There’s nothing like bubbles to get everyone in a party mood. While Champagne is the traditional fizz of choice, sparkling wines from other French regions, Italy, Australia and New Zealand can also do the job.
Often at a fraction of the cost too, especially in these five popular cocktails. Keep the snacks French by whipping up a batch of panisse (Provençal chickpea fritters) to serve with these delicious ‘Champagne’ cocktails (see video below).
Classic Champagne Cocktail
I love the old gold hue and the way the sugar keeps the bubbles dancing in this classic Champagne cocktail from the mid-1800s. Pour a nip of chilled cognac over an Angostura bitters-soaked sugar cube in a flute and top with Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Réserve Champagne (this one calls for the real deal).
Kir Royale
This sparkling variation on the French aperitif of blackcurrant liqueur and white burgundy looks pretty and pleases anyone who likes a little sweetness with their bubbles. Top a nip of crème de cassis with sparkling wine, such as L’Eglise St Martin Brut Blanquette de Limoux from south-western France.
Mimosa
This popular brunch drink is thought to have originated in the 1920s at the Hotel Ritz in Paris and been named after yellow wattle flowers (also called mimosa). Pour 1 part well-chilled orange juice into a glass and top with 2 parts sparkling wine, keeping it Antipodean, just like wattle, I often use Cloudy Bay Pelorus from New Zealand.
Black Velvet
Created at Brook’s Club in London in 1861 when the UK was in mourning for Queen Victoria’s consort, Prince Albert, this cocktail is often made with Guinness. My version uses two South Australian classics: half fill a pilsner glass with Coppers Stout and top with the cheekily named Polly from d’Arenberg.
Hemingway My Way
The classic Hemingway Champagne cocktail, created by Ernest Hemingway and also called Death in the Afternoon, contains absinthe – but I prefer it with a pastis, like Ricard. Place a nip of pastis in a glass and top with bubbles, such as Fantini Gran Cuvée Bianco from Abruzzo in Italy.
Champagne is the most famous sparkling wine in the world.
Prosecco is the most popular sparkling wine in the world.
The name Champagne refers to a particular type of sparkling wine made in the Champagne region of north eastern France following a strict set of rules.
Any sparkling wine can be used to make cocktails, though technically a cocktail made with a wine other than Champagne shouldn’t be called a Champagne cocktail.
A classic Champagne cocktail is made by pouring Champagne over a bitters-soaked sugar cube.
Royale means to add sparkling wine to a cocktail.
A classic kir is a popular aperitif from the French region of Burgundy. It’s made by adding cassis (black currant liqueur) to still white Burgundy wine. A kir royale replaces the still wine with sparkling wine.
The mimosa originated in the 1920s at the Hotel Ritz in Paris.
Due to its yellow/orange colour, the mimosa cocktail was named for yellow wattle flowers, which are also called mimosas.
A Hemingway cocktail is also known as Death in the Afternoon after one of Hemingway’s books.
