Why Stop at Champagne? The Best Bubbles from Around the World (for Every Budget)
Great news! It seems like everyone has caught on to the fact that sparkling wine isn’t just to toast special occasions; it’s an excellent pairing for everything from crispy fried chicken to salty snacks and, of course, big dinners. Bubbly’s whenever, wherever era is here, and if you haven’t been initiated into the club yet, we’re here to convince you to join.
While Champagne might get top billing in the cast of sparklers, there’s a wealth of options from around the world that reflect regional production, local grapes, and more, from Spanish Cava to Italian Prosecco, as well as impressive New World bottlings. Better still: there are excellent choices at all price levels.
The Wine Enthusiast tasting panel, which reviews thousands of bottles of sparkling wine in order to find the best selections, rounded up their top picks below.
Champagne
The classic sparkler may be associated with high-end affairs, but Anna Christina Cabrales, Director of Tasting at Wine Enthusiast and our resident Champagne reviewer, believes “Champagne should be enjoyed every day,” she says. These are your three best bets, from budget to splurge.
Budget
Baron-Fuenté NV Quinconce Brut Nature (Champagne)
$40
K&L Wines
Splurge
Rare 2012 Rare Millésime Brut Champagne Blend (Champagne)
$280
Flatiron Wine & Spirits
Overall
Billecart-Salmon 2009 Le Clos Saint Hilaire Pinot Noir (Champagne)
A toast and old gold aroma, marks this single-vineyard Champagne’s impressive age. It is certainly not old, rich with toast and spice with an intense and gorgeous concentration of flavors. It is a magnificent wine, its balance impeccable and perfect to drink now. Editors’ Choice. 99 points — R.V.
$660
Wine.com
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Cava
Hailing from Spain and produced using the traditional method, Cava has typically been prized for its affordability, but recently producers have been laser-focused on improving the category’s quality. This has led to bottles that are a fraction of the cost of Champagne, but boast an incredible array of aromas, from vanilla to peach pie.
Budget
1+1=3 NV Brut Sparkling Blend (Cava)
A sparkling wine that impressively delivers over its price point with aromas of apple blossom and celery salt, followed by flavors of crisp apple through a moderate finish. Best Buy. 90 points — Elaine Chukan Brown
$18
Calvert Woodley
Splurge
Alta Alella 2019 Mirgin Opus Paratge Qualificat Valleirera Brut Nature Sparkling (Cava)
$52
Solano Cellars
Overall
Juvé y Camps 2018 Gran Juvé y Camps Gran Reserva Brut Chardonnay-Xarel-lo (Cava)
$69
Wine.com
Prosecco
While Prosecco is an excellent cocktail ingredient, we like to savor it straight from the bottle. Prosecco, as a category, is also a bit less well known than Champagne, which lends itself to pleasant surprises.
Budget
Montelvini NV Serenitatis Brut Glera (Asolo Prosecco Superiore)
$13
Metro Wine and Spirits
Splurge
Paladin 2023 Millesimato Extra Dry Sparkling (Prosecco)
This vibrant Prosecco is direct, to the point and fun. Aromas and flavors of green apple, pear, white peach, and a touch of citrus blossom define the wine. Zippy and well-balanced the wines pops on the finish and hits with a touch of salty minerality. 90 points — J.P.
$49
Mydrinx
Overall
Ruggeri & C. NV Cartizze Brut Sparkling Blend (Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze)
$50
Bottles2Gift
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Sekt
Yes, it’s time to have the Sekt talk. The sparkling wine is one of Germany’s best kept secrets, and we want to let you in on it.
Splurge
Maximin Grünhäuser 2019 Sekt Brut Sparkling (Mosel)
This is round and even a bit buttery, but with a firm backbone of acidity. Flavors of macerated apricot, kumquat, pastry dough, ground anise and pink grapefruit candy are knit to a fine texture, with an inviting finish. 90 points — A.Z.
$49
Wine Watch
Overall
Von Buhl 2018 Rose Sekt Brut Sparkling (Pfalz)
$55
Surdyk’s
Cremant
Meet Champagne’s affordable cousin, Crémant. “It’s relatively under the radar in the U.S., but one that is an open secret of affordability in France where it is the default wine for casual and everyday enjoyment,” notes Wine Enthusiast Writer-at-Large Reggie Solomon, who reviews wine from France.
But Crémant is far more than a Champagne dupe. Yes, it’s made using the same traditional-method winemaking process as Champagne, but with fewer restrictions on the grapes. Solomon explains that while Champagne relies on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier, Crémant is often made from other grape varieties such as Chenin Blanc, Mauzac, and Pinot Blanc. “Access to a larger range of grape varieties means Crémant can take on a wider range of flavors,” Solomon says.
But no matter which bottle you choose, “you really can’t go wrong with a Crémant,” Solomon adds. “Once you go down the rabbit hole of experimentation at various price points, you’ll find a Crémant style of your own to come back to again and again.”
Budget
Veuve Ambal NV Grand Cuvée Brut Rosé Sparkling Blend (Crémant de Bourgogne)
$14
Empire Wine
Splurge
Domaine Charles Frey NV Nature Brut Sparkling Blend (Crémant d’Alsace)
$27
PlumpJack Wines
Overall
Côté Mas NV Crémant de Limoux Rosé Brut Sparkling Blend (Crémant de Limoux)
$18
The Corkery
English Sparklers
Across the English Channel, there’s plenty of excellent sparkling wine, too. It’s yet another territory for adventurous drinkers to explore.
“England has exploded onto the wine scene in recent years, recording the fastest growth of any wine region on the planet,” says Christina Pickard, a Wine Enthusiast writer-at-large who reviews wines from England, Australia, New Zealand, and New York. “Often compared to Champagne from the 1980s and ’90s, when the climate there was truly ‘cool,’ English bubbles offer vivid acidity that brings an unmatched refreshment factor. Combine this with the complexity gained by lengthy lees aging and you get some of the sparkling world’s most thrilling bottles.”
Budget
Silverhand Estate NV Silverhand Classic Brut Champagne Blend (England)
$38
Douceurs Canapes
Splurge
Artelium 2018 Curator’s Cuvée Sparkling Blend (England)
$85
Bubbles of Britain
Overall
Wiston Estate Winery 2018 Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay (England)
$80
RHC Selections
New World Sparklers
Europe’s top sparkling producers have some serious competition coming from the United States, especially producers in California and New York.
“The ability to discover both a range of styles and endless mix of varieties makes sparkling wine from the United States especially exciting,” says Elaine Chukan Brown, a Wine Enthusiast writer-at-large who reviews wines from the Napa Valley and Northeastern Spain. “Tasting the best from across the country reveals how varied our growing conditions are. It also reveals that the quality right now is the best it’s ever been—so far.”
Budget
Red Tail Ridge Winery NV Réserve Perpétuelle Change, Cuvée Nº 5 Chardonnay-Riesling (Finger Lakes)
This is an excellent sparkler, by all accounts; all toasty, yeasty goodness on the nose, the subtle citrus, stone fruit and floral characters tucked just beneath. There’s satisfyingly vigorous, long-lasting fizz, a touch of residual sugar that’s countered by mouthwatering acidity, and delicate white blossom and fruit tart flavors that linger on the finish. A classy drop that deftly demonstrates New York’s sparkling prowess. Editors’ Choice. 94 points — C.P.
$33
Red Tail Ridge
Splurge
Schramsberg Vineyards 2016 J. Schram Rosé Sparkling Blend (North Coast)
$190
Schramsberg
Overall
Roederer Estate 2019 L’Ermitage Brut Chardonnay-Pinot Noir (Anderson Valley)
$80
Wine.com
More Sparkling Wine Coverage
- What’s better for drinking Champagne, coupes or flutes? We debate each of their merits.
- Here’s when to use every style of Champagne glass.
- A warming climate is changing the face of Champagne.
- Why grower Champagne should be on your radar.
- Meet the Champagne producers redefining France’s bubbly.
- Can Champagne give up farming with chemicals?
In the shop
Savoy Champagne Coupe Glasses (Set of 2)
In Stock | $100
The post Why Stop at Champagne? The Best Bubbles from Around the World (for Every Budget) appeared first on Wine Enthusiast.
