Champagne Bubbles 101

2017-champagneSip 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.

vino-simpaticoVisit 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.

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