Toast the new year with festive champagne cocktails

Any brut will do for this recipe, but Grand Cru’s Karen Chu prefers Blanc de Blancs for its bright, slightly acidic bite. “Unless you like really sweet cocktails, I would stay away from demi sec, sec, moscato d’asti and even prosecco,” she adds.

• 1  1/2 tablespoons ginger-sage simple syrup (recipe follows)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons pear juice (Grand Cru uses R.W. Knudsen Family brand organic pear juice)
• 3 ounces champagne or sparkling wine, such as Mumm Napa Blanc de Blancs

Add syrup, juice and champagne into a coupe glass. Stir lightly to mix. Garnish with paper-thin pear slices, candied ginger curls or edible gold flakes, if desired.

Ginger-sage simple syrup

Makes 1 cup

•  1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 10 fresh sage leaves
• 1 small piece fresh ginger, sliced into 1/8-inch rounds

1. Mix together all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat. Stir, cover and let steep for at least 30 minutes.

2. Smash ginger pieces with a fork to release more flavor. Place in refrigerator until cold and keep chilled. May be made a day ahead.

Nutritional analysis per drink: 112 calories, trace fat, 13 grams carbohydrates, no protein, no cholesterol, 3 milligrams sodium, no dietary fiber, 0 percent of calories from fat.

Grand Cru Bar & Boutique, 1257 W. Magnolia Ave., Fort Worth, 817-923-1717, www.grandcrumagnolia.com

Inspired by the famous Italian dessert, this cocktail has a hint of hazelnut and cinnamon.

• 4 ounces Martini Asti
•  1/2 ounce Disaronno
• Pinch cinnamon
• Mint leaves for garnish (optional)

Place all ingredients in a champagne glass. Stir once and garnish with mint leaves, if desired.

Nutritional analysis per serving: 119 calories, no fat, 6 grams carbohydrates, trace protein, no cholesterol, 6 milligrams sodium, no dietary fiber, 0 percent of calories from fat.

Martini & Rossi

Why save the bubbly for after dinner when it could be the dessert course?

• 5 ounces prosecco
• 1 scoop raspberry sorbet or lemon sorbet
• 1 raspberry or lemon twist for garnish

Using a melon baller, add a scoop of raspberry or lemon sorbet to a chilled champage flute. Fill with prosecco. Garnish with raspberry or lemon twist.

Nutritional analysis per serving: 120 calories, no fat, 4 grams carbohydrates, no protein, no cholesterol, no sodium, no dietary fiber, 0 percent of calories from fat.

Martini & Rossi

To make this cocktail authentically French, be sure to use good French champagne as a floater on top of the other French spirits. Suitable to drink well past the third day of Christmas.

• 1 lemon wedge, plus additional rind for garnish
• 1 orange wedge
• Dash fresh nutmeg
• 2 ounces Grey Goose vodka
• 1 ounce Hennessy cognac
• 1 ounce Grand Marnier
• 1 ounce champagne
• Feather, for garnish

1. In a 6-ounce glass, muddle lemon and orange wedges with the nutmeg. Add spirits and float with champagne.

2. Twist lemon rind and garnish with a feather wrapped in the curled rind.

Nutritional analysis per serving: 326 calories, trace fat, 11 grams carbohydrates, trace protein, no cholesterol, 1 milligram sodium, trace dietary fiber, 2 percent of calories from fat.

Ferrari’s Italian Villa & Chop House, 1200 William D. Tate Ave., Grapevine, 817-251-2525, www.ferrarisrestaurant.com

Fort Worth diners lost a beloved restaurant when Sapristi! Bistro closed its doors a few years ago. Those feeling nostalgic for the special occasions celebrated at the eatery can re-create one of its popular cocktails — its twist on the classic bellini, made special with a dry peach sparkling wine called Marquis des Roys Pecher Brut, peach liqueur and fresh peach puree or nectar.

• 4 ounces Marquis des Roys Pecher Brut
• 2 ounces bellini mix (Cipriani is a well-known brand)
• 1  1/2 ounces fresh peach puree, or Looza Peach Nectar or Boiron frozen peach puree
• 1/2 ounce Mathilde Peches liqueur

Pour sparkling wine into flute; add remaining ingredients and stir gently to combine.

Nutritional analysis per cocktail: 255 calories, trace fat, 36 grams carbohydrates, trace protein, 0 milligrams cholesterol, 5 milligrams sodium, trace dietary fiber, 1 percent of calories from fat.

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Who says biscotti’s just for breakfast and coffee?

• 4 ounces sparkling rose
•  1/2 ounce vanilla liqueur (such as Galliano)
• Vanilla bean for garnish

Place all ingredients in a champagne glass. Stir once, garnish and serve.

Nutritional analysis per serving: 113 calories, no fat, 2 grams carbohydrates, trace protein, no cholesterol, 6 milligrams sodium, no dietary fiber, 0 percent of calories from fat.

Martini & Rossi

Elevate your typical toast with this sweet champagne cocktail from Dee Lincoln’s Tasting Room & Bubble Bar inside AT&T Stadium, where state-of-the-art machines dispense wine and champagne by the ounce at perfect temperatures. Aptly named Bubble bubble, this is the be-seen bar’s signature cocktail. And, with lemon juice and pear-flavored vodka, it’s one smooth sparkler that gets us ready to pucker up.

• 2 ounces Grey Goose La Poire pear vodka
• 1 ounce St-Germain elderflower liqueur
• Dash of fresh lemon juice
• Dash of simple syrup
• 1 ounce champagne

1. Combine first four ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

2. Shake, then strain into a martini stem and top with champagne.

Nutritional analysis per serving: 111 calories, no fat, 1 gram carbohydrates, trace protein, no cholesterol, trace sodium, trace dietary fiber, 0 percent of calories from fat.

Dee Lincoln’s Tasting Room & Bubble Bar, 214-979-9463, www.deelincolns.com