Ingredients
1 cup (approx. 150g) Fresh strawberries, hulled
2 cups (480ml) Freshly squeezed, pulp-free orange juice, chilled
1 bottle (750ml) Dry sparkling wine or Champagne, well-chilled
1-2 tbsp Granulated sugar (optional, if strawberries aren’t sweet)
Fresh mint leaves and whole strawberry slices (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Base: Place hulled strawberries in a pitcher and muddle gently with a fork or muddler until juicy (add sugar here if desired).
2. Mix: Pour chilled, pulp-free orange juice into the pitcher and stir. For a smoother drink, strain this mixture through a fine-mesh sieve.
3. Chill: Cover and refrigerate the strawberry-orange base for 15-20 minutes until very cold.
4. Assemble: Add a slice of strawberry and a mint leaf to each chilled champagne flute. Fill glasses halfway with the strawberry-orange mixture.
5. Finish: Slowly top off each glass with the chilled sparkling wine, pouring down the side of the glass to preserve bubbles. Stir gently and serve immediately.
Notes
Pro-Tips:
• Ensure all components—especially the sparkling wine—are refrigerator-cold to maintain the fizz.
• Use a “Brut” or “Extra Brut” sparkling wine to ensure the drink isn’t overly sweet.
• Pour the sparkling wine slowly down the side of the glass or over the back of a spoon to minimize bubble loss.
Variations:
• Citrus Twist: Substitute half the orange juice with fresh pink grapefruit juice.
• Berry Blend: Add raspberries or blackberries to the muddle for a deeper berry flavor.
• Mocktail: Use non-alcoholic sparkling wine or sparkling white grape juice for a festive, alcohol-free version.
- Prep Time: 10
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Muddle & Pour
- Cuisine: American/French