Sip bubbly or give it as a present! Best bets from Nanette Wiser:
My New Year’s Eve parties paired bubbly with simple hors’ d’oeuvres (cheese, tapas, pate, olives, 12 grapes for peeling at midnight for good luck and, of course, Chinese fortune cookies). I served my favorites – France’s Veuve Cliquot, California’s Chandon and Shramsberg and an Italian Prosecco. For New Year’s Day brunch mimosas, Kir Royal or a Bellini (recipe below), I popped a Moscato or sweeter bubbly.
But why leave it up to the amateurs? When we are in doubt about what to imbibe, we always ask our friends at Pasadena’s Simpatico Wines, spirit maven and owner Mike Myers, for advice about what to serve at a party or take as a hostess gift.
Visit Vino Simpatico for tastings, join the wine club and learn about beer, wine, bubbly and spirits. Closed Mon.-Sun.; Open 10 am – 6 pm Tues.-Wed.; 10 am – 9 pm Thurs. and 10 am – 7 pm Fri. & Sat. 722 Pasadena Ave. South, 727-803-6601; http://simpatico-wines.com
Bellinis
In a glass pitcher or decanter combine:
1 bottle sparkling wine (we’ll use Prosecco)
8 ounces pomegranate juice
2 tablespoons sugar
Stir ingredients together and set pitcher on ice for 20 minutes. Serve in a tall, skinny “flute” glass traditionally used for champagne.
Our Favorite Bubbly
$25 & Under
Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava (Spain)
Charles de Fere Cuvee Jean-Louis Blanc de Blancs Brut (France)
Lucien Albrecht Cremant Brut Rose (France)
La Marca Prosecco (Italy)
Toad Hollow Risque (France)
Roederer Estate Brut (California)
Mumm Napa Brut Prestige (California)
Korbel
Gruet Blanc de Noirs (New Mexico)
De Chanceny Cremant de Loire
Bocelli Prosecco NV, (Italy)
NV Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs
NV Cristalino Extra Dry
NV Mumm Napa Cuvée
NV Parigot Rosé
NV Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Herdad
Chandon Brut Classic
Under $75
NV Billecart-Salmon Brut Réserve
NV Charles Heidsieck Brut NV Moussé Fils Or Tradition Cuisles
NV Pehu Simonet Brut Selection Grand Cru
NV Pehu Simonet Transparence Extra Brut
NV Pierre Peters Blanc de Blancs Brut Cuvee de Reserve
What’s New: Pinot Meunier-based champagnes such as the citrusy Cuvée Prémisse from Champagne Eric Taillet in Baslieux-sous-Châtillon with 90% of Pinot Meunier, Brut Grande Tradition from Champagne Roger Coulon in Vrigny, Brut Selection from Champagne Philippe Gamet in Mardeuil and the Fruit de Ma Passion Extra-Brut from Champagne Charlot-Tanneux in Mardeuil.