Bubbles and Holidays 2024-2025: 9 Impressive Sparklers Recommended
Bonus: a Champagne Primer, Toasting and Serving Guidelines
Holiday parties, bubbles gifting, and toasting time is upon us this coming week. Nothing sets the stage for a party more perfectly than being offered a glass of bubbles from an ornate silver tray. All special occasions call for sparkling wine, but winter holiday parties demand an impressive sparkler. I receive more emails requesting sparkler and Champagne suggestions in December than at any other time of the year. People seem to be confused about how to select a type or style of sparkling wine. I hope to clear up your confusion. Chilling, Opening, and Serving Sparkling Wine - instructions are below.
Questions abound. “Should my choice be domestic or international?” Great bubbles are found all over the world--in France’s traditional Champagne region, in the new worlds of the USA, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and in the special other regions of France (think Loire Valley, Burgundy, Bordeaux), Northern Italy, Great Britain, and Spain’s well-regarded Cava’s. Take your pick.
How should wine be chilled and served? What food pairs with sparkling wines? Another question I frequently hear is, “What is the proper etiquette for giving a Champagne toast?” - recommendations are below.
Bonus: A Champagne Primer (attached for downloading) is below which discusses wine sweetness levels, Champagne bottle sizes, style, and production.
9 Recommended Impressive Sparklers - a list below with both premium and great value wines. A sparkler makes a great hostess gift for holiday parties, especially New Year’s Eve. Happy Holidays and have a Happy, Healthy, Festive 2025.
“I only drink Champagne on two occasions: when I am in love and when I’m not.”
– Coco Chanel
Champagne Region of France
The granddaddy of sparklers, Champagne is the first sparkling wine to be created and the benchmark against which all others are measured. The Champagne region, about an hour’s train ride from Paris, sits in the pretty French countryside encompassing the major towns of Reims and Épernay, France. Roman conquests, Frank’s invasions, the French Revolution, and two World Wars have buffeted the region. I have enjoyed my three tours and numerous interviews there over the past ten years. Don’t forget to visit the gift shops of the Champagne house to see the great wine accessories. See several recommendations for cave/Champagne House visits appear in the newsletter, Wine Wanderings, February 13, 2021, “Champagne – a Taste and Tour of History.”
Crémant from France
Eight non-Champagne regions in France boast terrific sparkling wine called crémant…Crémant de Loire, Crémant de Bourgogne (Burgundy), Crémant de Bordeaux, and Crémant d’Alsace, are some examples. They use grapes synonymous to their region and use the same production process as used in Champagne called “methode traditionelle.” As an example, Crémant d’Alsace is made from six different grape varieties including Pinot Noir Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, and Chardonnay. Champagne on the other hand is made only from three grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. A Crémant can be lovely and a great value. See the two recommended Crémant sparkers below as they are wonderful and a great value.
Italy: Franciacorta, Prosecco, Spumante
Italy offers a breadth of sparkling choices starting with the superior “method traditionelle” Franciacorta wines. Chardonnay, Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir), and Pinot blanc/Bianco are used to make these wonderful sparklers. A myriad of choices of brands are available from the Prosecco region made with the Charmat method of production- one where a closed, pressurized tank captures the effervescence of the second fermentation. There is a “pecking order” of the Prosecco choices with the top sparklers coming from Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze DOCG and Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Rive DOCG. The Glera grape (formerly called a Prosecco grape) is fermented to make Prosecco sparklers.
Just a note….Spumante is a classification of Italian sparkling wine that can be produced in any area of Italy with any grape variety made in many methods.
USA and New World Sparklers
The higher-end USA sparklers are produced in the same “methode traditionelle,” second bottle fermentation method, as is used in Champagne. They are lovely wines and sometimes beat Champagne in blind tasting contests. It’s always fun to visit these sparkling wine producers like Domaine Carneros or Schramsberg in Napa Valley. When you see the production firsthand, you really appreciate the work and time that goes into producing a really great sparkler. American sparklers come from many states including California, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, New Mexico, Texas, and New York. See Wine Wanderings, December 2021, “Gruet Winery: A Premium Sparkling Producer in New Mexico.”
The rest of the new world makes impressive sparklers too: South Africa, New Zealand, Tasmania, Chile, and even sparkling Shiraz from Australia.
Of course, some of the low-end sparkling wines use the carbonation method of production. Buyer beware of headaches!
“ I drink Champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I think it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it – unless I’m thirsty.” - Madame Lilly Bollinger, Chair of the Bollinger Champagne business 1941-1971.
Chilling, Opening, and Serving Sparkling Wine
Chilling
Before serving, chill the sparkling wine well by placing the bottle in a bucket filled with ice and just enough water to make a slurry for 30 minutes.
Beware of flying corks!
The pressure in a bottle of Champagne is equivalent to that of a large tire so be aware of flying cork consequences. Turn the wire 5 ½ twists. Slant the bottle at a 45-degree angle away from guests and twist the bottle, instead of the cork, 6 times leaving the wire muzzle loosely coupled for safety and leverage. A “maiden’s sigh” is the sound to aim for, not a loud pop.
Serving
Serve the sparkler in tall flutes, tulip glass, or coupe (modeled supposedly after Marie Antoinette’s breast) at a temperature of 42-47 degrees. Pour a small amount into the glass, allow the bubbles to settle, then top up to about 2/3 full. Let the sparkler be consumed fully and do not top it up… so that it again can be enjoyed chilled.
“In success you deserve it and in defeat, you need it”
– Napoleon… on drinking Champagne
Sparkler Food Pairing
Food pairing for Champagne seems infinite as it ranges from appetizers to main courses and desserts. Champagne classically pairs with caviar or with Oysters Rockefeller and Smoked Salmon toast points and cream cheese. Salty choices always work with dry sparkling wines. Popcorn tossed with Parmesan cheese and olive oil is a simple example of a great, but simple Champagne pairing. For Dessert follow the wine and dessert pairing guideline by making sure the Champagne is sweeter (demi-sec through Doux) than the dessert, or the wine will fall flat.
“Come quickly, I’m tasting the stars!”
– Dom Perignon shouts to his fellow monks regarding his Champagne
The Champagne Toast
Special occasions often require you to give a Champagne toast for the gathering. Great toasts that seem spontaneous are usually rehearsed. Take my word for it as a recent Mother of the Groom this year. I practiced! A touch of humor is rarely out of place. Understand that you may be recorded (quoted on social media),and so be appropriate. When ready, make sure that everyone has been poured a glass of wine. Stand up and say, “May I have your attention” vs. beating on the glassware with utensils. Look and speak directly to the toastee, first and last, while in between addressing the rest of the audience. Don’t gesture with your glass or you may slosh the wine. A toast of 90 seconds or less in length is always appreciated. Finally say for example, “Let’s welcome, Max,” “Let’s celebrate Max, a great friend,” “To Max,” or another appropriate ending. Tip your glass and take a sip of wine at the end of the toast. All special occasions call for Champagne, but winter holiday parties demand a festive sparkler. Cheers!
9 Recommended Impressive Sparklers
Dom Perignon Vintage with Gift Box 2013, Champagne, France, $300
Decanter Magazine, 98 Points
This is 2013 vintage Dom is the top of the house hedonistic release cuvée. The aging imparts a depth and power to the wine that has complex aromas of dried apricot, honey, and hazelnuts. 51% Pinot Noir, 49% Chardonnay.
Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose, NV Champagne, France, $110
Wine Spectator, 92 Points
I had a wonderful tour here at Billecart-Salmon in 2023. I highly appreciated the quality and hospitality of our hosts. Their rosé Champagne is magnificent, and this one is one of their most affordable choices. It has an expressive berry flavor with a citrus zest and creaminess at the finish. It is my personal top choice for a rosé Champagne.
Champagne Pommery Apanage 1874, NV $100
A fresh, subtle, elegant, creamy mousse with citrus overtones. Ch. Pommery is a “must-see” Champagne House in Reims, France. See “Champagne Pommery: Steeped in History and Art,” Wine Wanderings, September, 2023.
Maison Albert Bichot Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rose, NV Burgundy, France, $25
Vivino, 3.8 rating – I was surprised at how much I loved this crémant…really refreshing and wonderful red fruit aromas.
Lucien Albrecht Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rose, Alsace, France, $20
James Suckling, 90 Points
This wine has impressive notes of apples, peaches, and apricots, with a creaminess to the long finish.
Val d’Oca ‘Rive di San Pietro di Barbozza’ Brut, DOCG Prosecco Superiore di Valdobbiadene, $37
This wine features the aromas and flavors of white blossom, tropical fruit, and ripe pear…..from the Prosecco Superiore di Valdobbiadene, Italy region, a top Prosecco area.
Bellavista Franciacorta Alma Cuvee Brut, NV, Franciacorta, Italy, $42
James Suckling, 92 Points
Don’t miss visiting the historic opera house, La Scala, when you go to Milan. To take you there virtually, you’ll love this Franciacorta sparkler. The bubbles are super fine, this wine has floral notes and citrus fruit aromas.
Jansz Premium Rosé, NV, Tasmania, Australia, $26
Wine Spectator, 91 Points
Fresh strawberry, pomegranate, and mandarin orange flavors abound in this refreshing rosé from one of the best producers in Tasmania.
2014 Schramsberg J Schram Blancs, North Coast, California, $145
Wine Spectator, 94 Points
Elegant, lovely wine, great value, with aromas of golden apple, lemon, and poached pear combined with the nuances of Belgian waffle and vanilla cake. The fruitful acidity and bright, long finish make this my premier Napa Valley sparkler recommendation.
The tour of Schramsberg winery is a “must-see” in Napa Valley. We had an exceptional cave tour of this winery last year. Thank you, Matt Levy, for the thorough tour and tasting which included some vintage surprises. Don’t forget to visit the Schramsberg still winery, Davies Vineyards, while you are in the Valley, as they make one of my favorite Cabernet Sauvignons.
A Champagne and Sparkling Wine Primer
This primer includes terms of Champagne bottle size (Magnum, Balthazar, etc.) and sweetness levels (Brut, demi-sec, etc.). It also includes Champagne and Sparkling terms (NV, Prestige Cuvée, etc.) and types of Champagne producers (NM, Négociant, etc.)
Wine Wanderings Editorial Calendar for 2025. What to Expect?
I have a 2025 editorial planning session happening this week. Articles coming up will include the best of 2024 detailing which article had the most views and comments. A book review, a “Left and Right Bank” Bordeaux overview, and a featured travel in France along the Seine River and Paris are coming this year. The refurbished Notre Dame is at the top of my list.
Thank you for your support in this, the fourth year of Wine Wanderings. I am overwhelmed by the comments and many new international subscribers…including many American expats in Portugal. Happy New Year!
Travel Opportunities
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Cruise with Wine Wanderings: Cruise Travel Reminder: River Seine – Paris – Normandy – Giverny on AmaWaterways
Cruise the Danube on AmaWaterways with Wine Wanderings and Wölffer Estate Winery, April 20, 2026, Romantic Danube.
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So glad! It is time for those holiday sparkling gifts. Happy New Year!
Great article on champagne and sparkling wines! Perfect timing!!