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Home > Blogs > Uncorked > Archives > 2008 > December > 23 > Entry
Favorite sparklers — mine and yours
A little help, if you please.
Do you have a favorite sparkler that is available on local wine shelves?
I’m writing a short piece that will run in the Dec. 30 Dayton Daily News on the best sparkling wines for the holidays. Value is a strong consideration, but the story isn’t limited to inexpensive wines. Any suggestions?
I tasted one very fine value-priced sparkler Saturday at Arrow Wine’s Centerville store: The Ca’ Tullio Prosecco ($13.99). Plenty of intensity, with good fruit flavors but a dry finish. By gosh, maybe there is something to all this Prosecco hype.
And on the same day, the Dorothy Lane Market Oakwood store was pouring a crowd-pleasing, delicious, semi-sweet La Spinetta Moscato d’Asti ($18). This is a consistently fine bottling from a dependable producer, and boasts a peachy, lychee-fruit flavors balanced by enough bright acidity to keep it from being cloying. One other plus, if you’re going to serve this wine over the holidays to folks who don’t usually imbibe, is its alcohol level: a modest 5.5 percent.
Do you have a favorite sparkler that would make for a fine recommendation to our fellow wine lovers this holiday season? Post a comment and let us know!
And Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all …
Permalink | Comments (16) | Post your comment |
Comments
By Bryan
December 30, 2008 7:51 PM | Link to this
For years my wife and I have enjoyed Schramsberg, particularly the Blanc de Noir, with its lovely balance between fruit and dryness. Another recent find is Nicolas Feuillatte champagne which we find has floral overtones with a yeasty aftertaste.By ceily
December 28, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this
Years ago we drank a cheap - no not inexpensive, it was cheap, champagne called La Domaine. We all loved it and drank gallons…now that we are “much” older and can afford any and all of our desires, we still want the one bottle of La Domaine, on last time. Time marches on, and our memories are dear…can anyone help us find La Domaine ???? We would all be deeply in your debt…Thanks.By David
December 28, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this
Segura Viudas Heredad Riserva. Fantastic cava, beautiful packaging. It should sell for around $20. If you want to spend a little less for another good cava, try the Segura Viudas Aria for about half the price.By Ann Boucher
December 26, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
Okay, this will probably look like a sales pitch, since Cutting Edge (my employer) represents the wine, but I honestly think the Duval-Leroy Brut NV ($39.99) is the best “real deal” estate Champagne available, currently.By Gordo
December 24, 2008 9:04 PM | Link to this
I bought a really good “cava” from Barcelona, Spain from Cuvee for a very good price. It was a brut, so it was nice and dry, but it was also very crisp with a lot of acid that will go very nice with a lot of different kinds of foods. Also, it’s a great sipping sparkler. Happy holidays! GordoBy Joe Becerra
December 24, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this
Best deals on sparkling wines are from Spain. Cava, as they call it. Try this one for around $7 to $8, Cristalino Brut, a non vintage Cava. I don’t know how the Spanish are able to make such terrific sparkling wine at this amazing price.By Paul
December 24, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
My wife and I both love the Piper-Heidsieck champagne. A bit on the pricey side at around $40, but worth every delicious sip.By Michelle
December 23, 2008 5:27 PM | Link to this
I almost always go for Cava or “real” Champagne. I’m a fan of Gimmonet & Fils, but really, if it’s a grower Champagne (RM) and from Terry Theise, I’m usually confident I’m getting a tasty bargain. I tend to avoid the big houses like Taittinger and Moet in favor of the little guys. Cheers!By jeff
December 23, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this
I LOVE HENRIOT CHAMPAGNE - A BIT PRICY, BUT WORTH IT. GRUET SPARKLING WINE (ALBUQUERQUE) IS ALSO GOOD.By Ann
December 23, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this
I’m a big fan of reasonably priced sparkling wines for the holidays. Brut D’Argent was my sparkling wine of choice this holiday season. I’ve also been a fan of Cristillano Cava and Veuve de Verney.By Niki Foor
December 23, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
Cava (sparkling wine from Spain) are usually a good value. We like the Cristillano Cava, either the Brut or the Rose, which usually cost less than $10 per bottle. We attended the sparkling wine tasting at Jungle Jim’s on Dec 6th, and the NV Duvall Leroy Brut Champagne, at $40, was our favorite (and the one we bought to pop open for NYE).By chiefwino
December 23, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this
I agree with Patty, I have never been disappointed by anything from Terry Theise if you want a true estate grown champagne. For the price (~$12) Domaine Ste Michelle from Washington is always a crowd pleaser. At the AWS Conference in Sacramento this year, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of Korbel (particularly the Rose), I had not tasted them in quite a while.By vick
December 23, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
Brut D’Argent Blanc de Blancs Brut-$11.99 at the Emporium in Yellow Springs. Delightful-inexpensive-and French.By Don, the Rebel without a Blog
December 23, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this
I love Zonin Prosecco. I drink some every time I eat at Olive Garden. I also enjoy Korbel brut champagne. It’s inexpensive at a liquor store in Richmond, Indiana—the first one on the right-hand side of US 40 after you exit I-70 and head west (sorry I can’t recall the name of the store). You can get a 375-ml bottle for $6.99 and 750-ml for $9.99.By pattyv
December 23, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this
Just a note, the Gruet Rose is a reasonably sparkler from New Mexico but you’d never guess it.By patty
December 23, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this
These are a few of my favorite things… Oeil de Perdrix Rosé Champagne Duval-Leroy Rose or Brut Any small Champagne producer of Terry Theise Pierre Peters Rene Geoffroy Pierre Gimonnet Jean Milan and Gruet Rose