Sparkling Wine

This drink was featured as a Cocktail of the Month.

Happily, we found that the only word which rhymes with Clicquot was a tasty white rum.

Begin the morning with the beautiful, festive (and easy) drinks.

We recommend using a good-quality California or Spanish sparkling wine for this punch. Both are widely available and less expensive than Champagne.

Brunch isn't really brunch without sparkling cocktails. This is an almond-flavored take on the classic.

Let guests mix their own Bellinis — it's a great ice-breaker, and allows everyone to custom-blend their drinks.

Blood orange pulp and a dash of bitters update the classic Champagne-gin cocktail. Make the base for the drink one day ahead if you like.

Each low-cal helping serves up heart-friendly flavonoids (found in the skin).

This super-easy and refreshing dessert is part Kir Royale, part peach parfait. For a very cool treat, layer the fruit and ice cream in frosty collins or pilsner glasses straight from the freezer. Serve with iced-tea spoons.

Breakfast often comes later when you're on vacation, so we figure it's okay to indulge in this refreshing Mimosa alternative. It's important to use pure mango nectar here (though it may not be labeled "pure"); nectar mixed with other fruit juices or high-fructose corn syrup makes the drink too sweet.

This simply elegant ice is inspired by the Bellini, a mix of peach nectar and Prosecco made famous at Harry's Bar in Venice. Scoop it into flutes and top with Prosecco for a lovely aperitif. The ice is good on its own, too, especially between courses.

When selecting the Champagne for this cocktail, we wanted something moderately dry but with a hint of sweetness. Demi-sec (a French term meaning "half dry") Champagnes and sparkling wines provide the perfect balance.

Look for pomegranate juice in the juice aisle or fresh juice section of the supermarket.

Sweet and tangy kumquats make this sparkling cocktail extra special.