8 Best Champagnes and Sparkling Wines
Here are eight contrasting sparkling wines of very high quality and reasonable price, each from different regions in United States, France, Italy and Spain. One sparkling listed, although higher priced, offers good value in its category.
Schramsberg Brut Blanc de Blancs 2004 - $ 27.99
Napa Valley, United States
This is a superb sparkling wine made from 100% Chardonnay grapes in the classic Brut style. Small lots of malolactic and barrel-fermented wines are added to the wine for complexity. The wine is then aged on the yeast lees in bottle for three years prior to disgorgement. On the palate this sparkling wine has alluring aromas of green apple, citrus and tropical fruits. It has a clean, balanced finish.
Served frequently at the White House, Schramsberg also was introduced by Nixon to the Chinese in the early 70’s.
Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley NV - $21.99
Sonoma, United States
The same prestigious Champagne House that makes the elite Roederer Crystal at $250/bottle produces this sparkling wine.
This wine is crisp and elegant with complex pear, spice and hazelnut flavors. It is fresh and lightly fruity with great finesse and depth of flavor.
Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé NV - $ 69.99
Champagne Region, France
Although pricey, this Champagne offers good value in its category. Made with a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé NV has an intensely flowery bouquet and strawberry driven palate ahead of a long, lingering finish.
Berthelot Brut Champagne Réserve NV - $31.99
Champagne Region, France
This family owned estate is located in the heart of the Valley of the Marne with vineyard locations mainly in the towns of Dizy and Aÿ. The subsoil is chalk, which yields very elegant fruit with a distinct taste of the terroir.
The wine is complex and balanced, mineral and precise with a palate of red apples and caramel. It has a long, building finish. This small champagne house has limited production and is a grower/producer. The resulting champagne is comparable to wines costing $40-$50 a bottle.
Domaine Rondeau Cerdon de Bugey NV- $ 15.99
Bugey, France
Bugey is a lesser-known wine-growing region in France, located midway between Lyon and the Swiss border. This sparkling wine is a relatively sweet pink wine. Its white wine world equivalents are perhaps the Clairette de Die or Moscato d'Asti.. At Domaine Rondeau, the Cerdon is made with 100% hand-harvested Gamay. The wine has flavors of strawberry, cherry, cream and a hint of spice, and is an excellent aperitif or dessert wine.
Giacosa/Bruno Brut Spumante 2003 - $22.50
Piedmont, Italy
Bruno Giacosa is a legendary Italian wine maker. In his continuous quest for something new and stimulating, he began production of Extra Brut Spumante, made from 100% pinot noir. It is regarded as one of the best Spumantes in Italy.
The wine refines in bottles for 24-30 months before disgorging. This sparkling wine is a straw yellow color, with spiced apple and yeast on the palate with a dry finish.
Sorelle Bronca Prosecco Extra Dry Particella 68 NV- $ 18.99
Veneto, Italy
This is a single-vineyard, handcrafted Prosecco made by two sisters on their own vineyard in Veneto, which is Northwest of Venice.The wine has loads of peaches on the palate with slight spiciness and a bright, elegant finish.Try this uniquely Italian grape, Prosecco, as an aperitif, pair it with ethnic foods or have it at brunch time.
Gramona Brut Cava Imperial Gran Reserva 2003 $ 23.99
Catalunya, Spain
Cava, once cheap, is now chic, particularly if the sparkling wine falls into the new category of “super cava”. Gramona Brut Cava Imperial Gran Reserva 2003 is such a wine.
It is dry, with apple and hints of toast and minerals on the palate.
Thanks to Paul Smith, Owner of Woodland Hills Wine Company, for his assistance in this article. The wines listed in this article are currently available at Woodland Hills Wine Company (1-800-678-9463) and other fine wine stores.
