Sparkling Wine or Champagne for New Year’s?

When the holidays roll around, we make our list – full of new types of sparkling wines and champagnes!  Just to be clear- a real champagne only comes from a particular region in France.  But almost all countries make sparkling wines of some kind.  In Italy, it’s Prosecco, in Spain, it’s Cava and in the U.S.,  it’s just sparkling wine.

How to Choose a Sparkling Wine

If you don’t know what to choose – like us most of the time, it’s best to get a wine that’s rated, if you can.  Wines are rated from 0-100 for the type of wine and the price bracket in which they fall.  Or ask your seller to make a recommendation.

Some Sparkling Favorites

Recently, the younger crowd in our family has found a Cava favorite called Cristalino (about $10).  In Prosecco, you could look for Riva di Rocca (under $20), or Jeio (also under $20). As a native Californian, I like most of what’s grown there. Mumm Napa Brut Prestige is the California offshoot of a French house (about $20).  Many of the French houses have set up  California vineyards.  Costco actually has a surprisingly good Kirkland Sparkling wine that’s rated.  Then, of course you can climb the price ladder to the truly atmospheric. The most expensive champagne ever was a bottle of 1928 Krug sold at auction for $21,000!

Our Favorite Champagne Flutes

We love serving champagne in various, sparkling flutes. My personal favorite is a tall blue cut crystal flute.  We also have some modern tapered flutes, hollow stemmed in assorted colors, flat champagne’s (sorbet style) and our very favorite from the year 2000 – Micky Mouse flutes.

So pop the cork and cheers to good food, friends and another great year!  What’s your favorite type of Champagne?

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