In Your Glass: Bring On the Bubbles, Champagne Drinks

What better way to celebrate spring than toasting it with a glass of something bubbly? Beer is good, but champagne is better. If nothing else, drink some to follow this sage advice: Don’t die with a bottle of champagne in your fridge.

Here are a couple ways to enjoy your preferred effervescent wine, be it champagne, Prosecco or a sparkling Wisconsin wine.

Lavender Champagne

Use the fresh lavender found at Door County farms to put an elegant spin on a glass of bubbly.

½ cup sugar

1 Tbsp dried lavender, or several fresh sprigs

dry champagne or sparkling wine

Make the lavender syrup by bringing ½-cup of sugar and ½-cup of water to boil in a saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Add dried lavender and remove from heat. Let cool completely and strain. (Syrup will keep in refrigerator for up to one month.)

Drizzle a generous teaspoon of syrup into each flute, top with chilled champagne and garnish with a lavender sprig.

Ginger Lime Fizz

For those who prefer a non-alcoholic refresher, this drink offers a kick and a pucker.

12 oz spicy ginger beer

4 oz seltzer water

1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice

Combine ingredients in a small pitcher to make two servings. Serve over ice with a slice of lime.

This article originally appeared in the 2017 Early Summer Issue of Door County Living magazine.