Weekend Wine: Sparkling Wines for the Holidays

This week: the lower priced versions

With Christmas and New Year’s fast approaching, you can be sure that every store in town that carries any wine whatsoever will be having a sale on sparkling wines.

Sparkling wines should be enjoyed whenever the spirit asks, not just the holidays. Whether it’s on a picnic in May, a water outing in August, or with turkey at Thanksgiving, sparkling wines add a touch of joy to every occasion.

Adami Garbèl Brut Prosecco di Treviso Doc (image courtesy of Adami)

Over the next three weeks, I’ll be making recommendations to you for a sparkling wine in every price range. This week we’ll do from $10 up to $25, next week from $25 to $75, and the following week we’ll look at wines that actually justify a price over $75.

I should warn you that people buy sparkling wines like crazy during the holidays. A store that has a wine this morning may not have it this afternoon, and yet have more of it tomorrow. So to avoid disappointment, be sure to call ahead and reserve what you want.

I have three favorites in this price range, and all of them are widely available. Segura Viudas Brut Heredad Reserva ($25) is a premium cava in a ridiculously gorgeous bottle. For anyone buying more than one bottle, ask your store to get you magnums of the wine, which look festive, expensive, and still taste toasty with tiny nose-tickling bubbles. Adami Prosecco Brut Garbèl ($17) is a consistently wonderful Prosecco from a huge Italian winery that really understands how to give lots of quality for the price. Finally, Cordoniu Brut Rosé ($10) is a lovely pink wine, quite dry, with really nice red berry aromas.

If you would like to focus on a Texas sparkling wine, there aren’t that many available and I have to admit I haven’t yet had the chance to try every one of them. I can tell you that the William Chris Pét Nat Rosé ($25) gets great reviews from friends I trust so if buying Texas is important to you, drive out to Hye and get a taste before you buy. Knowing how great their other wines are, I am sure it will be worth the trip.

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