Drinks Cocktails Wine cocktails 10 Sparkling Wine Cocktails for the Holidays from a French 75 to an Apple Cider Aperol Spritz These drinks proves spritz cocktails can be wintery, too. By Lucy Simon Lucy Simon Lucy Simon is a New York-based wine, spirits, and food writer has been with Food & Wine since the spring of 2021. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on November 19, 2024 Close Photo: Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Thom Driver During the holidays, sparkling wine consumption shoots way up. Whether its Prosecco, Cava, Champagne, Franciacorta, or heck, maybe even German Sekt, there's even more bubbly in glasses this time of year. The best way to dress up sparkling wine is to use is to use it in a simple and delicious cocktail. There are classic cocktails that feature sparkling wine, like a classic French 75, or newer effervescent favorites like a Sparkling Citrus Punch or an Apple Cider Aperol Spritz. Sparkling wine cocktails are perfect for holiday entertaining since they can be scaled up to serve a crowd, and are lower in alcohol compared to, say, a Martini, which slows down the pace of the night. Sparkling Wine vs. Champagne: What's the Difference? The key to sparkling wine cocktails is balance: pairing the right bitter, sweet, tart, or spirit-forward ingredients with the flavors in the sparkling wine. Champagne, for example, has a unique briochey-toasty flavor profile that can clash with certain mixers but can be astoundingly delicious when used in the right kind of drink. In contrast, Prosecco, an Italian sparkling wine with apple-and-melon notes plays very well with others. Here are 10 of our favorite bubbly-based cocktails that bring festive holiday cheer in a few delicious sips. 01 of 10 Apple Cider Aperol Spritz Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Liberty Fennell Bittersweet Aperol and fresh apple cider prove a perfect match in this wintery twist on a classic Aperol Spritz. Citrus-forward Prosecco balances out the sweeter notes in this drink, and a star anise garnish adds a touch of spiced flavor. get the recipe 02 of 10 Nonalcoholic Pomegranate Punch Frederick Hardy II / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Having something for everyone is key to holiday hosting. This fruity and spiced punch leans on nonalcoholic sparkling wine for booze-free bubbly flair. A cardamom-cinnamon infused simple syrup serves as a flavor-forward base and blends seamlessly with cranberry and pomegranate juices. get the recipe 03 of 10 Aperol Schvitz Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen A perfect companion to crispy fried latkes on the Hannukah table, the Aperol Schvitz is a bitter, tart, and sweet cocktail made with sparkling wine, Aperol, lime juice, and Manischewitz concord grape wine. get the recipe 04 of 10 French 75 Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele In the echelon of classic cocktails, the French 75 is one of the most festive despite its original roots. This lemon, gin, and sparkling wine-based cocktail was originally called the Soizante-Quinze (French for seventy-five) and was named after a piece of artillery used in World War I. Often served in a slim Champagne flute, this cocktail is the perfect drink to cheers with during the holidays. Get the recipe 05 of 10 Earl Grey-Aquavit Spritz Victor Protasio Citrus-scented Earl Grey tea blends with floral honey, lemon, and aquavit, a Scandinavian spirit, in this aromatic spritz cocktail. A few dashes of pear bitters and a gorgeous pear slice garnish bring the fall vibes. get the recipe 06 of 10 Sparkling Elderflower Negroni Frederick Hardy II / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Risha Carnes Bartender Kaitlyn Stewart riffs on a Negroni, a stiff Italian cocktail made with gin, vermouth, and Campari, by adding floral flavor with elderflower liqueur and orange blossom water. The result is an aromatic and herbaceous cocktail with quenching bittersweet notes and a stunning red hue perfect for holiday celebrations. Get the recipe 07 of 10 Sparkling Citrus Punch Chelsea Kyle / Food Styling by Drew Aichele Make the most of citrus season with this vibrant punch cocktail made with lemon, grapefruit, gin, sweet vermouth, and plenty of sparkling wine. While lemon and grapefruit are the stars here, add orange or blood orange for extra citrusy flair. get the recipe 08 of 10 Limoncello Sorbet Float Food & Wine / Photo by Greg Dupree / Prop Styling by Thom Driver / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer After cocktail hour, the second best time to drink sparkling wine at a holiday party is with dessert. In this boozy sorbet float, though, dessert becomes a cocktail. A riff on a French 75, the Limoncello Sorbet Float features gin, limoncello, lemon juice, and sparkling wine. The whole thing gets topped with store bought lemon sorbet to make a tasty (and impressively easy) boozy dessert for a crowd. get the recipe 09 of 10 Pornstar Martini Food & Wine / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hausser / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf Despite its not-so-family-friendly name, this cocktail deserves a place at your holiday happy hour. This tart and sweet drink combines the flavors of tart passionfruit with floral vanilla, and everything gets topped with a splash of sparkling wine. Let this drink be a reminder of summer during the winter months. get the recipe 10 of 10 Blackberry Kir Royale Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Lucy Simon Blackberries add a festive touch to this classic Champagne cocktail. The Blackberry Kir Royale is a drink designed to be made for a crowd at a party: the cocktail is built in a Champagne flute and has just three ingredients. get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit