Are you beaming yet? The holidays are here! And coming up is the New Year! There's a lightness in the air... and hope. And doesn't everything have the most brilliant sparkle? Whether you believe "seeing is believing" or like Fred Gailey in Miracle on 34th Street, you believe that, "faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to," it's a sure thing that you've survived 2011. Cheers to that, my friends! Perhaps it's the "spirits" that have pulled you through all the long days, and if that's the case, then cheers to them, too! On this occasion, something sparkly is in order. Now you're probably thinking, "sparklers are for July 4th," but that is just not the case. For this holiday season, there's nothing like the Ginger Sparkler to make you twinkle more brightly than the lights on the trees. So pull out that bottle of champagne that you've been itching to open, don't put up the sugar you were just using to make hot cocoa for the kids, and get some ginger! Prepare to toast the holiday season with an unforgettable spirit!
Ingredients 
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2 teaspoons finely grated peeled fresh ginger
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1/2 cup sugar
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1 bottle (750 ml) dry sparkling wine, such as Cava, Prosecco, or Champagne
Directions
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Set a fine-mesh sieve over a small bowl; set aside. In a small saucepan, boil ginger, sugar, and 1/4 cup water until syrupy, about 2 minutes. Pour through sieve into bowl, discarding solids. (To store syrup, refrigerate in an airtight container, up to 1 week.)
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Pour 1 tablespoon syrup into each of 8 tall glasses. Top with sparkling wine, and gently stir.
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