Champagne Cocktail: Sparkling Holiday Spritzer

This is a delightful winter holiday cocktail with pears, cranberries and Sparkling Wine. You can use Champagne, Prosecco, Cava, Crémant or any other type of bubbles you can find—we especially love all the latest Central Coast Sparkling Wine. But honestly, the best bubbles for Champagne Cocktails are the more affordable sparkling wines, that are on the fun side, and less refined than traditional Champagne. Or, the one that you like best!

If you use a sweeter sparkler, just use less ginger beverage. You can also lessen the amount of pear juice to your taste—especially if you like a fresher, crisper libation. On the other hand, many folks prefer a sweeter drink, and pear nectar will pack more punch in that area.

You can set it up as a bar, so guests can mix their own level of sweetness, or pour everything into a punch bowl and make it easy!

Sparkling Holiday Spritzer

Ingredients:

• 2-3 cups of fresh pear juice or purée (or 2 cans pear nectar)
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 4 whole cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1 can (12 oz) ginger ale or beer, chilled
• 1 bottle (750 ml) dry sparkling wine, chilled
• 1/2 cup frozen cranberries

Directions:

PLACE purée or nectar, cinnamon sticks, cloves and cardamom in large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes.

REFRIGERATE for 4 hours or until chilled. Remove cinnamon sticks and cloves with slotted spoon. Pour mixture into large punch bowl; stir in ginger beverage a little at a time, and taste for sweetness level. Float cranberries on top!