Champagnes for the Holidays

During this holiday season, there will be many reasons to raise a glass of bubbly in celebration. But instead of just any old mass-produced sparkler, why not put some effort and focus into that holiday tipple?

Champagne is the king of all sparkling wines. That is undeniable. That being said, it comes from a rather small region in France with limited production, so prices tend to be higher when dealing with this particular sparkling wine – especially when getting those bubblies made by the big houses.

Instead, focus on the lesser known producers. When shopping for Champagne, I have never been let down by Stephane Coquilette’s Carte d’Or. It’s a light, refreshing, mineral-driven Champagne that is everything you want in the beverage with a lower price tag than most producers.

Rosé Champagne is a special treat. But why not splurge during the holidays? I find that if you’re splurging correctly, you have great friends, great food and a beverage that accompanies both. Rosé Champagne such as that made by Pascal Doquet works with almost every food imaginable, which is exciting because often the holiday table is teeming with a myriad of flavors for which pairing wine is a challenge – unless you’re armed with Rosé Champagne.

Look farther afield, but stay in France: Okay, so it’s not quite the big day but you still feel like celebrating the holidays. Perhaps, it would be best to look outside of the Champagne region for a wine of a different sort. Sparkling wines are made all throughout the world, and there are a few great examples that are worth searching out.

I love the sparkling Vouvray made by Huet. It’s made from Chenin Blanc, it’s dry, mineral-driven, refreshing and light (both on your palette and your wallet). Also search out Cremant de Bourgogne, such as that made by Bertrand Ambroise. It’s a Chardonnay-dominated bubbly just like champagne and although simpler on the palette, it’s completely suited to celebrating the fact that it’s Tuesday night (or whatever excuse you’ve come up with for popping a cork).

Italy: There are so many sparkling wines made in Italy, it’s surprising that we never really stop to consider them. To begin with, if you’re looking for a substitute for Champagne and you want to share your worldliness, search out Franciacorta wines. These wines are so similar to the sparkling wines made in Champagne, you’ll be astounded.

Additionally, if you’re looking to lighten the mood and serve some lower alcohol and fun sparkling wines, try Brachetto d’Acqui. This wine is a bright red sparkling wine made in northwestern Italy. It’s made from Brachetto grapes, which produce a wine that’s similar but more delicious (and alcoholic) than strawberry soda and so much more wholesome for you. There is a great one available in most stores from Banfi.

Spain: Cava is made all over Spain, but the best ones come from northwestern Spain. These are great sparkling wines that can be found often at a fraction of the price of Champagne. While the market is dominated by Freixenet (black bottle), there are small producers such as Gramona that make incredible sparkling wine here that could (and do) put many Champagnes to shame.

– Andy Chabot, Director of Food and Beverage