Make Your Picnic or Brunch Sparkle

Make Your Picnic or Brunch Sparkle - If you're in the process of preparing a magnificent spring brunch for a family get-together or a even a picnic under a tree, every edible detail has probably been thought out to perfection.

That is, every detail except the beverage.

A perfect gathering cannot have an ordinary drink. Tea and soda simply will not do. So, why not try one of the most versatile wines you can drink with a wide variety of foods? A sparkling wine will do the trick.

Sparkling wine's crisp, clean texture allows it to pair with a surprisingly wide range of foods. Try it with quiche lorraine, pizza, seafood, brie, artichoke and cheese dip and even spicy Asian foods. It's also great with fresh berries and fruit desserts.

Oftentimes people do not realize the only difference between sparkling wine and champagne is simply where the grapes are grown and produced. Champagne is made from grapes from the Champagne region of France, while sparkling wines are grown and produced outside the region.

The best Champagne and sparkling wines are made by methode champenoise, which requires a second fermentation inside the bottle. This secondary fermentation produces the delicate bubbles in the bottle, making the wine sparkle.

So, what can a person do to make their picnic or brunch even more extraordinary? Try these simple and creative sparkling wine cocktails by Domaine Ste. Michelle, a sparkling wine from the state of Washington, made in the traditional methode champenoise style.

French kiss. Chill a narrow tube glass. Drop in a sugar cube, and coat with a splash of Chambord. Fill with Domaine Ste. Michelle, and add a slice of lemon for garnish.

Sparkling cosmo. Combine Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut and cranberry juice in a sugar-rimmed martini glass.

Brutini. A martini glass is the perfect shape for this. Start with Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut, and add a splash of Melon Liqueur. Give it a squeeze of fresh orange, and garnish with a slice of fresh strawberry.

Sparkle punch. If you are having a larger party, try the Sparkle Punch. Combine one-half cup pineapple juice, half a cup of lemon juice, one-third cup Triple Sec, one cup brandy and one-third cup Grenadine, and mix well. Then add one 750 ml bottle of white wine and two 750 ml bottles of your favorite Domaine Ste. Michelle sparkling wine.

For more information and tips on sparkling wine, visit domaine-ste-michelle.com.

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