Sparkling Wine

Sliced strawberries infuse raspberry brandy with fresh berry flavor, and the strained liqueur is topped off with Champagne.

We chose to garnish our cocktail with Seckel or Forelle pear slices because of their small size — they fit perfectly in the Champagne flutes. Be sure to lower the slices slowly into the flute or the Champagne will bubble over.

If you can't find fraises des bois liqueur in your local liquor store, you can substitute cassis or Chambord, though the cocktail will taste somewhat different.

Passion fruit nectar adds a tropical twist to this traditional brunch cocktail.

This Franco-American combination of bourbon and bubbles gives you another reason to be thankful. It doubles easily to accommodate the number of guests around your holiday table.

Cranberries are cultivated in Canada, and tradition there calls for hosts to make a punch for Christmas guests. Here, the crop and the custom merge in a delightful champagne cocktail, which takes a French turn with the addition of crème de cassis.

This refreshing cocktail can be a dessert, but it is also a great brunch drink. In Italy, Lucia likes to use Italian sparkling wine (such as spumante) instead of Champagne.

These refreshing cocktails, named for the French 75-millimeter howitzer cannon, starts a party off with a bang.

Passion-Fruit Champagne Cocktail