THE TOP CHAMPAGNE CHOICES FOR ANY BUDGET

January 17, 2017

Believe it or not, another new year is just around the corner once again. If you feel intimidated or even daunted by the task of choosing the perfect bottle of bubbly this New Year’s Eve, we have some top champagne choices for your celebration, no matter the budget.

Technically, the term “champagne” refers only to sparkling wine produced in the Champagne region of France. However, sparkling wine made using the traditional Champagne method is quite often labeled as champagne. Either way, you don’t have to wait until New Year’s Eve to try one of our suggestions, so let’s get started.

Whether you’re on a tight budget – let’s say under $20 a bottle – or you have money to splurge, here are a few respectable choices:

 

 

1. Solletico Prosecco, Veneto, Italy, 2012, $12: This drier style of Prosecco has notes of honeydew and flowers. A fine example of the increase in quality sparklers from Italy. Unlike most Proseccos, this wine is vintage-dated.
2. Piper-Sonoma Brut NV, Sonoma County, $13-$16. Bursting with lots of summer fruit flavors and a creamy, rich texture, this is a great wine to serve large crowds without breaking the bank.
3. Spain’s sparkling wine, Cava is also made in the style of classic Champagne. Marques de Gelida Cava, Catalunya, Spain, MV, $17: If you’re into the crispness and fruitiness of Prosecco, try Spanish Cava.
4. Cremant is French sparkling wine made outside Champagne, the most widely available being Cremant d’Alsace at $22; full-flavored, rich, balanced, and not too sweet.
5. For a good domestic sparkling wine, try Domaine Chandon Rosé NV from California, also $22. Pure and clean with a flavor reminiscent of strawberries and cream, this could be your perfect party wine.
6. Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve, Champagne, France, MV, $36. When you want to splurge, this blue label bubbly is a great choice. Medium-toned, beautifully balanced, and amazingly versatile, this popular wine is right for any menu.

If you want to dress up your wineglasses or champagne flutes after they’re filled with bubbles, check out these cool wine charms. You’ll find everything from boas to bling, foodies to flowers, and stilettos to snowflakes. These adorable accents not only dress up your glass, they help keep you from picking up the wrong one…because that could be embarrassing!

To keep your bubbly fresh, try using one of these inexpensive but very effective airtight champagne bottle stoppers. These chrome beauties are definitely up to the task of keeping the bubbles in your bubbly long after the last partygoer has left the building.

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