Sparkling wine: the affordable luxury

If you associate Champagne with special occasions, that's understandable. That unique pop! sound is often preceded by a proposal, an announcement, or a major accomplishment. But sparkling wine can be a very refreshing option on a hot summer day and it pairs well with many types of food (especially ethnic cuisine like Mexican or Chinese food as well as sushi and dim sum). 

Don't rule out it because of price!

There are many sparkling wines made outside of the Champagne region that go by other names ("cremant" in other regions in France, "prosecco" in Italy, "cava" in Spain, and of course, the sparkling wines made here in the US). 

 

These other sparklers offer a great value, so start celebrating this weekend with one of the value-priced bottles described below. At these prices, you might want to sip sparkling all week-long.

I discovered the Toques et Clochers Cremant de Limoux at BevMo; it’s currently on sale for $13.39. I was pleasantly surprised by this sparkler from the Limoux region located near the southernmost tip of France. It is zesty and light with bright lemony notes. Delightful on its own, it would also pair well with appetizers, salads, olives and cheese.

BevMo is also the best place to stock up on my favorite Napa bubbly in the $17-$25 range, particularly Mumm Brut Rosé and Domaine Carneros Brut. They also carry many Spanish sparklers between $8-$15.

There are also some good less-expensive options at Whole Foods, too. As tempting as the top-shelf varieties of Veuve Cliquot, Moët, and Nicholas Feuilante can be, disregard them and look a little lower for La Marca.

La Marca is a reliable Italian prosecco for $15.99. I’m not adventurous when it comes to Prosecco because some can be borderline sweet (or super-sweet), but the La Marca is crisp and clean and very food-friendly.

And when you have a legitimate special occasion that allows for something a little pricier ($50+), remember the B’s—go for a bottle of Bruno Paillard, Billecart-Salmon, or Bollinger (these three legit Champagnes are all available at Whole Foods, too). 

Get your sparkle on this Saturday and Sunday and celebrate something (anything)!