Meals seem more enjoyable when paired with a bottle of sparkling wine.
If you only drink Champagne, then it's time to try something different, Prosecco, Crémant d'Alsace and CAVA. With so much variety to choose from, you can select the perfect wine to entertain friends and family.
These delicious sparkling wines are perfect for pairing with your holiday meals and parties. Many of these tasty sparklers are now available at your local wine shops and grocery stores. Typically, they are reasonably priced between $8 - $20 and are great wine and food pairing alternatives. Loved these sparklers, they are a great ensemble for the Holidays.
Note: The following wines are best served chilled, between 40°F and 45°F. Warm bubbles are no fun.
PROSECCO
Prosecco is an Italian sparkling dry white wine made primarily from Glera grapes. Principally grown in the Prosecco region of Italy, which includes Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, north of Venice in the Vento region. Under European law, only sparkling wines made with grapes grown in this region can have the name Prosecco.
Located in the heart of the Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG production area, the Valdo Winery has been cultivating this unique area for generations.
Valdo Prosecco Brut
Color: Gold foil lining.
Nose: Fresh toast, yeasty pear, gentle minerality.
Palate: Mouth of pleasure, fresh, creamy toast, delicate perlage, fine fizzy bubbles, tart pear, crisp apple, satisfying, quenching mineral finish. Enjoyable with sunset.
Not complex, not overly fruity or yeasty, not heavy, not too acidic. Balanced refreshing sparkler. Suitable to most any occasion. Great excuse to open a bottle of Prosecco, because you can. An any day, any time sparkling wine. Excellent base for Mimosa too. Priced for proper enjoyment. Recommended.
Blend: 100% Glera
ABV: 11℅
Sample provided by Pasternak Wine Imports www.pasternakwine.com
VALDO Spumanti Srl
via Foro Boario 20
31049 Valdobbiadene (TV)
Italy
CREMANT D'ALSACE
Crémant d'Alsace is an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée for sparkling wines made in the Alsace wine region of Northeast France. Produced since 1900, the Crémant d'Alsace AOC was recognized in 1976 by the INAO and the designation Crémant regulated by the European Parliament in 1996. Allowed varieties are limited to riesling, pinot blanc, pinot noir, pinot gris, auxerrois blanc and chardonnay. For rosé wines, only pinot noir is allowed.
The history of the ALBRECHT family as winegrower can be traced back to 1425 with Romanu Albrecht, who was settled in the town of Thann. During the fifteenth and sixteenth century, in Thann several generations of Albrecht were elected as Bangard vinegrowers. Lucien Albrecht, Jean's father, pioneered Crémant production in 1971 and helped gain an Appellation Contrôlêe for the wine and for Alsace. The wines are vinified in the classic Champagne Method from 100% free run juice.
Lucien Albrecht Cremant d'Alsace Brut
Color: Silver gold.
Palate: Clean, fresh, oh yeah! Apple, pear, lemon zest, yeast in background, mouth satisfying firm bubbles, creamy honeyed finish. A traditional French sparkling wine experience.
A pure pleasure to drink. Wonderful when paired with dinner. Hint, hint. Recommended.
ABV:12%
Sample provided by Pasternak Wine Imports www.pasternakwine.com
Lucien Albrecht
9, Grand'rue • 68500 Orschwihr-France •
Tel. +33 3 89 76 95 18 • Fax +33 3 89 76 20 22
lucien.albrecht@wanadoo.fr
http://www.lucien-albrecht.com/index-gb.htm
Cremant D'Alsace Brut Rose' Lucien Albrecht
Color: Pretty Salmon pink.
Nose: Toasty, mineral with fresh strawberry.
Palate: Fine, tight bubbles, strawberry, edged with pomegranate, floral, light citrus, nice and crisp, friendly on the tongue, tasty creamy finish. Focused front palate, creamy fruit. Yum. Fizzy bubbles behind the ears.
Enjoy this sparkler alone or with food. Loved the sound of bubbles in my ears. Pair with intimate friends at Thanksgiving and Holiday meals. Recommended.
Blend:100% Pinot Noir
ABV:12%
Sample provided by Pasternak Wine Imports www.pasternakwine.com
Lucien Albrecht
9, Grand'rue • 68500 Orschwihr-France •
Tel. +33 3 89 76 95 18 • Fax +33 3 89 76 20 22
lucien.albrecht@wanadoo.fr
http://www.lucien-albrecht.com/index-gb.htm
CAVA
Cava in Spain was modeled after Champagne in France. Cava is typically a blend of native Spanish grape varieties. While Cava is made in the Champagne Method, only producers in the Champagne region may use the term “Méthode Champenoise,” so in Spain it is known as the “Método Tradicional” or Traditional Method.
Giró Ribot is a family owned and operated producer of Cava. They are closely tied to the Penedès region by several generations of wine, Cava and spirit producers. They developed the Paul Cheneau line of Spanish sparkling Cavas. The “Lady of Spain” is a tribute to the elegant ladies of Bacelona's art nouveau cafes and cava bars. Giró Ribot is situated at the heart of the Appellation d'Origine Penedès. In the area of Catalonnia, halfway between the cities of Barcelona and Tarragona, bordered to the south by the Mediterranean Sea and to the north by Montserrat.
Paul Cheneau Blanc de Blanc Reserva Brut Cava
Color: Gold.
Nose: Apple, honey, mineral, toast.
Palate: Fine, firm bubbles, crisp green apple mid-palate, with Braeburn apple and kiss of yeast, touch of creaminess into the gently honeyed, tingly finish. Notes of pear the longer it was open.
This wine wanted food. Should pair with almost anything and anyone. Eminently satisfying. Well done. Put this bottle at the top of your list. Strongly Recommended.
Blend: 45% Macabeo, 40% Xarel·lo, 10% Chardonnay, 5% Parellada
Bottle aged 24 months
ABV: 12%
Sample provided by Pasternak Wine Imports www.pasternakwine.com
Giró Ribot
Finca el pont s/n
08792 Sant Fe del Penedès
Tel. +34 938 974 050
Fax. +34 938 974 311
Lady of Spain CAVA by Paul Cheneau
Color: Pale gold.
Nose: Delicate pear, honey and wet slate.
Palate: Gentle foamy fizz, hint of tart, round mid-palate, nice tingle tip of tongue, pear skin, honey, short bread, almost creamy. Yum.
Very nice, think brunch, eggs Benedict, smoked salmon. Would be wonderful the next day after Thanksgiving or Christmas morning. Recommended.
Blend: 45% Macabeo, 40% Xarel·lo, 10% Chardonnay, 5% Parellada
Bottle aged 12-15 months
ABV: 12℅
Sample provided by Pasternak Wine Imports www.pasternakwine.com
FYI:
Level of Dryness + Amount of residual sugar per litre
- Extra Brut = 0.6%
- Brut = 1.5%
- Extra Dry = 1.2 – 2.0%
- Sec = 1.7 – 3.5%
- Demi-Sec = 3.3 - 5.0%
- Doux = 5% +
Note: These sparkling wines are not Champagne, they have bubbles, but they are not Champagne. I point this out because people often, mistakenly, call all wines with bubbles "Champagne." Wines with bubbles are generally referred to as “Sparkling Wine.” Because they sparkle. However, there are sparkling wines from other regions of the world with specific regional names, such as: Cava from Spain, Prosecco from Italy and Crémant d'Alsace from north-eastern France.
I know, it's one of my pet peeves.
Happy Holidays and be safe out there.
Cheers!