It’s National Prosecco Day, so today is all about the bubbly. Hopefully, you’ve already discovered its cost-effective yumminess as compared to Champagne. But in case you need another reason to enjoy the Italian sparkling wine, here’s a list of delicious Prosecco cocktails that are perfect for enjoying on a summer afternoon.

1. The French 75 and Arnaud’s French 75

Just to be clear… I love, love, love French 75’s. For years I made the gin version, which is very good, but when I had an Arnaud’s French 75 in Nola (the birthplace of the original French 75 cocktail), I converted to the Cognac recipe and never looked back. Either version is quite delicious, so I included both.

French 75

1.5 oz. gin

.5 oz. lemon juice

.25 oz. sugar syrup (I usually keep the lemon juice and sugar, 1:1, but experiment to see your preference)

Prosecco

Lemon peel garnish

Add the gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup to a cocktail shaker with some ice cubes. Shake and strain into a champagne flute, top with Prosecco and garnish with lemon peel.

Arnaud’s French 75

1.5 oz. Cognac (Courvoisier VS)

.17 oz. (one tsp) Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed

04 oz. (¼ tsp.) Simple Syrup (see note above about lemon juice and sugar)

Lemon Twist

2.75 oz. Champagne or Prosecco

Place the cognac, lemon juice and Simple Syrup in a shaker filled with ice and shake ONLY long enough to chill. Pour into a frosted champagne glass, top with champagne and add a lemon twist.

2. Backhand Smash from Metro

This easy, elegant cocktail requires some planning ahead, but is the perfect antidote for a hot afternoon.

14 oz. strawberries

.8 oz. peach schnapps

Prosecco

Place strawberries in freezer. Once the strawberries are frozen solid, place around 4 – or however many will fit – into a champagne flute. Pour in .8 oz. of peach schnapps, then fill to the top with chilled prosecco and serve. For a creamy twist, add a scoop of NuMe Light Ice Cream to the bottom of your champagne flute before pouring.

3. G& Fizz Prosecco  Cocktail from Prosecco Club

This cocktail combines Gin and Prosecco perfectly with the added perfume of Elderflower.  Just perfect for a sunny lazy day in the garden or an evening outside with friends.

.6 oz. Gin

Dash of Elderflower Cordial (I use St. Germain)

Fresh Mint Sprigs and/or

Cucumber slices

Prosecco

Pour a dash of Elderflower Cordial and the Gin into a glass and simply fill with cold Prosecco.  Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint or slice of cucumber if you wish.

4. Blueberry Mojito Royale from Domesticate-me.com

I’ve served these several times. They are always a hit.

1/3 cup blueberries (plus extra for a fancy blueberry swizzle stick)

6-8 leaves fresh mint

1 tablespoon sugar in the raw

2½ tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 ounces light rum

Crushed ice

2 ounces chilled Prosecco or Champagne

Place the blueberries, mint leaves, sugar, and lime juice in a 12-ounce glass or mason jar. With a muddling tool or wooden spoon, muddle the ingredients in the bottom of the glass until the blueberries have released their juices. Fill the glass with crushed ice and pour the rum over. Give it a stir. Top with chilled Champagne or Prosecco and garnish with extra mint and blueberries

5. Strawberry Thyme Prosecco from Damndelicious.net

This is a very Italian drink; perfect for celebrating.

2 cup strawberries, chopped

1 cup Limoncello liqueur

2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves

1 (750 mL) Prosecco, chilled

Combine strawberries, Limoncello and thyme in blender until strawberries are slightly crushed. Pour strawberry mixture into champagne flutes until half full. Top with Prosecco. Serve immediately.

6. Ginger Strawberry Bellini from Joyfullymad.com

1 cup Prosecco

1 can ginger ale

1 cup orange juice

6-8 medium strawberries, hulled

In a food processor or blender, puree strawberries. (Optional: strain strawberry puree to remove seeds.) Pour orange juice into strawberry puree and mix with a spoon

Pour prosecco and ginger ale into four glasses, splitting liquids four ways. Slowly add about a fourth of strawberry orange juice mixture to each glass, the prosecco will bubble over if you add too much at a time! Mix cocktail with a spoon. Top with a splash of prosecco or ginger ale and serve.

7. Refreshing Prosecco & Tequila Watermelon Cocktails from Teffy Perk @Sprinkleofgreen.com

½ large watermelon

6 limes

6 oz. Blanco tequila

500ml Prosecco

6 sprigs of mint, plus extra to garnish

Ice

Scoop watermelon flesh into a blender puree until smooth, straining through a fine mesh sieve into a large jug. (Note: you might have to do this in batches.) Squeeze in the juice of 3 limes, and slice the remaining limes into thin rounds before stirring them into the jug.

Stir in the tequila, Prosecco, mint, and ice. Top with the mint leaves and serve.