It’s the season for bubbles!

If you are looking for some great bubbly with New Years coming up here is a guide to help with your choices. Champagne or sparkling wine can sometimes be confusing, if it pops and has a cork than most people think its champagne. The truth of the matter is that only champagne from the region that carries this name can be called by this name. So if it from anywhere else than Champagne, France than it must be called sparkling wine. Sparkling wine is produced in almost every wine producing region in the world. There are many different types and styles some of which rival the tastes and quality that comes from France. The next thing to keep in mind is what will be the style, sweet or dry, light or full flavored, and price. The ranges of sugar or dosage added are Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Sec, Sec, Demi Sec, and Doux, listed from driest to sweetest.

I gathered a group of friends and we tasted ten different Champagnes and Sparkling wines from France and California. It was interesting to see that everyone’s taste preferences were not the same, and price was not a deciding factor in quality.  Here are the top five and some notes on the flavors;

1.    Chandon Brut Classic, California $18.00. This was the universal winner, everyone thought this was a great nicely balanced dry sparkling wine!

2.    Perrier Jouet Grand Brut, France $42.00. Extremely creamy with hint of toast aromas, very classic and clean in flavors.

3.    Bollinger Special Cuvee, France $55.00. I always think of James Bond when I drink this Champagne, it was his standing order in many movies, a real elegant and refined Champagne.

4.    Saint Hilaire Blanc de Blancs, France $15.00 Made on the French-Spanish Border this is a perfect reasonably priced sparkling wine, packed full of green apple and vanilla notes, it displays high quality to price ratio.

5.    Mumm Extra Dry, France $35.00. One of the classic Champagne houses in France that continually makes a rich and flavorful sparkling every year. This is a blend of different vintages and really highlights all the flavors found in Champagne.

As you can see the top five was not dominated by high priced bottles, showing that you can experiment with different brands and find a personal favorite. Enjoy the holiday with friends and family, and as always be responsible!

Happy Holidays and Cheers!