foodwineclick

Going out for New Years?  Stopping by the liquor store / wine shop / grocery store for a bottle on the way? Here’s a last minute primer on picking up your sparkling wine.

Here’s our lineup for a complete sparkling wine sampler at New Year’s Eve

Champagne
Champagne producers in France want you to know: It’s only Champagne if it’s produced from the Champagne region in France.

• Champagne method= 2nd fermentation in the bottle
• Grapes – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
• Blanc de Blancs – made solely from Chardonnay
• Blanc de Noirs – Made from Pinot Noir & Pinot Meunier
• Rose – some red wine mixed in with the white
• NV – non-vintage.  Base wine is mixed over multiple years.  Most Champagne is NV.  Vintage Champagne is significantly more expensive.

• Brut Nature / Non-dosage – no added sugar at all
• Brut – very dry (but can have a little sweetness)
• Extra Dry –starting to taste a bit sweet
• Dry – noticeably sweet
• Demi-Sec – very sweet
• Sec or Doux – sweet as in syrup

• NM – negociant manipulant – Corporate, think Coca Cola.  Not bad, will always be consistent in style
• RM– recoltant manipulant – This wine maker grew the grapes on the estate and made the wine themselves.  AKA Grower Champagne, Farmer Fizz

Other Sparkling Wine

• Method Champenoise = Method Traditionelle – the others will put this on the label
• Charmat method = 2nd fermentation in a tank, then bottle. Prosecco is usually Charmat method

$15 and under

• Cava (Spain) made like champagne,  classified the same: Brut, etc
• Asti (Italy) – Usually sweet, light apertif or dessert
• Prosecco (Italy) – usually a little sweetness, very nice for everyday, welcome, and apertif.  Best is Valdobiaddene DOCG
• French non-Champagne – St. Hilaire, Baron de Seillac both are super nice for around $12
• US – Methode Champenoise
  • Dom. Ste. Michelle $10, bubbly light
  • Gruet (from New Mexico!) $15

$15-25

• US sparkling – Method Champenoise
  • Roederer Estate NV Brut – very nice! $20
  • Schramsberg Mirabelle
  • Argyle Brut – very nice!

• France – sparkling, non Champagne
  • Cremant de Loire, Limoux, Bourgogne – champagne style, different grapes, usually wonderful.  Highly recommended

$30+
If I’m spending more than $30, I’ll opt for Champagne.  Also, I’m a big fan of the little guy, so I lean more towards Grower Champagnes.  Look for the RM on the label!

• Big Houses we like
  • Piper-Heidsieck

• Grower Champagnes we like
  • Chartogne-Taillet
  • Marc Hebrart
  • Pierre Peters
  • J. Lassalle
  • Gaston Chicquet

Here’s our line-up for our New Year’s Eve Sparkling tasting.  A grand tour of sparkling wine! Click on any photo to start the slide show.  Cheers and Happy New Year!

Prosecco – great for starting any party, a touch sweet. $16

Cava – sparkling from Spain $12

French, but not Champagne $22

My fave American sparkler $24

Fun American sparkler from New Mexico $16

American Brut Rosé $23

Sparkling but non-alcoholic – provide something for the non-drinkers! $3

Note to self: next year, get this one done a week earlier!