Holidays and Bubbles 2025-2026: 5th Anniversary Special
10 Impressive Sparklers – Bonus: a Champagne Primer, Toasting and Serving Guidelines
We’re celebrating the 5th anniversary of Wine Wanderings with holiday parties, bubbles, gifting, and toasting the arrival of 2026. 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, Alsace – all called Crémant), 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?”
Bonus: A Champagne Primer (attached for downloading) is below which discusses wine sweetness levels, Champagne bottle sizes, style, and production.
10 Recommended Impressive Sparklers are recommended below. A sparkler makes a great hostess gift for holiday parties, especially New Year’s Eve. Happy Holidays and have a Happy, Healthy, Festive 2026.
“I only drink Champagne on two occasions: when I am in love and when I’m not.”
– Coco Chanel
The Champagne Region of France
The granddaddy of sparklers, Champagne is the first sparkling wine to be created and the benchmark for 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. See several recommendations for cave/Champagne House visits below. 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 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 brand choices s 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.”
See Wine Wanderings, November 11, 2025, “Heath Family Brands: Texas Hill Country.”
The rest of the new world makes impressive sparklers too: Spain, 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!
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 or serve chilled, 42-47° F from the refrigerator.
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 a tall flute, 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”
– Winston Churchill… on drinking Champagne
Sparkler Food Pairing
Food pairing for Champagne seems infinite as it ranges from appetizers to main courses and desserts. Pair Champagne with Oysters Rockefeller and Smoked Salmon toast points with 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. A touch of humor is rarely out of place. Understand
that you may be recorded 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. See June Cotner’s book Toasts.
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!
10 Recommended Impressive Sparklers
Dom Perignon Vintage 2015 with Gift Box, Champagne, France, $300
Robert Parker , 95 Points
The 2015 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 orchard fruits, smoke, and spices. 51% Pinot Noir, 49% Chardonnay.
Billecart-Salmon Le Rose NV Champagne, France, $110
Robert Parker, 92 Points
I had a wonderful tour and tasting 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. See Wine Wanderings, June 5, 2024: “Billecart-Salmon: a Premier House in the Champagne Region.”
Champagne Pommery Apanage 1874, NV $50
Wine Enthusiast, 91 Points.This wine offers 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.
JCB No. 69 Rose Crémant de Bourgogne, Burgundy, France, $30
Wine Enthusiast, 91 Points. Crémant (sparkling not made in the Champagne region) from France represents some of the best sparkling wine values in the world. This one comes from JCB-John Charles Boisset’s portfolio. See my interview with JCB (a career favorite) in Wine Wanderings, Aug 17, 2021, “Jean Charles Boisset: Burgundy, Sonoma, and Napa Valley’s Flamboyant Wine Ambassador”
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.
Berlucchi ’61 Extra Brut, Franciacorta, Italy, $36
Decanter, 91 Points
Extra Brut ’61 is a tribute to the birth of Franciacorta in 1961 – the year Berlucchi produced the first of this classic method sparkling wine in Italy. The bubbles are super fine, this wine has lime floral notes, green apples, and almonds.
2023 Raventos I Blanc de Nit Rose, Penedes, Spain $26
Robert Parker, 92 Points. Raventos is one of the top producers of Cava – the best sparkling wines in Spain. Flavors of white cherry, peach skin, and almond. See Wine Wanderings, June 14, 2022, “Live from Barcelona and Catalan, Spain Wine Regions – Penedes and Priorat.”
2020 Wölffer Estate Noblesse Oblige Sparkling Rosé, The Hamptons, New York, $40
Wine Enthusiast, 91 Points. This pale copper sparkler features delicate nuances of a yeasty lemon zest with an elegant long finish. A WW review: Nov. 25, 2025, “9 Tips for Hosting a Wine Tasting Party in Your Home.” I will be cruising on AmaWaterways with Wölffer Estate’s Owners, Spring 2026.
2021 Heath Sparkling Wines, Adoration, Texas, $61
Tasting Notes: A rosé sparkler: 77% Pinot Noir, 17% Chardonnay, 3% Pinot Meunier, 2% Pinot Gris, 1% Pinot Blanc. This festive wine is pale salmon color with aromas of fresh strawberry, raspberry and cherry. Crisp and brisk, this is my perfect late afternoon choice. It’s my favorite Texas sparkler. I often stop at the Heath Family Tasting room in downtown Fredericksburg to taste this wine. See Wine Wanderings, November 11, 2026, “Heath Family Brands: Texas Hill Country.”
2013 Schramsberg J Schram Blancs, North Coast, California, $140
Wine Spectator, 94 Points
Elegant, lovely wine, great value, with aromas of golden apple, lemon, and poached pear combined with the nuances of gingerbread 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.
Champagne and Sparkling Wine Primer
Wine Wanderings Editorial Calendar for 2026. What to Expect? 5th Anniversary
I have a 2026 editorial planning session happening this week. Articles coming up will include the best of 2025 detailing which article had the most views and comments.
Thank you for your support in this, the fifth year of Wine Wanderings. I am overwhelmed by the comments and many new international subscribers…including many American expats in Portugal. This is the time of year we donate 10% of gross revenues to UNICEF and Feeding America. Watch for that story. Have a wonderful holiday season.
