Ten Sparkling Wines to Pop Open for New Year’s Eve

Dec 29, 2022

Did you know that Bottle Barn offers thousands of different wine options from its store in Sonoma County, “Where Wine Country Buys Wine”? New selections are regularly added to the website for when you buy wine online! There’s wine more traditional and appropriate than sparkling wine for New Year’s Eve celebrations, but that includes much more than Champagne.

There’s two broad categories of sparkling wine: traditional method (also called Champagne method), where a second fermentation occurs in the bottle, producing captured CO2. Then there’s the tank method, where the CO2 is injected into the wine right before bottling. Traditional method sparklers generally gain more complexity because of the second fermentation process and prior bottle ageing on the lees. But the other sparklers can be great for festive occasions as well, for when you order wine online.

Here's ten suggested options from the Bottle Barn store!

From Sonoma County is the California classic 2018 Korbel Natural Methode Champenoise. This is is a very dry, delicate California sparkling wine that represents Korbel’s “house” style with its fruit forward taste. The winery uses the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes—classic Champagne varietals— grown in the Russian River Valley’s cool climate. You will detect apple notes on the nose complemented by flavors of lime, mandarin, and raspberry.
Continuing with Sonoma County, try the Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut, which gained high scores from Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast. Delicate aromas of pear and white flowers lead into toasty almond. From its lees ageing, you will detect toast, lively citrus, and apple flavors. This wine has persistent effervescence, a creamy mid-palate, and brioche finish. All grapes are hand-picked, and the wine is made using the traditional method.
Another California classic, but this time from Mendocino County, is the Scharffenberger Brut Rose, another high scorer. Mendocino offers ideal growing conditions for sparkling wines. The winemaker says it has “brilliant rose gold bubbles,” which invite you to smell its “delicate berry fruit aromas.” On the palate, note the “seamless texture” that reveals the precision craftsmanship of Scharffenberger. “Bold yet elegant, like a linebacker that does ballet.”
Moving to Champagne itself, pick up the Champagne-Lelarge Pugeot Nature et Non Dosé. The name means no added sugar before the cork was put on. Interestingly, this is made from 50% Meunier, 25% Pinot Noir, and 25% Chardonnay, an unusual blend. This is as natural as you get in Champagne. Biodynamically and organically farmed and vegan-friendly, the wine was spontaneously fermented and is unfined and unfiltered. There are no added sulphites.
The Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne is from one of the great houses and has a great price at Bottle Barn! The house typically uses a high percentage of reserve wines in this blend. Wine Spectator says you will encounter vibrancy in its "range of toasted brioche, baked cherry, crystalized honey, grated ginger and coconut flavors, remaining light-footed and lively throughout.”
Going a bit higher end still is the 2015 Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Special Club Extra Brut, made from 100% Chardonnay. The tantalizing nose wafts notes of green pear, lime, quince and guava. Like most true Champagne, the balanced acidity allows these aromas to expand on the finish with elegant poise, while the underlying minerality infuses the palate.
Moving to Spain, you can’t go wrong with the Segura Viudas Cava Brut. This cuvée is from D.O. Cava’s traditional Macabeo, Parellada, and Xarel-lo grapes grown in the renowned Penedès region.
From South Africa and a great value is the Graham Beck Brut Rose made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The pale silver-pink is enticing. It offers aromas of raspberries, cherries and hint of minerality. On the palate you will discover red berry flavors enlivened by bright acidity. You may even pick up notes of oyster shell and fresh lavender. “Flirtatious and fun, yet elegant and structured,” says Graham Beck.
Of course, we cannot leave out Italy! The Gregoletto Prosecco offers a soft nose of green fruits with hints of toast. A dry wine, it provides a sophisticated palate with a fine and persistent bubbles.
While Prosecco is not made using the traditional method, the Bellavista Alma Gran Cuvee Franciacorta DOCG Brut certainly is. This fine wine is made from Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, and Pinot Bianco grapes grown in Lombardy. Wine critic James Suckling says: “"Anyone who thinks that Italian sparkling wines are always lighter and simpler than Champagne should try this substantial wine with pear, apple and berry nuances and a successful balance of yeast character and acidity.” He praises its long finish defined by berry notes.