Our Favourite Sparkling Wine Cocktails for Summer

Of course sparkling wine is a great summer drink on its own, but it can also be the mixologist’s secret ingredient. Bubbles, acidity and great fruit flavours can round out and balance a cocktail so that it is refreshing and drinkable – often 2 or 3 at a time. Below are our favourite sparkling wine cocktails for the summer. They are all classic for a reason, and most don’t require any shaking or fancy equipment.

Aperol Spritz

More properly known as a Spritz Veneziano, Aperol has done a great job marketing their version of Amaro and selling truckloads around the world. It’s pretty obvious why – the simple mix of sweet, bitter and bubbly is one of the most refreshing drinks on a hot summer day. Use a big green olive as a garnish and pretend you’re sitting in a canal-flanked piazza.

60ml Aperol
90ml Prosecco
45ml Soda
Build over ice, stir and garnish with orange or green olive

Mimosa

A mainstay of brunch menus, this 50/50 cocktail of sparkling wine and orange juice is a nice way to start the weekend without going to heavy on the alcohol. We suggest experimenting with different juices to suit your preference, grapefruit and pomegranate are definite winners.

1 part juice to 1 part sparkling wine
Serve in a flute, garnish with a wedge

French 75

A classic and timeless cocktail that can begin or round off your evening in equal measure. As with most cocktails the origin is disputed, this one gets apparently gets its name from packing a punch as powerful as a French 75mm field gun. If you’re not looking for quite such a kick, reduce the gin and add a bit more lemon juice.

30ml Gin
15ml Simple syrup
15ml Lemon juice
60ml Champagne
Shake gin, lemon and syrup over ice and strain into a flute, top up with champagne. Lemon peel garnish

Kir Royal

A traditional Kir was crème de cassis topped up with aligoté – the sugar and acid balancing each other out. These days a Kir Royal is much more common – this is the version with Champagne where the biscuity and citrus elements of the champagne are paired with spicy red fruits. It’s a great cocktail to start your fancy dinner party.

15ml Crème de Cassis
90ml Champagne
Serve in a flute

North End

While fairly unknown, this simple Italian ingredient cocktail packs a punch. Limoncello and Fernet Branca combine sweet citrus and bitter herbs in a drink made refreshing by the addition of Prosecco. You’ll think you’ve wandered into a lemon grove in Tuscany.

10ml Fernet Branca
45ml Limoncello
15ml Lemon Juice
75ml Prosecco
Shake Fernet Branca, lemon juice and limoncello with ice and strain into a flute or a larger glass if you need more room. Garnish with a sprig of Rosemary

For more check out our favourite wines for summer and our guide to Champagne and food pairing.

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Kieran Clarkin

Digital Marketing and Tour Host at Wine Compass

Kieran is a WSET Diploma student, Chin Chin sommelier and host for Wine Compass. He loves chatting about wine, hosting tastings and getting people interested in wine generally. He's big into Victorian wine, the Loire Valley and the very under-rated wines of Greece.