine

mimosa cocktail photo via Shutterstock

Champagne and sparkling wine make any bridal shower more festive. Popping those corks and the sound of effervescent cocktails signals the beginning of an elegant, decadent party.

When making sparkling cocktails, the most important rule is to not buy actual champagne, according to Wes Narron, Chief Wine Ambassador at City Wine Tour. The mind-blowing sparkling wine from France’s Champagne region is a big taste that also comes with a big price tag. Since you’ll be mixing this decadent drink with juice for your daytime cocktails, there’s no need for either.

“All those exquisite flavors and delicate aromas from the bottle of champagne for which you paid $35-plus get obliterated when you add juice,” he says. “Don’t be embarrassed to buy the cheap stuff, as long as you buy the right cheap stuff.” Narron credits his own bride for inspiring his wine knowledge with her philosophy of “Taste everything. Learning about wine should be as much fun as drinking it.”

Here are tips on picking the right bubbly for your bridal shower drinks.

• Cava is the sparkling wine of Spain and the best sparkling wine value you’ll find. Look for the Jaume Serra Cristalino Cava. Some places sell it for just $7.99.
• Prosecco is Italy’s sparkling wine and another great value. The La Marca Prosecco and the Mionetto Prosecco sell for around $12 per bottle.
• Try and find the extra dry style for the Cava and the Prosecco, not the Brut versions. Despite the misleading designation, extra dry sparkling wine isn’t drier tasting than Brut. It’s actually a little sweeter and softer than the Brut style, which makes it perfect for your mixing.

The holy trinity of sparkling cocktails for bridal showers are mimosas, bellinis, and kir royales. Here, a few simple recipes from Narron:

Mimosa
(Serves 8)

1 750 ml bottle extra dry Cava or sparkling wine
3 cups (750 ml) orange juice (freshly squeezed tastes best)
1/2 cup Cointreau (a terrific orange-flavored liqueur)

Fill 8 champagne flutes half full with chilled sparkling wine. Add orange juice. Top each glass with 1 tablespoon of Cointreau.

Expert tip: Add the sparkling wine first, then the juice. You won’t need to stir the drink.

Bellini
(Serves 6) 

1 750 ml bottle extra dry Prosecco
1.5 cup (12 ounces) peach juice or puree

Pour 4 ounces of Prosecco into glass. Add 2 ounces of peach juice. If you’d prefer a frozen Bellini, add some ice and toss into a blender. Garnish with a fresh peach slices.

Expert tip: Make a Puccini with Prosecco and mandarin juice, a Rossini with Prosecco and strawberry puree, or a Tintoretto with Prosecco and pomegranate juice.

Kir Royale
(Serves 6)

1 750 ml bottle extra dry Cava or sparkling wine
3 ounces (6 tablespoons) Chambord (a raspberry liqueur) or créme de cassis
fresh red raspberries, for garnish

Pour 1 tablespoon Chambord or créme de cassis into each glass. Fill with sparkling wine, then drop in a few red raspberries.

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