Best Recommendations for Holiday Sparklers and Champagnes

AND THE ACCOUTREMENTS: CAVIAR, CIGARS AND CHOCOLATES

You have now entered the holiday zone. My condolences to you bah-humbugs out there, but look on the bright side! You can turn your attention to “hmm, what will I drink?” Maybe think about wines you don’t allow yourself most of the year. Indulge yourself. Now that you’ve gone that far in your thinking, why not taste a little caviar, light up a cigar and pop a truffle?

Whether you’re throwing a party, attending a soirée or hosting your family’s get-together on the key days, following are guidelines for making selections of these luxury libations on varying budgets.

SPARKLING WINES
Within the sparkling group, try to provide different sweetness levels for differing palates: at least one brut or ultra brut, one sec (sweet) or demi sec (very sweet). Consider a bubbly rosé, as well.

Suggestions from different price ranges:

Schramsberg Sparkling Wine, $30-$100/bottle. Serve in the style to which presidents and royalty have become accustomed when you offer the Schramsberg line to your guests. Since the 1960s, Schramsberg sparklers have been highlighted at presidential dinners and events held honoring world leaders, the queen of England and the Pope!

• Reserve, $70-$100. Complex and exotic flavors of autumn fruit with accents of toasted cinnamon and nutmeg. Drink now or for years to come.
• J. Schram Brut Rosé, approximately $100. Polished and rich with juicy raspberry and citrus flavors and a long, luxurious finish.
• Crémant (demi-sec), $30-$32. Aromas of kiwi and fresh-baked bread with flavors of tropical fruit and melon. Enough acid to balance its perfect sweetness.

Piper-Heidsieck Champagne, $30-$50/bottle. Treat your guests like stars: serve something from Piper-Heidsieck, the official champagne brand for both the Oscars and the Sundance Film Festival. Though not inexpensive, many can be purchased for under $50.

• Cuvée Brut, $30-$45. Pinot noir-based with small quantities of pinot meunier and chardonnay. Well-balanced, fresh and lively.
• Rosé Sauvage (brut), $38-$50. Still red wine mixed into the traditional brut recipe for a unique twist. Dark red and refreshing, while rich.
• Cuvée Sublime (demi-sec), $37-$40. Rich and crisp with strong undertones and a long, vanilla and cinnamon finish.

Gloria Ferrer Sparkling Wine, $20-$42/bottle. Enjoy bubbly from the first sparkling wine house in Carneros. The Ferrer family, also owners of cava house Freixenet, completed construction of the winery in 1986 with the intention that this product would reflect the authentic California terroir. The winemakers only employ three techniques used at Freixenet: the handpicking of grapes, carrying of grapes to the winery in small bins and gentle pressing of the fruit.

• Sonoma Brut, $20. Pinot noir- and chardonnay-based with traditional apple and pear flavors.
• Brut Rosé, $42. Pinot noir-based with lovely salmon color. Surprising flavors of strawberry and spicy cranberry.
• Blanc de Noirs, $20. Pinot noir-based with rosy hue due to small addition of vin gris. Aromas of strawberry and fresh roses, with creamy cherry, lemon and cola flavors on the palate.

Segura Viudas, $8-$21/bottle. This house produces Spanish cavas, or sparkling wines, shockingly good for their pricing. Segura Viudas is one of the top producers of these cavas and was recently named Winery of the Year by Wine & Spirits magazine.

• Heredad Reserve, $20-$21. Smooth, yeasty and slightly floral with pleasing complexity.
• Brut Rosé, $8-$11. Delicate, crisp, fresh and fruity with a light kiss of sweetness on the finish.
• ARIA Sparkling Pinot Noir, $9-$10. Made from 100% pinot noir, the character and structure of this sparkler echo the complexity of its temperamental grape. Dry and flavorful with a long finish.

Gallo Sparkling Wine, $3-$11/bottle. Not everyone knows that Gallo produces three lines of sparkling wines under different names. The reasonably-priced Tott’s is the most expensive of the three brands, also considered the premium. Ballatore Spumantes are sweeter and styled similarly to the Italian Asti Spumantes. André makes the least expensive line and is America’s best-selling sparkling wine.

• Tott’s Extra Dry, $5-$11. Light and refreshing with green apple and hints of citrus.
• Ballatore Gran Spumante, $6-$8. Aromas of peach and apricot with flavors of melon. Rich, balanced clean finish.
• André Cold Duck, $3-$5. Sweet, grapey and easy to drink. To be served well-chilled.

CAVIAR
Ahh, champagne and caviar. The thought makes many of us swoon. The crisp acidity of a sparkling wine harmonizes with the subtle, salty flavors of caviar, and the opposing textures marry happily. Here’s my experience: little jewels popping in my mouth when I bite down, followed by lively, refreshing coolness; salty, fishy essence tamed by dry, smooth satisfaction.