Bubbles Bubbles Bubbles! Bubbles are always a good sign. Blown at weddings over the newlyweds, over-flowing in bubble baths, creating joyful giggles when blown into chocolate milk; heck even Glenda the Good Witch floats down in one to meet Dorothy! When bubbles abound good times are found! Drinking bubbly wines at New Year’s is always fun; as the bubbles in the long, slender Champagne flutes rise, so do our spirits. Here are my picks for this year’s Sparkling Review:

Freixenet Carta NevadaCava, Spain
Finding a sparkling wine that is good quality, tasty, and won’t break the bank has been a challenge for me all year. Finally, I retried something that I’ve overlooked for years. Freixenet, normally found in a black bottle, has an inexpensive gold label that is dry, crisp, and flavorful with fruity notes of peach. If you have a big crowd coming over, this is the one to get!

Lola Prosecco, Italy
Soft and lush with a bright spritz-y finish, Lola is the perfect Prosecco for fun, festive Bellinis. Used in cocktails or on its own, Lola will have you dancing the Cha-Cha before the night is through.

Mumm Napa Brut Prestige Napa, California
Wow! This is a stunningly complex bubbly for an amazing price. Wine Spectator just gave it 91 points and the #54 spot on its coveted Top 100 Most Exciting Wines of the year list and I couldn’t agree more. Full bodied and bold, with flavors of citrus, white flowers, and red berry, the finish is creamy, round and dry. On a side note, if you don’t like your wine too dry, try the Cuvee M; it’s lightly sweet and lovely.

Louis Roederer Brut Premier Champagne, France
Since there are so many elements that go into wine making, from grape, to grower, it is exceedingly hard to develop a wine with perfect balance. The Roederer Champagne house does this consistently year after year. Delicate bubbles create a creamy mouse with white peach, baked spice, candied citrus. The mid-palate is bright and vibrant with almond and lemon curd on the finish.

Bubbles make me smile; can you think of a better way to ring in the New Year than with a smile on your face and a glass of Champagne in your hand?

Happy New Year!

Cheers!

Jennifer Laurie