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Fresh grapefruit juice, prosecco, and a sprig of thyme — this grapefruit prosecco cocktail recipe takes five minutes and looks far more impressive than the effort involved.
I first made this for my mom on Mother’s Day — she drinks wine and almost nothing else, so a simple prosecco cocktail was the obvious move.
The grapefruit cuts through the sweetness of the prosecco and keeps it light.
That New Year’s Eve I first tried prosecco I realized it was much more versatile than I thought — it takes citrus really well, which is why this combination works so cleanly.
It works for brunch, a spring gathering, or just a Friday afternoon when you want something that feels a little more put together than a glass of wine.
Tips
Fresh grapefruit juice makes a real difference here — bottled tends to be sweeter and more uniform, which flattens the drink. Squeeze it the same day.
Use a dry prosecco rather than a sweet one. The grapefruit already brings brightness; a sweet prosecco tips it too far in one direction.
The thyme sprig is not just decoration — bruise it lightly between your fingers before dropping it in the glass. It releases a faint herbal note that makes the cocktail smell as good as it tastes.
To make a pitcher for a crowd, combine the grapefruit juice with the full bottle of prosecco just before serving — not ahead of time, or you lose the bubbles.
FAQ
You can, but fresh gives you a sharper, slightly bitter edge that balances the prosecco much better. Bottled juice is sweeter and produces a noticeably milder drink. If fresh grapefruit isn’t available, a good-quality cold-pressed juice is the next best option.
Add half a teaspoon of honey or simple syrup to each glass before pouring the juice. Stir it in first so it dissolves before the prosecco goes in — adding it after will cause fizzing. Pink grapefruit is also naturally sweeter than white if you want to adjust at the source.
Yes — mix the grapefruit juice in a pitcher and add the prosecco right before guests arrive. Don’t combine them more than a few minutes in advance or the carbonation goes flat. Keep both the juice and the prosecco cold before mixing.
A dry (brut) prosecco is the best match. Extra dry also works. Avoid sweet or demi-sec styles — the grapefruit already brings enough brightness and a sweet prosecco makes the whole drink taste like juice.
Grapefruit Prosecco Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh grapefruit juice, from about 2 grapefruits
- 1 bottle dry prosecco
- 4 thyme sprigs
- Grapefruit slices for garnish
Instructions
- Fill each champagne flute with ¼ cup fresh grapefruit juice.
- Top with prosecco.
- Lightly bruise a thyme sprig between your fingers and drop one into each glass.
- Garnish with a grapefruit slice and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This is such a pretty drink, Mira! I’ve always loved sparkling wines, as sweet ones are my favorite. This prosecco cocktail sounds just perfect for spring and Mother’s Day! Love the pretty color, too!
This cocktail is gorgeous, Mira!! Heck, all of your cocktails are always so pretty! This grapefruit prosecco sounds so refreshing.
This is indeed very elegant. I also love its simplicity!
I love prosecco and never thought of adding grapefruit. Delicious cocktail
This is a very elegant looking drink Mira 🙂
I do enjoy Prosecco on special occasions, and with grapefruit juice it sounds delicious! This cocktail sounds so refreshing and I’m going to have to look for Voveti!
Love how the tart grapefruit complements the sweeter prosecco- so yum!
What a lovely toast! And this cocktail looks so refreshing…Yummy recipe!
Such a fabulous cocktail for mother’s day, Mira.. and it’s soo pretty! I’ll be on the lookout for Voveti! Thank you for this!
well, this is the most beautiful cocktail ever! I love prosecco!