Budget Bubbles

Commence obligatory New Years Champagne post.  Champagne is delicious and a great celebratory beverage (the end of Tuesday for example). However it is crazy expensive; especially for a good bottle.  So, not being a super-star rapper, what the heck are you supposed to pop open at midnight?  How about a nice sparkling wine? It’s a heck of a lot cheaper than Champagne and essentially serves the same purpose. And by the time you toast the New Year you’ll be too wasted to taste anyway so it really won’t make a difference what you’re drinking.

So whats the difference between sparkling wine and Champagne anyway (other than price)?  Sparkling wine is wine that undergoes a second fermentation during which the carbon dioxide remains suspended in the liquid, thus the bubbles.  Champagne is a sparkling wine made in Champagne, France.  It must be made from only Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier and is made in the Traditional Method.  Sparkling wine can be made anywhere in the world, from any grapes, and while some is made in the Traditional Method, it can also be made via the Tank Method.  I’m too lazy to explain the difference so Google it if you’re interested.

Now my recommendations.  Personally I really like Prosecco (sparkling wine made in Italy), its fruity, a bit floral, can have some sweetness, and is just plain easy drinking.  Often times it tastes almost like a sparkling apple cider (with booze!).  A couple of Proseccos that I’ve recently tried and enjoyed are Zardetto (around $12) and Ogio ($9).  If you want something a little more similar to Champagne in flavor, try  Cava (sparkling from Spain made the same way as Champagne).  You can’t lose with Cristalino–slightly bready with lots of citrus.  I’ve seen it for as low as $5.99, definitely a great value.  If you’re in the mood for U.S offerings go Gruet (New Mexico, < $20), Domain Ste Michelle (Washington, < $10), and I discussed Barefoot in my previous post.

And if you’re really wasted and feel like wasting half the bottle, pop it open with a knife (or sword if you have one)–thats really sexy!