10 Sparkling Wines That Are Perfect for Cocktails | Wine Enthusiast
Wine bottle illustration Displaying 0 results for
Suggested Searches
Shop
Articles & Content
Ratings

10 Sparkling Wines That Are Perfect for Cocktails

Many cocktails use sparkling wine as a key ingredient, but the quality of sparkler used is often an afterthought. Oftentimes, it might be tempting to grab the cheapest bottle around, but nothing ruins a cocktail like bad ingredients.

Prosecco is popular for sparkling wine cocktails because the crisp acidity and light citrus flavors play well with the other ingredients like fruit juices and bitters, but any high-quality sparkling wine will do—and is essential—for a stellar, spritz-worthy cocktail.

Saracco 2019 Moscato d’Asti; $17, 95 points. From the producer that put Moscato d’Asti on the map, this exhilarating, fragrant wine offers heady aromas of citrus blossom, yellow stone fruit, lemon and botanical herb. Reflecting the nose, the savory, vibrant palate doles out juicy apricot and yellow peach while notes of sage and rosemary add depth. Crisp acidity balances the sweetness and gives it a pristine, tangy finish while a foaming mousse lends finesse. WinesU. Editors’ Choice. —Kerin O’Keefe

Soul Squeeze 2017 The Pearl Sparkling Rosé (Old Mission Peninsula); $28, 91 points. Scented with strawberry and green apple, this wine is a beautiful salmon pink color in the glass. The palate doles out ripe Macintosh apple and Valencia orange, with a fine mousse and tart acidity. Juicy and bright, this is really easy and enjoyable, ending on a pithy lemon note. —Fiona Adams

Domaine Rolet NV Blanc Brut Sparkling (Crémant de Jura); $25, 90 points. Apart from the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in this blend, everything else is uniquely Jurassien. This Crémant has touches of yeastiness and tight, tangy acidity along with orange-blossom fragrance. It is ready to drink. Skurnik Wines, Inc. —Roger Voss

Ruggeri & C. 2020 Argeo Rosé (Prosecco); $15, 90 points. This light-hearted, savory sparkler has delicate, inviting aromas of green apple, red berry and tropical fruit. Dry and crisp, the delightful palate offers crushed pomegranate, pear and citrus alongside tangy acidity and a foaming mousse. WinesU. Best Buy. —K.O.

Sella & Mosca NV Torbato (Vino Spumante); $25, 90 points. Fresh and refined, this lovely, easygoing sparkler opens with heady scents of white spring wildflower, white stone fruit and a whiff of Mediterranean brush. Savory and crisp, the vibrant palate doles out ripe white peach, green apple and lemon drop alongside small, continuous bubbles. Taub Family Selections. —K.O.

Angels & Cowboys NV Brut Rosé (California); $25, 89 points. A sense of elegance and gracefulness singles this wine out. Light floral and cinnamon aromas merge into crisp but rather ripe cherry and raspberry flavors in this light-bodied, well-balanced wine. —Jim Gordon

Fritz Müller NV Perlwein Rosa Trocken Secco Sparkling (Rheinhessen); $18, 89 points. A flurry of nose tingling sparkles invigorate this delicately sweet, easy-drinking sparkler. Packed with juicy raspberry and red-cherry flavors, it’s a juicy blend of Portugieser and Pinot Noir braced by zippy acidity and just a hint of crushed stone. This is a delightfully cheerful semisparkling wine best enjoyed young. The German Wine Collection. —Anna Lee C. Iijima

Gruet NV Brut Rosé Sparkling (America); $18, 89 points. The color of Versilia Peach roses, this sparkler offers quiet aromas of strawberry, plum and saltine cracker. The palate is delicate, showing strawberry, apple, biscuits and lemon juice flavors on a soft, fine mousse. It finishes on a squeeze of lemon and baguette, with a hint of watermelon. —F.A.

Alki NV Sparkling (Columbia Valley); $20, 88 points. Fresh, clean aromas of apple and pear lead to a palate that carries a lot of sugar. There are good things happening, but it needs a bit more acidity to tie them all together. —Sean P. Sullivan

Domaine du Petit Coteau NV Brut (Vouvray); $20, 88 points. A crisp wine with baked-apple and taut fruitiness, this is light, poised and delicious. The acidity, lightly tracing around the fruit, is well in balance. Drink now. Organic. Taub Family Selections. —R.V.