Top 10 Easy Prosecco Cocktails To Make At Home
Comprehensive guide to sparkling mixology and how to easily make the top 10 Prosecco cocktails from home. Explore the basics of Prosecco, essential tools, and expert tips for creating delightful concoctions. From seasonal variations to non-alcoholic alternatives and much more.
Whether you’re treating yourself or somebody else. It’s always good to have some quality easy prosecco cocktail recipes up your sleeve.
From the summer classics such as the Aperol Spritz and Gin fizz. To sparkling winter Prosecco cocktails such as Chambord variations. These delightfully bubbly cocktails can transform a mundane evening into something amazing. All these 10 recipes are easy to make, I made sure of that. They are also made using easy to source ingredients. Things you can pick up from your local shop or supermarket. So you want to consider this article and these recipes next time you’re down at Aldi, Tesco, Asda or wherever it is you shop!
Side note; if it’s a romantic sipper you’re after, check out this article on crafting your own DIY valentines prosecco cocktails.
What is prosecco
So, it's probably safe to assume that you already know what prosecco is. But how much do you actually know about our favourite bubbly drink? lets cover some key basics that you may not already know.
Prosecco is a sparkling wine from Italy. The region of Italy that makes prosecco is in the north-east. Some 30 miles or so from Venice.
It’s made from the Glera grape and is made into prosecco using the “tank method” which is a more affordable method of creating that lovely fizz. Which is also why prosecco is generally cheaper than its sparkling counterpart champagne.
Prosecco, known for its light and fruity profile, serves as an ideal canvas for mixologists. Understanding its origins, characteristics, and the different types available is crucial. That being said, all of these cocktails can be made with Champagne or even Cremant.
5 Fun Prosecco facts!
It has less calories than wine! It’s one of the more diet-friendly alcoholic drinks. A glass of prosecco contains around 80 calories. A large glass of wine is about 228 calories. A single vodka and tonic is about 97 calories. So if you want a drink but you don’t want to ruin your diet. Reach for the prosecco.
The cork can pop at 25MPH. So be careful where you’re pointing that bottle. Check out the below video for the correct technique for opening prosecco.
Not all prosecco is bubbly! There are 3 levels of Proseccos “bubbliness”. First is “Spumante” which is the most sparkling. “frizzante” Which is lightly sparkling and “Tranquillo” Which is still. That’s right, still. There is such thing as still prosecco.
The UK consumes more prosecco than anywhere else. Even more than Italy. We brits have proven time and time again that we love our prosecco. So why not mix it up with some cocktails?
The original Bellini recipe uses prosecco and not Champagne as some people seem to think. Yep. The Bellini (Which is one of the cocktails we will cover) hails from Venice in Italy and although today people think its a Champagne cocktail, it is indeed a prosecco cocktail.
How to correctly open a bottle of Prosecco safetly
The difference between prosecco and champagne
What’s the difference between prosecco and champagne. You may have pondered this question before. They are both sparkling wines, correct? So really is the difference. Is prosecco a cheaper version on champagne? No, no its not. People seem to have this idea its a cheaper champagne and I can see why. champagne is expensive, prosecco tends to be cheaper.
They are both sparkling wines so they must both me one and the same. However, this isn’t the case. Although they are both sparkling wines, they are both made differently and made to taste differently. neither one is trying to imitate the other. So lets cover four key differences between prosecco and Champagne that makes them different products entirely.
#1 Production method
Champagne is made using the traditional method. Basically, this means that carbonation is done inside the bottle. Prosecco on the other hand, uses the tank method. Meaning the wine is carbonated in a tank then bottles are filled. The tank method is cheaper and a quicker way of adding the fizz. Which is why prosecco is generally cheaper than champagne.
Tank method - Photo from Wine folly
Traditional method - Photo from Wine folly
#2 Where its made
To be called “Champagne” as opposed to “sparkling wine” champagne has to be made in champagne. Which is a place in France. The prosecco region is in the north-east of Italy.
Champagne = French
Prosecco = Italian
#3 Grape variety
Prosecco is made with a minimum of 85% of grapes coming from the grape variety Glera, and the other 15% coming from varieties such as Verdiso, Bianchetta trevigiana, Perera, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanche, Pinot Gris and Pinot noir with white vinification.
Champagne on the other hand is dominated by three main varieties of grapes, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay
#4 The difference in taste
I won’t bore you with the details of each individual taste profile from each region prosecco is made. But basically, Due to the methods of carbonating each wine and the difference in grape varieties. it means Prosecco generally has more fruity and tropical flavours. Whilst Champagne has more drier, bread and biscuit like flavours
Other all, they are different products. They may both come under the category of sparkling wine but they follow their own sets of rules and regulations. The taste, countries, methods of production, grapes used, they're all different.
Essential Tools
Before you even start your Prosecco cocktails, one must be equipped with the right tools and ingredients.
Firstly, Glassware. Sparkling wine is served in a flute. And for good reason, unlike wine glasses which are wide to express aroma, sparkling wine glasses are narrow to hold in the bubbles.
The stem keeps your hands from warming up the glass. So there is a good reason for that narrow shaped glass, it isn’t all for show. Here’s an article all about wine glasses that perfectly explains what it all means.
So first things first. Make sure you have a good Prosecco flute. You’ll use it for a few cocktails as well as to enjoy your prosecco on it’s own.
My Top Recommendation
When it comes to my top sparkling wine glass, these are my number 1 recommendation. Which might shock a few people, as a bar consultant you might be expecting me to recommend something expensive. But no.
The truth is you just need something narrow that feels good in your hand. Second to that, if you’re anything like me then sooner or later you will smash one of these glasses. So I tend to recommend something on the cheaper side that still holds great value for money.
That being said, I’m sure you’re aware that most sparkling wine cocktails utilize different wine glasses, such ass the Hugo cocktail or Aperol Spritz. In which case I recommend these…
Wine Glass Recommendation
Once again it’s a cheap glass to save your money. It’s from the same brand as the flutes, don’t feel like you have to get those ones. I’ve just found from personal experience in both home and professional settings that they provide excellent value for money and versatility with both wine drinking and cocktails.
But does it matter? Check out this article to learn more.
Tips for Perfect Prosecco Cocktails
Crafting the perfect Prosecco cocktail goes beyond mere mixing—it's an art that demands finesse and a discerning palate. Elevate your mixology skills with these expert tips to ensure each sip is a sparkling symphony of flavors.
Serving and Pouring Techniques:
Optimal Temperature: Chill your Prosecco to the right temperature, usually between 38°F to 45°F (3°C to 7°C), to enhance its effervescence. This is also a good opportunity to consider whether a wine fridge is for you.
Gentle Pouring: Pour Prosecco gently down the side of the glass to preserve its bubbles, creating a visually appealing and lively drink.
Balance in Sweetness and Acidity:
Selecting Mixers: Choose mixers that complement Prosecco's natural sweetness without overpowering it. Fresh fruit purees, flavored syrups, and herbal infusions can add depth without excessive sweetness.
Citrus Elegance: Enhance acidity with a splash of citrus—lemon or lime—to create a harmonious balance, especially in cocktails with sweeter elements.
Experimenting with Flavor Profiles:
Fruitful Adventures: Experiment with a variety of fresh fruits, from berries to tropical delights, to add vibrant and diverse flavor profiles.
Herbal Infusions: Elevate your Prosecco cocktails with herbal infusions like mint, basil, or rosemary for a refreshing twist.
Bitters and Aromatics: Explore the world of bitters and aromatic elements to add complexity and depth to your creations.
Prosecco Cocktails for Different Seasons
Tailor your Prosecco cocktail recipes to the changing seasons, capturing the essence of each. From warming spiced concoctions for winter to light and refreshing summer sparklers. Here are a few seasonal tips to help you out.
Summer Prosecco Cocktails
For summer prosecco cocktails, use plenty of fresh ingredients like mint and citrus and lean more into fruity flavours like orange, raspberry and pineapple.
Winter Prosecco Cocktails
For winter thing dark berries and fruits. Plums, cherries and blackberries all work great with prosecco and bring out more of a winter flavour. My top recommendation would be a cocktail such as the Kir Royale which is Prosecco with a splash of Cassis or adding a splash of Chambord in your glass of Prosecco. If it’s for Christmas go for something like Cranberry and Rosemrry.
Autumn Prosecco Cocktails
For autumn Prosecco cocktails, don’t be afraid to get stuck in with the spices. Cinnamon and Ginger work great with Prosecco. For fruity flavours, opt for Apple and Pear.
Spring Prosecco Cocktails
For spring Prosecco Cocktails think more floral. Violet, lavender, rose, these are all amazing floral flavours that work wonderful with Prosecco.
Mocktail Alternatives
For those seeking the sparkle of Prosecco without the alcohol, here’s a few tips for substituting the alcohol.
Use sparkling grape juice but cut down the sugar
Use soda water
Use a non-alcoholic prosecco, here’s an article all about non-alcoholic wine, how it’s made, and what to look out for.
Prosecco Cocktails
So without further ado, below is my list of easy to make, low cost, easy to source ingredients, prosecco cocktails to make at home right now. Feel free to change the recipes to suit your taste. Want a lower ABV cocktail? Swap out the Prosecco for a non alcoholic prosecco.
#1 Aperol Spritz Recipe
This summery Italian aperitif is a classic. You’ll be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t enjoy an Aperol spritz. It consists of 3 ingredients. Aperol, Prosecco and soda. All things easily found and quite cheap. The Aperol is going to be you’re big buy out of the bunch. But as far as the soda and prosecco, it doesn’t really matter which type you go for. Don’t be fooled into thinking you need to pay for expensive crates of 180ML bottled soda water, or top shelf prosecco. You can get a bottle of great tasting prosecco and 1l of soda water from aldi for less than £6.
Ingredients:
50ML Aperol
150ML Prosecco
Topped with soda water
Method:
Take a chilled wine glass and fill it to the top with ice. Add the Aperol and prosecco, then fill the rest of the way with soda water.
Give it a light stir to mix the ingredients
If you’re feeling flush, add a healthy slice of orange and viola! Enjoy.
#2 Gin fizz Recipe
The humble gin fizz. If there is one thing us Brits love to drink more then prosecco its gin. So why wouldn’t we add them together? However, Just gin and prosecco tends to be a tad on the boozy side for most people. So the rule of thumb is to add something sweet to cut through that alcohol.
You can really play around with this. See what takes your eye next time you’re out on one of your essential shops. What cordials are there? What syrups are being sold? Play around and see what you come up with. Cocktails always taste better when you take some creative liberty on them. Makes them feel more like an achievement. They might not taste great to everyone, but if you love them then how cares?! The Gin fizz recipe I have below I’ve kept as simple yet delightful as possible.
Ingredients:
25ML London Dry Gin
25ML (Or 1tbsp) Honey
Topped with prosecco
Method:
Add the Gin and the honey to a chilled flute glass. Make sure the honey has been kept out the fridge so its more pliable. Give it a stir till the honey isn’t sticking to the bottom of the glass.
Top with prosecco and give another light stir to mix.
Top Tip
Add lime and mint for an extra delicious version.
#3 Hugo Spritz Recipe
For the hugo, you’re pretty much mixing the previous cocktails together. The Aperol spritz and the Gin fizz. If they had a cocktail baby, it would be the Hugo. There's more to it then 3 ingredients but don’t let that deter you. Its still without a doubt a easy cocktail to make at home. The only ingredient you may struggle to find is the Elderflower cordial.
But with Elderflower cordials popularity increasing, it shouldn’t be a hard find at all. You may not be able to get it from your local paper shop. But super markers will 100 per cent have it. Asda, Tesco, Aldi, I’ve seen it in them all.
Ingredients:
20ML (Or 1tbsp) Elderflower cordial
1 sprig of Mint
3 Lime wedges
15ML Gin, you’re favourite or cheapest will do fine
100ML Prosecco
Topped with soda water
Method:
Give the mint sprig a slap, then add to a chilled wine glass.. This will release the oils in the leaves.
Add the Gin, lime wedges and Elderflower cordial.
Top with ice and give a stir to mix the ingredients.
Add the prosecco then top with soda water.
Give a final light stir to mix and spread the mint and limes around the glass.
If you’re feeling flush once more, add an extra sprig of mint to garnish.
#4 Bellini Recipe
For this one you’re going to need abit of prep. You need to whip up a peach puree. But for a classic cocktail like this, the effort is well paid off. And lets face it, its not like you’ve got much of a busy schedule currently.
For the peach puree.
Peel your peaches. As many as you like. Add them to a blender along with 2tsp of caster sugar per peach used. Blend the mixture till smooth and there you have your peach puree. If you don’t have a blender you can still make the puree. It will just take a bit of elbow grease. You’ll need to manually press and mash the peaches till it smooths out.
Ingredients:
20ML Peach puree
Topped with Prosecco
Method:
Add both ingredients to a chilled flute and stir till mixed.
You may find that if you leave your glass laying around to long the peach puree may begin to separate and sink to the bottom of the glass. Especially if you’re lack of blender left you hand mashing peaches. So drink fast!
#5 Mimosa Recipe
Ah, the mimosa. How can you not love a mimosa. I’ve tried to dislike them, I have. Believe me. I’ve worked in 2 restaurants that have a busy brunch service. Making countless mimosas a day will push you over the edge. Luckily, they are so easy to make it balances out.
For the full recipe, variations and history on this British classic, check out this article here.
Ingredients:
60ML Orange juice
60ML Prosecco
Method:
First, add the prosecco, half way up a chilled flute. Then top the rest of the way with orange juice. That’s it. You cant really go wrong with this one.
#6 Pink Gin Fizz Recipe
Yeah, that’s right. I’ve got another gin and prosecco cocktail for you. But hey, if its what the people want its what the people shall get. And with pink gin sales still booming. I’ll take that as the evidence that its what the people want!
Ingredients:
25ML Pink Gin
150ML Prosecco
Topped with lemonade
Fresh raspberries and strawberries
Method:
Take one large strawberry or two small ones. Cut them into wheels and add to a chilled wine glass, along with 3-5 raspberries.
Add the Pink gin and fill with ice
And the prosecco and lemonade then stir well.
#7 Negroni Sbagliato Recipe
The Negroni Sbagliato is a delightful variation of the classic Negroni cocktail, replacing the gin with sparkling wine, usually Prosecco. Made famous in 2022 when in a promotional behind-the-scenes interview between Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke promoting HBO's House of the Dragon series she famously mentioned liking them. Here's a simple recipe for making a Negroni Sbagliato:
Ingredients:
25ml Campari
25ml sweet vermouth
50ml Prosecco (or any other sparkling wine)
Orange slice or twist (for garnish)
Ice cubes
Method:
Fill a rocks glass with ice cubes. The use of ice is optional, but it helps chill the cocktail.
Add Campari and Sweet Vermouth:
Give the Campari and sweet vermouth a gentle stir to combine the ingredients. If you prefer a slightly diluted cocktail, you can stir a bit longer.
Carefully pour the Prosecco (or your chosen sparkling wine) into the glass. Pour it slowly to avoid excessive fizzing.
Garnish the cocktail with an orange slice or twist. Expressing the oils from the orange peel over the drink by giving it a twist can add a fragrant aroma.
Serve your Negroni Sbagliato immediately while it's cold and refreshing.
Also check out the Negroni history to see more about this cocktail and where it came from.
#8 Limoncello Spritz Cocktail Recipe
A Limoncello Spritz is a refreshing and citrusy cocktail that combines the bright flavors of limoncello, sparkling wine, and soda water. It’s also quickly becoming a summer classic almost taking over the Aperol Spritz. Here's a simple recipe to make a Limoncello Spritz:
Ingredients:
35ml limoncello
80ml Prosecco or sparkling wine
Soda water to top
Ice cubes
Lemon slice or twist (for garnish)
Mint leaves (optional, for garnish)
Method:
Fill a wine glass or a spritz glass with ice cubes and pour in the Limoncello and Prosecco
Complete the spritz by topping up the glass with soda water. Adjust the amount to your preferred level of effervescence.
Garnish your Limoncello Spritz with a lemon slice or twist for added citrus aroma. You can also include a few mint leaves for a touch of freshness.
Give the cocktail a gentle stir to mix the ingredients. Be careful not to over-stir and lose the effervescence.
Serve your Limoncello Spritz immediately while it's chilled and bubbly.
This Limoncello Spritz is a perfect choice for a sunny day or a refreshing aperitivo. It combines the sweetness of limoncello with the effervescence of sparkling wine and the crispness of soda water, creating a delightful and citrusy cocktail. Cheers!
#9 Chambord and Prosecco Recipe
Creating a Chambord and Prosecco cocktail is a delightful way to combine the rich and fruity flavors of Chambord liqueur with the effervescence of Prosecco. Here's a simple recipe for a Chambord and Prosecco cocktail, often known as a "Chambord Royale."
Ingredients:
25ml Chambord liqueur
100ml Prosecco (or any other sparkling wine)
Fresh raspberries (for garnish)
Mint sprig (for garnish)
Method:
Place your glass in the refrigerator or fill it with ice water to chill while you prepare the ingredients.
Add the prosecco and Chambord to your chilled glass.
Garnish the cocktail with a few fresh raspberries. The vibrant red berries complement the rich flavors of Chambord.
Give the cocktail a gentle stir to combine the Chambord and Prosecco. Be careful not to over-stir, so you preserve the effervescence.
This Chambord and Prosecco cocktail offers a perfect balance of sweetness from the Chambord and the effervescence of the sparkling wine. It's a visually appealing and delicious choice for a celebratory drink or a stylish aperitif. Cheers!
#10 French 75 Recipe
A French 75 is a classic cocktail that combines gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and Prosecco. It's a refreshing and effervescent drink with a perfect balance of citrus and bubbles. Check out this full article on the History of the French 75 here.
Ingredients:
30ml ounces gin
15ml ounce fresh lemon juice
15ml simple syrup (adjust to taste)
Prosecco to top
Lemon twist (for garnish)
Method:
Prepare Your Glass:
Chill a Champagne flute by placing it in the refrigerator or filling it with ice water while you prepare the ingredients.
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the gin, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup. Shake the ingredients well to chill the mixture.
Strain the shaken mixture into the chilled Champagne flute, ensuring that you leave the ice behind in the shaker.
Top with Prosecco and lightly stir.
Garnish your French 75 with a lemon twist. Express the oils from the twist over the drink by giving it a twist, then drop it into the glass for added aroma.
