What is more celebratory than sparkling wine? And the New Year is the perfect time to celebrate with sparkling wine! It’s always fun to say goodbye to 2020 year and welcome in the new year with sparkling wine.
Sparkling wine? Why am I not calling it Champagne? Well, that’s a fantastic question! Did you know that Champagne is a place? Yes, Champagne is a sparkling wine from Champagne, France. It is not permissible for sparkling wines produced in other regions (even other regions in France!) to be called Champagne. I run into many people who say they want Champagne when all they really want is something sparkling and something fun. Thank goodness there are so many choices!
I looooove sparkling wine! It’s celebratory because it dances on your tongue. It’s like it’s alive! But life should be celebrated as much as you desire!
I have been fortunate enough to try some fantastic Champagnes over the years. Unfortunately, as I bought more and more wine on my own (instead of my parents), I had to scale back the dollars to spend on wines. But know that there are delicious sparkling wines for every budget. And yes, for New Year’s Eve, birthdays, Christmas, I do splurge and get a great Champagne. Let’s take a look at this lively wine for such occasions.
Sparkling Wine Selections for 2021
Ployez-Jacquemart Extra Quality Brut NV – this is the “house blend” of Ployez-Jacquemart, their flagship wine. I love that this wine is a Grower’s Champagne…the Ployez family tends to the vineyards and makes their own wines. It made Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2020. But I don’t need a list to tell me what to drink. This wine was recommended to me by a local distributor. He loves Grower Champagne, and that’s what this wine is. I generally take Erik’s advice as he has a great palate.
I understand why this wine made the Top 100 list. The aromas of pretty flowers, slight plummy notes, then toasty, creamy, like a lemon meringue pie, but also some benzaldehyde (unmistakable almond extract notes I remember synthesizing in chemistry lab in college). The benzaldehyde gave the Champagne this unmistakable complexity that I wasn’t expecting. I will drink this one with my husband for a special occasion. For around $52, I think it’s my star of 2021.
Of course, one bottle of Champagne isn’t going to cut it. Here are some other bubbles to enjoy:
Champagne!
Pommery Brut Silver Royal NV – clean and crisp, this Champagne does not disappoint! A crowd pleaser. Whereas the Ployez-Jacquemart was a bit thought-provoking, the Pommery Brut Silver Royal, is one to share with the crowd. Fantastic with caviar and it’s accoutrements, Pommery Brut Silver Royal’s clean crispness offsets the saltiness of caviar and the creaminess of creme fraiche. It’s also fantastic with fried chicken. It’s the perfect wine to cut through fatty foods. It’s usually around $50.
French, but not from Champagne…
L’Conti Blanquette de Limoux –
Limoux is in Southern France and has supposedly been producing sparkling wine 100 years before Champagne did! It is made in the same method as Champagne, but from different grapes. This is one of those sparklers that I can serve to a “Champagne snob” and they love it (and believe it’s Champagne for a fraction of the price!). Sparkling wines from the Limoux are worth seeking out and tasting. Apple peel, flowery, and honeyed aromas make it delightful for all night sipping…the price does as well! Around $12.
Made in Champagne style, but South African
Graham Beck Brut Rosé NV–
One of my favorites that I like to call my house wine because it is such a delight to have around at all times. Hailing from South Africa and made in the traditional method (Cap Classique) as is Champagne. This Rosé is such a beautiful pink color from skin contact. The color adds berry juiciness and structure to this wine while maintaining acidity. Love it for all occasions. Around $18
These sparkling wine are delicious. Have you had any of these wines? What do you think??
Cheers to 2022!! Salud!