After the holidays, most of us turn our attention to our New Year's celebration. Perhaps you have a party to plan or perhaps you are consumed with finding that 'perfect' New Year's resolution. Here at Destination Cellars, given our general focus, we have been completely preoccupied with what we will be drinking as the ball drops. What dream-inspiring libation will wet our whistle and coax dulcet tones from our vocal chords as we sing our annual Auld Lang Syne? Our usual indulgence of choice for celebration is, of course, sparkling wine. Before bringing out that bottle of tried and true Moët et Chandon, consider the following ways to try something new.Farmer Fizz
Champagne is the king of sparkling wines. The very name speaks of luxury and quality. A little known fact is that there is tremendous diversity within the category. Grower Champagnes have been readily available in most markets for years now and provide a fantastic alternative to the big names. These houses often have productions which max out at thousands of bottles per year. In contrast, Moët produces 26 million bottles per year, purchasing all of their fruit for a variety of vineyards throughout the Champagne region. This is not to say that Moët does not make quality Champagne. Their considerable resources allow them to make a product which is nearly identical each year. These wines are very reliable. A grower who produces their own label will often farm only one vineyard, using the fruit from that specific vineyard to make their entire line of Champagnes. These wines have tremendous personality and their hand-crafted nature makes them truly special. Often, the prices on these wines is at or below the price of the larger brands which makes experimentation with different growers relatively painless. You can always note a grower produced bottle of Champagne by looking at the label. On all Champagne labels you will see two letters followed by some numbers in the lower right-hand corner (see the label above). Companies which purchase their fruit from a variety of sources will be labeled "NM" or Negociant Manipulant, while the growers will be labeled "RM" or Recoltant Manipulant. This standard in labeling always makes it easy to know who the small artisan producers are. Some of our favorites? Try Jean Milan, Billiot, A. Margaine, Vilmart or Rene Geoffroy. If you would like more recommendations, shoot us a note.
Champagne Alternatives
France does not have a monopoly on sparkling wine production. To the contrary, nearly every wine producing country makes some sort of sparkling wine. Many of these are of extremely high quality for very reasonable prices. If you are doing your celebration on a budget this year or are entertaining 175 of your closest friends, you might consider the wines or Italy, Spain or the United States as an alternative.
Italy has a grand tradition of sparkling wines. Several appellations throughout the country make some sort of bubbly. The two best are Prosecco and Franciacorta. Since Franciacorta can often be within a few dollars of Champagne, lets focus on Prosecco. Unlike many offerings from Italy which carry the name of a village but do not list the grape on the label, Prosecco describes the wine, production method and grape. Until the 1970's, Prosecco was sweet, dull wine without any personality. Modern Prosecco, however, can be a lively, fruity yet dry affair. The light texture and vibrant fruit of Prosecco makes it a great fellow to almost anything you might have for canapes. Try Nino Franco, Bisol or Col Vetoraz.
Cava is Spain's great contribution to this fizzy fraternity. Traditionally made from local grapes like Macabeo, Parellada or Xarel-lo many producers are now experimenting with the traditional Champagne grapes of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Cava, unlike prosecco, is made in the Mèthode Champenoise which involves a second fermentation in bottle. Because of this technique, Cava wines are most like Champange on the palate. Many of them are extremely rich and elegant and, due to the Spanish proclivity for keeping things to age in the cellar, it is often easier to find wines with a little age on them which can be a rare treat. Try Juve y Camps, Kripta or Seguras Viudas.
Finally, the United States has a number of offerings. While most of the exceptional California offerings are within close proximity to Champagne prices they can also be equivalent in quality. To our palates, Schramsberg rules in this category. In the next tier down, Roederer Anderson Valley makes exceptional wines as well. Finally, for an exceptional value, try New Mexico's Gruët. I am particularly fond of the rosé.
Personally, I will be tipping back a glass of Vilmart and probably eating Pimento Cheese or Truffled Popcorn. How will you be celebrating?
For other recommendations or to inquire into the availability of the wines mentioned above, email us here or post a comment below.
Cheers, and have a fantastic New Year's celebration!
Clients are always looking for us to help them create a "once in a lifetime experience" and we believe an experience is defined as "the people, the property and the wine".
