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)!

From "ABC" to Chappellet Chardonnay

About two years ago, the Chappellet Chardonnay was the wine that converted me to a Chardonnay drinker (albeit a particular one). Until then, I had been adamant about proclaiming my drinking habits as "ABC" (anything but Chardonnay).

When I started working at Chappellet Vineyards in 2010, I quickly became a fan of every single wine we poured (including the Napa Valley Chardonnay). This wine has quite a following; over the course of my employment there, many customers told me that they had been enjoying the Chappellet Chardonnay for thirty years. Indeed, the first vintage was 1979, ten years after the Chappellet Family produced their first vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon.

And I imagine that thirty years from now, I will probably still be drinking this particular Chardonnay (and the rest of the Chappellet wines).

Chappellet’s wines are incredibly consistent. The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon always gets 90+ point scores and the Mountain Cuvée Bordeaux-style red blend is always delicious. The wines are so good every vintage because they have been made by the same winemaker, Philip Titus (for almost 25 years), and because the grapes are sourced from the same vineyards year after year. 

So what makes the Chappellet Chardonnay so special?

The fruit is grown in the cool southern part of Napa Valley, specifically the Coombsville area. The wine is made in the Burgundian style, meaning that most of the French barrels used are 3-5 years old. The resulting wine exudes tropical fruit and just a kiss of oak.

The 2010 Chappellet Napa Valley Chardonnay smells like toasted coconut, nutmeg, honey and orange blossom. The palate is at first reminiscent of burnt crème brûlée. Flavors of sweet oak, vanilla, and baking spice roll over the tongue with a creamy texture and good acidity. As the wine warms up, the oaky quality dissipates and flavors of caramelized pineapple and hazelnut prevail.

It’s a wonderful wine to savor on it’s own while lounging on the deck after a long day. It would also pair perfectly with risotto, pasta carbonara, and roast chicken with mashed potatoes.

This bottle was received from the winery for review purposes, but it’s available for purchase from the website (or at Kermit Lynch for $28.99). You can read about their other fantastic vineyard tour here and make an appointment and/or purchase on their website.