Champagne

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Even though sparkling wine, especially champagne, has a reputation for being a "special occasion only" drink, it pairs beautifully with the types of things you’d serve at any party. Think: spicy, fried, cheesy foods, and decadent sweets.

1. Pick up at least three bottles — each one pours about five average-size glasses or up to 12 small tastings.

2. To make the party self-serve, clear an area in your party space where you can set out each type of wine in an ice bucket along with a corresponding snack throughout the night.

3. To challenge the socially shy, try a blind tasting, (using other apertifs, wines at the party, as well) where you pour everyone a glass (cover the bottle with a brown paper bag), pass around the corresponding snack, and then have them rate which one they liked the most. Or, for true wine aficionados, see if they can figure out which type of wine they’re drinking.

4. Save dessert to go with your final type of bubbly, and end the evening on a sweet note.

5. When uncorking a bottle of sparkling wine, hold the bottom of the bottle (wrapping the bottle’s neck and cork with a clean dish towel helps) and gently turn it — not the cork — keeping your hand over the cork to hold it in place. Taking an eye out with a wayward cork might be a real buzzkill. Angle the bottle away from your guests as you twist it, and slowly ease out the cork.

6. Never place a bottle of sparkling wine in the freezer. It could cause a nasty explosion. Instead, add a few handfuls of salt to your ice bucket. Saltwater freezes at a lower temperature, so your bottle should be properly chilled in about 10 minutes.

Ready to try your hand at pairing some bubbly with some tasty food? Here are a bunch of suggestions:

• Homemade potato chips served plain, or topped with caviar and crème fraîche (prosecco)
• Burrata (or fresh mozzarella) on toasted baguette slices topped with tapenade (cava)
• Fried shrimp (brut)
• Poached asparagus with lemon-garlic aioli (blanc de blanc)
• Dark chocolate truffles (moscato d'Asti or demi-sec)

Can’t find the time to put together a bunch of recipes? Check out some store-bought ideas:

• Potato chips served plain, or topped with caviar and crème fraîche (prosecco)
• Sushi (blanc de blanc)
• Thin-crust margarita pizza (prosecco or cava)
• Fried spring rolls or pot stickers (brut)
• Lemon bars or dark chocolate brownies (moscato d'Asti or demi-sec)

What’s a good party without a few fun cocktail ideas?

Bellini

In a pitcher, combine 1 bottle prosecco or French champagne (SAINT-HILAIRE Blanquette de Limoux ) and 1 quart bottled peach nectar (or other fruit juice) and stir until blended.

Bellini's are excellent, prosecco is an Italian grape.

Kir Royale

Fill a champagne glass with about 6 ounces champagne (or other sparkling wine), add 1/2 ounce crème de cassis, and stir until blended. Garnish with a lemon twist.

French 75

Fill half of a 14-ounce glass with crushed ice. Pour in 1 1/2 ounces gin, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon sugar, and stir. Top off with about 6 ounces champagne (or other sparkling wine).

Chamboard on board

Dizzle a bit of Chamboard Liqueur in a glass of French champagne. Add a fresh strawberry.  enjoy the bliss.  (Chamboard is "framboise" or French black raspberry liqueur)

Hearst Communications, Inc.

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