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Whether it is New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, or just a date night in, a little bit of bubbly can turn the night into a much more glamorous affair. I just love adding a splash of glam to everyday things too. The best thing is that you don’t have to spend a fortune either, unless you want to!
So that you don’t have to, I went out and sampled a variety of sparkling wines.
All of which were very reasonably priced. First let me say I am not a wine expert and I am actually don’t drink alcoholic beverages very often. So if you are looking for a detailed explanation of wine, you won’t find that here.
First lets talk briefly about the different types of sparkling wines:
Champagne
To be considered a true Champagne, it must be made in the Champagne region of France. Champagne has the highest bottle pressure of all sparkling wines, which is why you get the really dramatic pop. However, it is also the most expensive so you don’t want to lose half your bottle when you open it. If you like lots of fine bubbles, Champagne is also the drink for you. Another thing to consider when picking a Champagne is the sweetness which is often referred to as dryness. Champagne is rated on a scale from Brut Nature to Doux, with Brut Nature having the least sugar and Doux being very sweet. Personally, if I’m not going to splurge on a good bottle, I’d rather have a Prosecco. You wont see any budget Champagne in my house.
#1 Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label
Prosecco
This used to be considered the poor man’s champagne, but it is my personal favorite. Prosecco is made in Italy with a different process than champagne. It has several dryness levels but is often found in stores in 3: Brut, Extra Dry, and Dry. Prosecco tends be a bit sweeter than Champagne or Cava and it also has bigger bubbles.
#1 La Merca
#2 Mionetto Prestige
Cava
Cava is made in Spain, and while at prices similar to Prosecco, it is actually closer in resemblance to Champagne in some respects. Cava is often fermented in the bottle and it has the tighter bubbles like Champagne. Cava is also available in the same sweetness levels as Champagne. Cava can be hard to find. I was only able to find one option at Trader Joe’s and a couple of options at Fred Meyer/Kroger. You may have to go to a wine store to find nicer varieties.
#1 Segura Viudas Brut Cava
Hopefully now you will have a bit more knowledge when it comes to selecting a sparkling wine. Before trying a wide variety I used to pick the prettiest bottle. Now I know what my favorite is for each type of sparkling wine.
Do you you have a favorite sparkling wine? I’d love to hear your recommendations!
