Bubbles on Any Budget

A great sparkling always comes to mind when looking for that perfect beverage to celebrate a special occasion. And no - you don't have to drop a Ben Franklin to find a delicious bottle of bubbly.

Believe it or not, there are bargain bubbles that will leave your guests thinking you spent a small fortune catering to their every desire.

While most "Champagnes" will likely put a dent in your wallet, there is good news if you know where to look. For those wine novices out there, a sparkling wine can only be called Champagne if it's actually produced in Champagne. (Hence, all Champagne is sparkling, but not all sparkling is Champagne.)

My husband captured this inside the caves
at Schramsberg on our honeymoon last fall. 

Also, Champagne can be only be made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Mineur grapes.  Other sparklings around the world can use different blends of grapes.  Don't get me wrong Champagnes are delicious, but you will be hard pressed to find a great bottle for under $40 bucks, but of course there are always exceptions like the Chateau Montandon which comes in at $35 and is a wonderful bottle.

Now that we straightened that out, let's talk real value!

If you head west from Champagne to Spain, you will come across some beautiful Cava's for under $15 a bottle.  I recently hosted a party for my husband and I served an $8 bottle of Rondel Brut Cava for the birthday toast. No joke - 8 bucks! It had beautiful notes of peach, apricot and almond.  You should also consider trying this with a little guave nectar for a great mimosa to serve with your next brunch. Don't let the blue bottle fool you.

Italy, home of Prosecco, is another great option if your looking to pinch a few pennies.  If your looking for a little more fruit in your sparkling, Prosecco is the way to go. Prosecco's are made in theCharmat Method. They undergo the second fermentation in a tank instead of the bottle, which lends to more fruit in the nose and on the palate.

There are many great Prosecco's for under $20.  One of my new favorites is the il Cortigiano, reasonably priced at $12.  This one has some nice acidic tartness and yeasty aromas.  This makes a perfect pairing with grilled peaches wrapped in basil, prosciutto and drizzled with balsamic glaze. Yummy! One more suggestion when it comes to Prosecco, try serving your next bottle in a wine glass instead of a flute - this will bring out more of the fruit.

A Virginia sparkling at a Cape Cod wedding. 

When it comes to the U.S., I have two favorites right now - the 2008 Blanc de Noir from Schramsberg in Napa Valley, California and Thibaut Jannison from Charlottesville, VA.  They are priced at $38 and $18 respectively.

Many of my friends are skeptical when I tell them about a great sparking from Virginia, but you have to try this one!  You won't be disappointed.  We actually served this one at our wedding in Cape Cod last year. 

One more thought before I go, don't wait for that next big celebration to pop the cork! Sparklings make a great apertif and are a perfect pairing with sushi.

Until next time, let your palate be your guide!