Buying Guide: Prosecco, Cava & Champagne for 2011
kathleen hall
Get your sparkle on! Now that the holiday season is in full swing, what better gift to bring to a party than a sparkling wine? Any occasion becomes a celebration when you open a bottle of bubbles! Not only that, sparkling wine is extremely food-versatile, pairing well with most hors d oeuvres, from foie gras to pigs in a blanket. And for those of us hoping not to overindulge this month, at only
95 calories per flute (compared to 250 calories in a Vodka Martini), sparkling wine allows you to have fun AND behave all at the same time! Here are three ideas I believe might ring your holiday bell:
PROSECCO
Prosecco sparkling wines from Italy tend to have fruit flavors and large bubbles. On Prosecco labels, frizzante means the wine is lightly sparkling, whereas spumante means the wine is fully sparkling. If you re searching for a higher-quality Prosecco, look for bottles with the words Valdobbiadene or Conegliano, or the exceptional single-vineyard Cartizze designation. These are areas that have been elevated to a higher Prosecco classification due to their superior quality.
May I suggest:
Nino Franco Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Rustico NV
Available retail for $14.99 per bottle at:
Bottles of Westport, 1753 Post Road East, Westport CT
CAVA
Cava sparkling wines from Spain tend to have more citrus and herbal flavors and medium-sized bubbles.
Like Champagne, Cava must go through secondary fermentation in the bottle and must be aged before release. Unlike Champagne, Cava may be purchased for a fraction of the price! For a more interesting Cava, look for bottles with the word Reserva on the label, which means the wine has been aged longer for added richness and complexity.
May I suggest:
Avinyo Cava Reserva Brut NV
Available retail for $20 per bottle at:
Nicholas Roberts Fine Wines, 1053 Post Road, Darien CT
CHAMPAGNE
As per EU law, only sparkling wine made in the Champagne region of France may be called Champagne the rest is just sparkling wine! Champagne is elegant and mineral with tiny, persistent bubbles. Champagne may be produced with three grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Which grapes used and in what percentage are up to each Champagne House to decide and help determine what the resulting wine will taste like. A Champagne with more Chardonnay in the blend tends to be lighter-bodied, crisp yet graceful, with citrus flavors. Champagne with more Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier in the blend tends to have more body, berry fruit flavors and more earthiness. For something a little different, consider purchasing a Grower Champagne over a Brand Name Champagne. These small Growers farm their own grapes, hand-craft and estate bottle their artisanal Champagne -- instead of purchasing grapes, as the vast majority of large Houses do.
May I suggest:
Pehu-Simonet Champagne Brut S lection Grand Cru NV
Available retail for $43.99 per bottle at:
Saugatuck Grain & Grape, 40 Railroad Place, Westport CT
Cheers! And Happy Holidays!
Reader Comments (8)
Thanks for the great reccos! I love bubbles!
Love this timely article, thanks for posting it - we're going to be picking up some bottles of Mumm Napa for our friends' party this year. We were spoiled by their DVX rose at the tasting room, and very nearly joined their wine club - maybe another year.
I know this is a stretch to say 'local,' but if you prefer domestic bubbles, Gruet (out of New Mexico) makes some great sparkling wines that are an absolute steal, for the quality. I've seen them in many stores, but Harry's in Fairfield has always seem to carry the breadth of their releases.
Great article and reminder about how food friendly sparkling wine is!! A cocktail I will be serving is Prosecco with a dash of Pama liquer (pomegranate liqueur) with a few cranberries thrown in! Cheers!
I heard Nigella Lawson refer to a "Dirty Fizz" recenty, which is a glass of Prosecco with a splash of Campari. I tried it the other night and it was a pretty darn good (and simple) cocktail if you are of the Campari persuasion.
Fabulous choices!! I love me my bubbly, especially this time of year. My cat and I will be ringing in the new year with some Jacques Selosse Blanc de Blancs NV. He's on a restricted diet, so more for me!!!! Bonne Annee!!! -Chunks
Thanks for these recommendations! I may use them for a blind bubbly tasting at New Year's Eve. I like to see whether people can really tell the difference between Domain Chandon and Dom Perignon! It will be interesting to see how people react to the differences between Prosecco, Cava, Champagne and a nice California Sparkler (like Iron Horse, maybe).
This picture is amazing!