How to Pick the Best Sparkling Wine for the Festive Season!

It's that time again....it seems like the whole world is sparkling! So no doubt, when it comes to end of year celebrations, festivities and fizz are synonymous! And with so many sparkling wines out there, it can be overwhelming to know even where to start! Dry or sweet? Food friendly or thirst quenching? A fancy pour to sip and savour? Or a winner to enjoy without breaking the bank?

Here's your answer. In this guide we'll break down seven festive classics. So you can be confident in picking the right bottle to pop, pour and pair over the holidays!

Cava — the all rounder! --racy

expect to spend $$ for a fair example

This is the underrated stallion of the sparkling wine scene. This Spanish sparkling wine is made using the Champagne method and carries many of the same flavours and traits (like its high acidity) as some of the fanciest pours from the Champagne region — think flavours of brioche, chalk, and elegant savoury tones — but for a fraction of the price. What a win! There's a really consistent quality and complexity in Cava, as well as being thirst-quenching. It's also a tremendously delicious style of bubble that's so clean and refreshing that it can pair with raw seafood, and deep fried favourites.

Prosecco — the life of the party! --racy

expect to spend $-$$ for a fair example

Looking for the perfect cork to pop with a bunch of friends? Prosecco is about as friendly as you can get! This Italian bubbly is fruit forward — think melons and ripe peach — as well as fantastically floral! Prosecco also tends to lean towards giving it's sipper a gentle kiss of sweetness — so soft you can hardly notice it, but enough to make you smile! It's effervescence is lively and fresh without being pretentious. A great pairing to bring on a picnic, or sip on the patio with friends and family!

Sparkling Rosé — the unexpected hero! --racy

expect to spend $$ for a fair example

People tend to shy from pink when it comes to bubbles, and instead lean closer toward the more familiar tones of straw yellow and white. What a shame! Sparkling rosé carries just as much complexity (and often much more if it's a traditional method style!) than your everyday "white" bubbly. Not only do you get the refreshing factor from the bubbles, but also a wider array of flavours and texture. Not to mention sparkling rosé opens a whole other world of pairing opportunities. From light and delicate dishes like seafood and fresh salads, to rustic fare like terrines and tarts, to those that hold more weight like fried chicken and even beef tartare! It's a reliable wine for any food pairing fanatic!

Champagne — feeling frivolous and fancy? --racy

expect to spend $$-$$$ for a fair example

Alright, we all know this is a classic. But it's classic and holds its price tag for good reason. Theres a 'je ne sais quois' about Champagne that can't be beat. And it comes down to the history and method behind these wines. The Champagne method is a labour of love, dedication and precision. So theres no reason to be surprised that its exactly that we get in the glass! When it comes to picking the perfect bottle, you can expect consistency in style and flavours from wines labelled NV (non vintage). Whereas styles with the vintage on the label (which only happens a few times a decade) indicate that the grapes were all from that harvest, and the wine is meant to represent the climatic conditions of that year. Often Vintage-labelled styles will be tighter, leaner and slightly more austere. The expensive vintage wines have great ageing potential and are built to cellar.

Lambrusco — the trend setter  --racy

expect to spend $-$$ for a fair example

Lambrusco is easily the most exciting wine trends these days. Not heard of it yet? Originally from one of Italy's gastronomic epicentres, Emilia-Romagna, this sparkling red is an absolute star! Or maybe you have heard of it but in the context of its (outdated) poor rep for being flabby, sweet and ... gross. Those days have passed. Lambrusco has carved out a new identity; dry, juicy, mid- weight, and full of freshness! Some are more fruit-forward in style, and others more savoury —Lambrusco is like if sparkling rosé and sparking shiraz had a baby!

If you are looking for the ultimate entertaining wine look no further. Pop the cork on Lambrusco when you want to introduce guests to a delight they never knew they wanted. Guaranteed they'll take a picture of the bottle to track it down for themselves. If they don't, you'll hear from them early in the new year asking "...what was that sparkling red wine again?"

It drinks fabulously on its own and is deliciously dynamic food pairing wine, especially when it comes to less-sophisticated and cosy favourites. Pair it with bacon and egg rolls, burgers of all kinds, club-house sandwiches, as well as all of your Boxing Day leftovers. Lambrusco is your wine!

Sparkling Moscato — satisfy your sweet tooth  --racy

expect to spend $-$$ for a fair example

Sweet treats and pleasures are sure to hit the table come end of year, and we all know that when it comes to pairing with sweet foods, you need a sweet wine! So if you've got macarons, pavlova, fruit sorbet or a sweet fruit dessert on the menu, a sparkling moscato could be your perfect match! Not to mention, it can pair well with salty or chilli heat flavours! But for those with a bit of a sweet tooth, it's an obvious win to sip on its own. No matter what hemisphere you're in, sparkling moscato is like summer in a glass. Easy, breezy, and delicious.

About the Author

Alex is a certified sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers and holds her WSET 3 with distinction. Her experience in the wine industry stretches from working as a sommelier in award-winning restaurants in British Columbia, judging national wine competitions, and utilising her background in design and communication toward commissioned art, writing, and branding for wineries and wine bars and columns across the globe.