3 Summer Sparkling Wine Cocktails (That Aren't Aperol Spritzes)

In the words of Zara Larsson in one of the biggest songs of 2025 (and, honestly, 2026), “summer isn’t over yet.” Nay, it’s still alive and kicking! August has yet to arrive on our doorsteps, and we’ve got a solid four weeks-plus of the sun being high in the sky and finding any occasion to bust out some effervescent, sparkling wine-based cocktails. And those summer cocktails do NOT have to be Aperol Spritzes.

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I don’t know about you, but I’ve had my fill of Aperol and prosecco this year – and (whisper it with me), I never really liked it that much in the first place. So: Let’s look at a couple of other sparkling wine cocktails to sip on throughout the rest of those lazy days.

Sarti Spritz

If I were a betting man, I’d put good money on the Sarti Spritz replacing its Aperol-based sibling as the cocktail du jour in the coming years. It’s essentially the same recipe as the more famous spritz, but it uses Sarti Rosa instead, a lighter, sweeter liqueur that’s decidedly less herb-forward and notably more fruity.

The result is pretty stunning. Sarti Spritzes have strong notes of mango and passionfruit, and their sweetness is undercut by the dryness of the prosecco. And then there’s the color: Sarti has a vibrant pink hue that gives it just as summery a look as an Aperol Spritz. Trust me, it’s a keeper.

French 125

I was discussing the French 75 last week when I was writing about gin cocktails, and the French 125 is kind of its more elegant cousin. It’s also a touch more French, and therefore true to its name. The French 125 is almost identical to the French 75, but instead of gin, it uses cognac – and it adds a bit more of it in, with less sparkling wine, to give the cocktail a stronger kick.

French 125s have a bolder, punchier flavor than French 75s, and the brandy gives it a fruitiness that shines through well when cut with the sparkling wine. Bear in mind, though, this thing is stroooong. Make sure you line your stomach first; otherwise you’ll be rolling out the door. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, people.

Jalisco Flower

If you like your tequila cocktails layered, refreshing, zesty, and very strong, then you’re going to love the Jalisco Flower. This cocktail combines reposado tequila, elderflower liqueur, and a hefty glug of sparkling wine, topping it all off with grapefruit juice and serving it in a highball glass. It is, needless to say, pretty alcoholic – so as with the French 125, drink at your peril.

But if you do, you’ll get a cocktail that brightens even the most overcast of days. There’s a sweet-sour sensibility in this cocktail that feels subtly placed, and the bitterness of the grapefruit and tequila works against the sweet, aromatic elderflower liqueur nicely. The sparkling wine, meanwhile, almost acts as an intensifier for the other flavors, allowing their subtleties to shine throughout without dulling them (as soda water might). It’s a class act.