The Best Budget-Friendly Champagne to Pop on New Year’s Eve
‘Tis the season to pop the champagne – though Wine professionals warn against Shoot corks into space. According to one expert we spoke to, finding quality soda to celebrate various holiday celebrations won’t put you into debt starting in 2025.
“You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get good sparkling wine,” says Jennifer Walters, a wine educator at the Kansas City Wine Institute. wine education and Marco Polo Selection. “There are so many different options around the world. You have to be willing to try new things.”
From great-value champagne to champagne alternatives and lesser-known sparkling wines, Walters tells us what to look for in cheap sparkling wine and some sparkling wines to try on New Year’s Eve.
Read more: Ask the Experts: How to Find Great Wine on a Budget
Pay attention to champagne brands
Nicolas Feuillatte is one of the better value champagnes you can find.
There are some champagne brands that are looking to over-deliver at any price point, and many are excellent for under $50. Ask your local sommelier or retailer for their trusted hidden gems. “You can ask them for recommendations, see what they have that they like, and tell them some of the flavor profiles you’re looking for, what your occasion is and what your price point is,” Walters said. “My preferred champagne brand is chuck. It was always just some kind of land, and it had a lot of value. “
Other value champagnes: Piper Heidsieck Dry Wine(a personal favorite) and Nicolas Feuillatte Reserve Brut Brut Champagne.
Learn about sparkling wine
Cremant is another type of sparkling wine produced in France, a category that includes some of the most affordable sparkling wines.
Arguably the most valuable alternative to Champagne is sparkling wine, which is still produced in France according to the Champagne method, just not in Champagne. Crémant is a multi-word, two-syllable word that comes from wine-making regions across France.
“I’m a big fan of sparkling wine in general,” Walters said. “Any sparkling wine is kind of like my go-to every day if I want some champagne but don’t want to spend the money on it,” she said. “I felt like I didn’t need it, like it was just a Tuesday night or something.” Even on New Year’s Eve, a glass of Crémant de Bourgogne (from Burgundy) is not only made in the same way as Champagne, but the grape varieties are the same and the soil is basically same. So what’s the difference? price tag.
Sparkling wine worth trying: Arnold Lambert Clement de Loire, Albert Bichot Burgundy Brut Sparkling Wine Reserve, Gérard Bertrand Clement de Limoux
Other famous sparkling wine regions
Sparkling wines from Cava (Spain) and Fraciacorta (Italy) tend to be slightly cheaper than Champagne.
As mentioned in How to find great wine on a budgeta basic understanding of the world wine map can help you learn about other famous regions historically where Champagne method wines were made. Spanish Cava and Italian Fraciacorta are the two most well-known, but “you can look for ‘traditional method’ or ‘classic method’ on American bottles,” Walters said. (New Mexico Even a great wine. ) “South Africa has a really good wine called Cap Classique, and I really like some of the sparkling wines from Tasmania.” Traditional method sparkling wines are also on the rise in Argentina and England.
Quality bottles from around the world: Segura Viudas Brut Cava, Bellavista Franciacorta Brut, Graham Baker Classic Hat, Jansz Grand Cuvée, Bousquet dry winery, Coates & Seely Dry Cheese Reserve
Don’t miss the Prosecco
When in doubt, a good bottle of Prosecco can keep the party going.
Lest you think we didn’t bring this up sooner because we hate Prosecco, think again. “Prosecco is made using a different method and you don’t need a second fermentation in the bottle,” Walters said. “Basically, they’re doing it in a giant tank,” which explains its lower price tag, but that doesn’t necessarily equate to lower quality, even among experts.
“Prosecco is really fresh, fruity, easy-drinking and fun,” says Walters. “It’s much easier to make and has a crispier flavor,” she says, making it perfect for toasting any occasion. For the most interesting Prosecco options, look for those labeled Valdobbiadene (don’t worry about the pronunciation), which denotes a sub-region within the region where Prosecco is grown.
Prosecco worth trying: Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco Premium Prosecco, Mioneto Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superior Dry
Other forms of sparkling wine to consider
In addition to Cava, Champagne and Prosecco, there are dozens of sparkling wines to consider.
Not every bottle of bubbly worth celebrating looks like Champagne or Prosecco. A low-carbonation Pet-nat with a crown cap, a red sparkling wine like Lambrusco or a lightly sweet sparkling wine like Moscato d’Asti will suit the occasion. Not to mention canned sparkling wine. “I love Underwood; sometimes those are probably my first picks,” Walters said. “There are two glasses in the jar, so it’s great if you’re hanging out in a more casual setting.”
Other bubble options: Cleto Chiari Lambrusco, GD King Kong Asti Moscato, Montrubi L’Ancestral Pet Nat is here, underwood bubble band
Why is champagne so expensive?
Champagne is often considered the gold standard of sparkling wine, both for its historical importance and quality. Price-wise, it’s also the gold standard. “A lot of it has to do with the price of land in Champaign,” Walters said. “There’s also its reputation, its popularity and the regulations that govern how it’s made.” Champagne needs to be aged for at least 12 months, which represents a huge overhead cost for the winemaker, which is also reflected in the price of the bottle.
synonyms for champagne
These memes are real – you can’t call it champagne unless it’s from the Champagne region of France – and you can put several different expressions on the bottle to indicate that sparkling wine is made in the same way as champagne. Not all sparkling wines are the same, and the Champagne method specifically states that the secondary fermentation that creates the fizz occurs within individual bottles.
It’s the sign of champagne, (well, one hallmark of Champagne,) but this process is not unique to Champagne. You can even look for the word “Champagne” on the bottle: that’s “Champagne method” or “Champagne method.” Other terms describing the same process include traditional method, traditional method, classic method, classic method or simply secondary fermentation in the bottle. Also look for non-French languages, e.g. Banfi Brut Classic Method Italian champagne style.
