Sparkling Wine Recommendations
Now that we’ve covered sparkling wine basics, let’s jump into what to look for at the store. I’ve broken my sparkling wine recommendations into three price tiers: Under $20, $20 to $50, and Over $50. Now, the question that may be on your mind is, how much better is a $50 bottle than a $20 bottle? Well, that’s a bit hard to answer as it’s all based on personal preference. My favorite is Taittinger, which is around the $50 price point, though tends to be on sale for closer to $45 around the holidays. Of course, I don’t always want to spend $50 on a bottle of sparkling wine, and the good news is the bottles I’m recommending in the Under $20 camp are all really good.
As with all wines, I recommend you try different ones and see what you like. The best way to remember what you do and don’t like is to take notes. One option for this is an app called Vivino, which was recommended to me by a fellow wine nerd. You can also use the Notes function on your phone or keep a wine journal. This will help you discover what you prefer, which will help you feel confident when you’re shopping for wine at a store or ordering wine at a restaurant.
Okay, let’s get into it! (I do ask one favor. Please don’t buy any of these for making mimosas. If all you’re doing is combining sparkling wine and orange juice, then find a cava or a prosecco that’s under $10 and call it a day. It’s not worth buying the good stuff unless you’re going to enjoy it by itself.)
Under $20
Trader Joe’s
Is there anything Trader Joe’s doesn’t do well? They tend to carry their own sparkling wine around the holidays, and it should be $12 or less. As with all their seasonal items, you can run to the store and discover they’re out. However, don’t head back home empty-handed, chat with one of the store associates and tell them you’re looking for delicious bubbles under $20. I promise they’ll help you find something you’ll enjoy.
Gruet
Keep a bottle of Gruet around the house and you’ll always be ready to celebrate.
If you saw my Thanksgiving recommendations, you already know that I’m a big Gruet fan. This New Mexico producer is simply putting out good sparkling wines at good price points. The Brut and Brut Rose are both good options, but my favorite sparkler in their lineup is their Blanc de Noirs (Winery Price: $17). It has a touch of the toasty notes you often hear described in champagne. (When you hear toasty think about what happens to a marshmallow when you gradually toast it over the fire. It takes on this wonderful new depth of flavor and is more satisfying to consume.) And it still has the fruit, minerality and acidity that make sparkling wine so wonderful.
Graham Beck
Next we venture to South Africa. Graham Beck Brut NV is a good sparkling wine to have on hand and can be found in most wine sections. It will run you about $18 and is a nice light sparkler that is sure to keep your guests happy. They offer both a Brut and a Brut Rose.
$20 to $50
Domaine Carneros
This winery is based in California and is associated with Taittinger, so you’re probably not surprised to hear they’re making good sparkling wine. Their Estate Brut Cuvee (Winery Price: $36) is sold in most wine stores and is a great option if you don’t want to spend all the way up to Taittinger. Like Taittinger, there’s a good amount of Chardonnay, which leads to a beautifully light wine with nice fruit and floral notes.
Hermann J Wiemer
Okay, you’ve got me. I’m going to keep throwing Finger Lakes recommendations at you because I love Finger Lakes wines and can’t say enough good things about the region. In addition to making incredible Dry Riesling, Wiemer makes excellent sparkling wine. The Cuvee Brut (Current Vintage: 2014, Winery Price: $37) is their classic sparkling wine made with a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It’s a beautiful option in this price range and can be found at many wine stores. They also make Extra Brut, Blanc de Noir and Rose options, which are wonderful but will likely need to be ordered from the winery directly.
Piper Heidsieck
Here we reach the first of several champagnes on my list. Piper Heidsieck Cuvee Brut is a great option at the $35 to $40 price point. And at this time of year you can probably find it in some very attractive holiday packaging that makes it great for gifting.
Though it’s here I want to take a moment to remind everyone that champagne should be enjoyed year-round, not just for the holidays or special events. In fact, the wine class at Columbia Business School is famous for doing a champagne and Shake Shack pairing. Yes, that’s right, bubbles and burgers. Don’t knock it until you try it. It’s delicious.
Taittinger
As I mentioned above, the Brut Reserve is my favorite bottle of bubbles. I find it to be well balanced with beautiful floral notes plus the perfect amount of acidity and minerality. I love this champagne so much that I asked my wedding venue to order it in special because I couldn’t imagine celebrating my big day with any other sparkling wine. The price is going to be dependent on the store you shop at. I’ve seen it everywhere from $45 to $55, so I’m going with an average of $50 and squeezing it into this section.
As if $50 wasn’t enough of a splurge, I will mention that, like many champagne houses, they also have a tête de cuvée (‘head’ wine) that’s called Comtes de Champagne. It will run you $175, but it’s worth it if you want something truly special to celebrate with. It’s always a Blanc de Blancs made with 100% Chardonnay and is a vintage wine that’s only made in good years. It’s held for up to 10 years to age properly before it hits the market, meaning it’s ready to enjoy when you can finally buy it … though you can age it for longer too.
Over $50
AR Lenoble
This is another wine I tried for the first time in Paris, so it has a special place in my heart. The Brut Rose retails for around $60. As I’ve said before, rose sparkling wine is wonderfully versatile and works with all foods. I enjoyed this bottle with a gourmet meal in Paris and we finished every last drop. It is mostly Chardonnay and is fruit forward but still subtle. If you have access to Binny’s I can vouch for the fact they have it in stock. I’m not positive how well stocked it is at all wine stores though as it is a smaller champagne house.
Speaking of Binny’s, I was there this past weekend and discovered another AR Lenoble option, the Intense Mag 14 ($50 at Binny’s). I quickly did some research while in the store and found this article, which made me buy a bottle immediately. I can’t give you my opinion on it yet, but I can tell you it’s what I’ll be drinking for New Year’s Eve.
Billecart-Salmon
Now we turn to another champagne house, though this one is easier to find. Billecart-Salmon Brut retails for around $60, while Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose runs closer to $80. Both are delicious, though I admit I don’t often splurge the extra $10 for Billecart-Salmon when I like Taittinger better … but variety is a good thing and this is excellent wine.
Soter
You may recall that I gave this wine a shout out in my Thanksgiving post, but I wanted to mention it here too. Soter Mineral Springs Brut Rose (Current Release: 2015, Winery Price: $65) is an excellent sparkling wine from Oregon. This winery is more known for its Pinot Noir, but I was blown away by the sparkling rose. It is a bright wine with berry notes. Just try to find a food that doesn’t work with it. (Of course, it is also delicious by itself.)
Dom Perignon
As, yes, hard to talk about sparkling wine recommendations and not mention one of the very premium options that everyone buzzes about. Dom Perignon is a vintage only champagne and is only made in the best years (Current Vintage: 2008, Retail Price: ~$170). The company waits to release the champagne until it is ready to drink, which is why the current vintage is 2008. However, I will tell you that patience is a virtue here. This wine gets better over time. The best bottle of Dom I ever had was a 1990 in 2013. I then actually managed to have the 1990 again in 2018 and it was a bit past its prime at that point. (I know it’s a hard life over here…) The point is, if you’re going to shell out this kind of money for champagne, you’ll want to check when they recommend you drink it.
In addition, if you like rose champagne, and are comfortable spending in realm of $300 on a bottle of bubbles, then I do heartily recommend the Dom Perignon Rose.
What You Didn’t See
This clearly is not an exhaustive list, but you may be surprised that you didn’t see Veuve Clicquot on it. They certainly have the best marketing of any champagne house, but I have to admit I’m not a huge fan of their wine. I find it to be oddly heavy for a champagne and rather one-note. It tends to be roughly the same price as Taittinger, so I’ll always chose to spend my $50 there if given the option. That’s not to say you won’t (or don’t) enjoy it. Wine preference is incredibly personal, and you should always drink what you like.
The story of Veuve Clicquot is fascinating though, so I encourage you to check out The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It. It’s great reading even if you aren’t a wine nerd.
Is there anything else you were hoping to see and didn’t? Ask me about it below. I’ve already been asked to make recommendations for red sparkling wine. I need to do some research (read: sampling) here, but it’s on the to-do list.