Pop the Cork: Best Sparkling Wines for Every Celebration
Sparkling wines for every celebration
WWMD — What would Margaret drink?
Margaret Pearman, a certified sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, curates the acclaimed wine program at Charlie’s L’Etoile Verte. This month, she shares the right bubbles for everything from brunch with friends to a Champagne-worthy moment.
Brunch with Friends: Cava and Prosecco
Spain’s cava and Italy’s prosecco are easy on the wallet and made for a leisurely brunch. Prosecco brings bright pear and peach notes, while cava, made using the same traditional method as Champagne, offers crisp acidity and fine bubbles that hold up beautifully in a mimosa. Add fresh orange juice, and let the conversation flow.
Try this: Poggia Costa Prosecco, $15 retail
A Big Gathering: Crémant de Bourgogne
Hosting a crowd? Burgundy’s crémant is made primarily from chardonnay and pinot noir using the traditional method, often at a fraction of the price of Champagne. That makes it an excellent choice when you want to pour generously. For Thanksgiving, a dry crémant offers bright fruit and lively acidity that can carry you from turkey and stuffing to tangy cranberry sauce. Crémants are also produced throughout France, including the Loire, Jura and Alsace, using grapes such as chenin blanc, cabernet franc, pinot gris, pinot blanc and gewürztraminer. Exploring different regions is an affordable way to discover just how varied French sparkling wine can be.
Try this: Bailly-Lapierre Brut Rosé Crémant de Bourgogne, $35 retail
A Moment for Two: Champagne
Some occasions call for the real thing. Save Champagne for ringing in the new year, an anniversary, an engagement or simply a quiet toast with someone special. At your local wine shop, ask about grower Champagne: small-production wines made by the people who grow the grapes, often offering distinctive character and impressive craftsmanship. And don’t limit Champagne to the opening toast. Its acidity, bubbles and complexity make it wonderfully food-friendly, capable of carrying an entire meal. For sparkling wines made outside Champagne, look for bottles produced using the traditional method, in which the second fermentation takes place in the bottle.
Try this: Pierre Moncuit Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Grand Cru, $95 retail
