Let’s face it; sparkling wines were made for New Year’s Eve. There is nothing quite like wine with bubbles to create a festive atmosphere and elevate the last night of the year to celebratory status. Whether you’re pouring a wine from California, Italy, Spain or France, the addition of bubbles somehow makes each sip a party. And the variety of sparkling wines is endless. The wines can range from bone-dry to wonderfully sweet. The bubbles can be tiny or effervescent. They can be white, red or rose.
Just how should you go about finding the right sparkler for your particular palate? Well, price is always a factor, but many consumers often overlook the importance of bubbles. How a wine gets its sparkle can impact both the flavor and the feeling it creates in the mouth.
For example, wines made using the Charmat Method, where the secondary fermentation occurs in large stainless steel tanks before the wine is bottled, creates larger bubbles that have more “fizz” and tends to emphasize the fresher fruit qualities of the grape varietal. All wines from the Champagne region of France, and many domestic sparkling wines, are made using the traditional Methode Champenoise, where the fermentation takes place in the bottle and produces wines with more delicate bubbles and refined characteristics.
The good news is that there are a number of sparkling wines on the market that fit every palate and every budget, so you won’t have to sacrifice your Christmas bonus to enjoy tasty bubbly, unless you really want to.
Here are a few recommendations from around the globe. Retail prices are approximate.
The sparkling wines from the Cava region of Spain are the unsung hero of bubbly. The NV Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Heredad from Cava, Spain ($19) is an excellent example of how delicious these wines can be. I really like this wine for its balance and abundant flavors. It has a pretty nose of rose petals and creme brulee. It’s nutty and creamy at the same time with flavors of green apple and ripe pear filling out the mid-palate.
Of course, Italian proseccos are always fun and affordable. The Casalnova Non-vintage Prosecco from Vento, Italy ($15) is one sure way to get your evening off to a great start. Made from the prosecco grape, this straw-gold white wine has a bouquet of honeysuckle and acacia and flavors of crisp apples, apricots and hints of honeyed oranges. The tight bubbles refresh and cleanse the palate.
The Alsace region of France is home to the Non-vintage Lucien Albrecht Cremant d’Alsace Brut Rose ($18). This sparkler is made exclusively from pinot noir, using the Methode Champenoise, and sports fresh scents of strawberry, rhubarb and rose petals on the bouquet and bright flavors of strawberry, cherry and raspberry on the creamy palate.
If you’re looking for a classic sparkling wine with a domestic label, the Non-Vintage J Vineyards Cuvee 20 Brut from the Russian River Valley of California ($20) is a great pick. It sports a wonderful bouquet that is full of toasted brioche, green apple and lemon scents. Tight, compact bubbles carry flavors of ripe apple, citrus and roasted almonds across the entire palate.
Of course, if you want to really splurge, the Non-Vintage Veuve Clicquot Rose from the Champagne region of France ($65) is a wonderful indulgence. Aromas of ripe peaches, honeyed nectarines, red raspberries and hints of yeasty notes are buoyed to the surface by tiny, precise bubbles. The party continues on the palate where flavors of baked apples and rich pears mingle with hints of buttered crust. It’s all built on a creamy frame that emphasizes the long, clean finish.
