*singing* What are you doing Neeeeewwwww Yeeeeeeear’s Eve…
Well if you’re as obsessed with sparkling wine as I am, what you’ll be doing is planning to drink copious amounts of bubbly!
You know that I am a huge believer in drinking champagne every day, for no special reason at all, but there’s no escaping the fact that New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest days of the year when it comes to consumption of champagne. There’s also no escaping the fact that knowing which bubbly to pick can be a bit of a task itself.
Well don’t fret, because as per usual, I’ve got you covered, my bubbly lovers!
Without further ado, here are my 15 drink picks for New Year’s Eve perfect for sipping at every level:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIcuK7wW8bU
BUBBLY FOR BEGINNERS
Many people don’t know a whole lot about champagne and sparkling wine in general, so for tipplers who are just starting to make a foray into sipping fizz, selecting which bottle(s) to drink can be downright daunting.
Sipping bubbly should be fun and approachable so, for bubbly beginners, Proseccos are a great entry point sparkling wine style. Because of their drinkability and price, they are easy on both the palate and the wallet:
• Adami Prosecco Garbel: A crisp, full-flavored sparkler with ripe peach, melon and balanced acidity. $15
• Cupcake Prosecco: Light, refreshing and little bit drier than your normal Prosecco. Flavors include green melon, ripe peaches and citrus acidity. $12
• La Marca Prosecco: I’m one of those people who believes bubbly isn’t just for special occasions, and La Marca is one of my “everyday” sips. $15
• Zardetto Prosecco: Creamy, floral and fruity with a touch of sweetness. $13
INTERMEDIATE IMBIBERS
These picks are for bubble lovers who are ready to delve a little deeper into the world of bubbly.
• 2009 Domaine Carneros Brut: This Napa Valley sparkling wine has deep and creamy flavors with aromas of sweet apples and vanilla. $30
• Berlucchi Cuvee ’61 Brut: This one was a new-to-me option that enchanted me right away with a honeysuckle nose. Easy drinking with fresh baked bread on the palate and a hint of fruit sweetness. $22
• Gloria Ferrer Brut Royale Cuvée: Flavors of nutty almonds and pears complemented by apricot and lemon on the nose. Good acidity $29
• 2010 Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs: Made of 100 percent pinot noir grapes, this one is a stunner. Blanc de Noir means “white from black” and the first sniff revealed pinot aromas of cherry and stone fruit. Soft tannins and silky finish. Yum. $40
• Paul Goerg Blanc de Blanc: Lovely, long lasting bubbles with creamy citrus and pear flavors. This is a relatively new champagne, but I really love it. Adding it to my bubby arsenal! $41
“HEY BIG SPENDER” BUBBLES
For the seasoned champagne sipping veterans, these are a few of my favorites from the large, branded French champagne houses (Grand Marques). These are consistent crowd pleasers that you can be confident virtually everyone will be delighted to drink:
• Ruinart Blanc de Blanc: I love the toasty notes of almonds intermingled with pineapple, a bit of green apple and lime blossoms. It finishes with honeyed minerality. Rich and delicious. One of my absolute favorites. $80
• Cristal: This wine has attained a bit of a pop-culture status, but with good reason: It’s heavenly. Round and lush, it’s got tight, tiny and persistent bubbles with flavors of green apple, pear, peach and citrus. Really pleasurable drinking. $220
• Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle: “Grand Siècle is made with a pinot noir and chardonnay blend, with the latter being slightly dominant. It has a bright color, with a brilliant yellow hue. Its subtle aromas of honey, hazelnuts, grilled almonds and brioche, make this the perfect companion for refined dishes. It pairs just as well with poultry and truffles as it does with veal and morel mushrooms.” $120
• Krug Grande Cuvee: This champagne will make you shout “Ooh, yes darling!’ with its aromatic floral notes on the nose followed by rich red apples with a nuance of yeast and lemon. So very supple on the palate. $200
FOR THE CHAMPAGNE PURISTS
There’s been a trend in champagne in the last couple of years towards lessening the sugar content (even in brut wines) called “low or no dosage.” No dosage means the wine has three grams or less of residual sugar per liter, while low dosage wines (also called Extra Brut,” which has half as much sugar as the already dry “brut” wines) have six grams or less of residual sugar.
• Roederer Brut Nature: I attended a spectacular Roederer & Cristal champagne dinner 2 years ago where guests were able to try the coveted Brut Nature. It has pronounced acidity but is still soft and elegant. The sublime moment for me was taking a bite of the chef’s smoked salmon, crab and avocado mousse timbale, followed by a sip of the Brut Nature.
The dryness of the wine perfectly complemented the richness of the salmon and avocado. It was a sublime pairing. This exclusive bubbly, made in partnership with designer extraordinaire Philippe Starck, can sometimes be really hard to get your hands on but is worth the hunt! $90
• Champagne Jacquesson Cuvee 737 Extra Brut: Yes, yes, and yes again to this well-made wine! The number “737” denotes the number of times the champagne house has bottled wine since its inception in 1898, a very chic way of identification. As for flavors, it’s very dry but has plenty of fruit including pear, lemon and raspberry, making it well-balanced. It also has lovely rich floral notes on both the nose and palate which makes it super pleasurable to drink. $70
So my bubbly loving darlings, what will you be drinking to ring in a brand new year? Whatever it is, make it wonderful. Cheers!