05/16/05 Monday question - Champagne cocktails

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran and today we are answering questions from the email. Recently a listener wrote to ask "When I heard you talking about weddings I thought perhaps you might suggest a few Sparkling wine cocktails that we could serve. I love the idea of having Champagne but we don't have a big budget." Serving something at your wedding that bubbles is a great way to celebrate. If you are on a budget that won't allow for high end Champagne then finding a modestly priced, but good tasting, sparkling wine to make Sparkling Cocktails is a great idea. Modifying some of the traditional recipes to suit a crowd is my suggestion. For a Bellini drain canned peaches preferably ones that are only in their natural juices and puree then in a blender. Put a heaping tablespoon of the puree into a champagne glass and top it off with chilled sparkling wine. Make a simple version of a Kir Royal by combining a tablespoon of crème de cassis or Framboise to a glass of chilled sparkling wine and garnishing it with a lemon twist. You may want to try a fruit juice cocktail, made by filling your champagne glass with ¼ orange juice, ¼ cranberry juice and the remainder with chilled sparkling wine. Make up a few different drinks and try them. Decide on two that you think will work for you and your guests. Keep in mind this is your day, so don't be afraid to do it your way. Remember to send your wine questions to Linda at vine to wine dot net and thanks for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.