‘Tis the Season for Sparkle
Is it just us, or does the holiday season go hand in hand with sparkling wine?
Now, don’t get us wrong, we like to drink bubbles all year round — we think it’s great with brunch, a delicious accompaniment to cheese, perfect as an appertif before dinner … in our books, there’s really no time when fizz and froth are not a good choice. But there’s something about the season that makes champagne and sparkling the obvious drink of choice for many of us — whether it’s the sleek parties, the glittering decorations or the simple link between celebrations and bubbly, we can’t think of another time of year that’s so synonymous with one particular beverage the way Christmas and New Year’s is associated with champagne.
If you’re searching for the perfect fizz for your holiday soiree, and you find yourself gazing blankly at the Great Wall of Sparkling in your local liquor store, here’s a quick primer on the categories of champagne and a few of our favourite bottles.
Bubbly Terms & What They Mean
Extra Brut: very, very dry. Only 0-6 grams of sugar per liter.
Brut: very dry. Less than 15 grams of sugar per liter.
Extra Dry: this, confusingly, is actually off-dry. About 12-20 grams of sugar per liter.
Sec: a little bit sweet. 17-35 grams of sugar per liter
Demi-Sec: sweet. 33-50 grams of sugar per liter
Doux: really sweet. More than 50 grams of sugar per liter.
Sparkling Recommendations for All Budgets
NV Pol Roger Brut Cuvee Reserve Champagne ($59.95)
A refreshing nose of lemon-lime and orchard fruit mixed with mineral. Zippy flavours of green apple and mineral with bracing acidity makes this a nice match with creamy cheeses, berry fruit and seafood.
NV Bonville Prestige Grand Cru Blanc de Blanc Brut Champagne ($51.45)
An absolutely delicious bubbly filled with rich flavours of poached pear, golden delicious apple, and baking bread. Feminine and rich, this is a very pretty champagne that over delivers for the price.
NV Nicholas Feuillatte Brut Reserve Champagne ($42.65)
A blend of pinot meunier, pinot noir & chardonnay, this round champers has light biscuit and lemon flavours with a crisp, clean finish. This is a great pairing for oysters, gravlax, roast turkey and lightly spicy sushi.
NV Chateau de Montgueret Cremant de Loire Brut Loire Valley ($19.15)
Our very good friend and fellow sommelier, Marlise Ponzo recommended this little gem. Bracing acidity, lively bubbles and a serious minerality make this a nice pairing for creamy cheeses like St. Andre. Wet stone, lemon pith and fennel seed also make this a great pairing for chevre and wild mushroom tart.
Il Prosecco ($14.30)
Not just for the amusing bottle cap top, this is a light and lively wine blending flavours of citrus, orchard fruit and melon. A great sparkler to serve with antipasto, roasted almonds, and fried foods.