Here is an assortment of sparkling wines, from top-notch grower champagne to basic good-value American fizz. Toss in a prodigious prosecco, a captivating cava and a scintillating sekt from Germany, and you have bubbly bursting in all its alliterative glory.
Gimonnet Gonet Cuvée Or Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut
(3 Stars)
Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Champagne, France
This beautiful champagne provides convincing evidence of why the Cote des Blancs is revered for its remarkable expression of chardonnay. It's rich and full, bursting with flavors of tart berries, gingerbread and creme brulee. Also available in half-bottles and large formats. Alcohol by volume: 12 percent.
Sorelle Bronca Brut Prosecco Superiore
(3 stars)
Italy
Most prosecco is simply pleasant; a nice palate cleanser to start a meal on a festive note. This one is simply delicious, with crunchy green apple flavors, plus melons and Mandarin oranges. It is unusually complex for a prosecco, too, revealing herbs and spices as it warms in the glass. ABV: 11 percent.
Marfil Brut Cava
(2,5 stars)
Penedes, Spain
This cava, a blend of white grapes xarel-lo, macabeo and parellada, is deceptively delicious. It starts out as a good, solid crisp bubbly, then reveals flavors of red currants and citrus before gliding into a long, refreshing finish. ABV: 11.5 percent.
Loosen Bros. Dr. L Sparkling Riesling
(2,5 stars)
Germany
Sparkling wine, or "Sekt," is a great way to start a meal, especially if charcuterie is involved. Ernst Loosen is one of Germany's foremost winemakers, and this delightful example shows Riesling's bubbly personality at its best. ABV: 12.5 percent.
Gruet Blanc de Blancs
(2 stars)
New Mexico
Gruet is a French champagne family producing great-value sparkling wine in New Mexico. This nonvintage blanc de blancs - a sparkling made exclusively from chardonnay - is labeled "American Sparkling Wine," indicating that a good portion of the grapes were grown outside New Mexico. No matter - the wine shows textbook crispness, green apple and citrus flavors, with a hint of ginger. ABV: 12 percent.
NOTE: Three stars exceptional, two stars excellent, one star very good
Check Winesearcher.com to verify availability, or ask a favourite wine store to order through a distributor.
The Washington Post