We hope everyone had a great holiday, and we wish you all a happy & successful 2008! Of course, with New Year's comes bubbles, and we have prepared a little primer for you on the different types available. 

 

[true] CHAMPAGNE

 

"Champagne" refers to sparkling wine specifically from a small area in Northern France near Paris, called . . . wait for it . . . Champagne. Originally a producer of still wines, Champagne often found itself competing with its Southerly neighbors in Burgundy, because the grape varietals grown were the same: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (as well as Pinot Meunier in Champagne). Monasteries were the main producers of wine, and a monk named Dom Perignon's wines kept mysteriously retaining carbon dioxide, causing them to sparkle, which really irked him. However, the bubbles stuck, and proved a distinguishing feature from the wines of Burgundy, which really helped to make Champagne the powerhouse it is today (the patronage of Louis XIV didn't hurt either).

 

There may not be another region in France that can charge as much for their wine as Champagne does. Prices generally start at no less than $35, and go up from there. While many of the large Champagne houses attempt to justify their $50+ price tag by claiming that their product is somehow scarce and special, have you ever been in a wine store where you haven't seen the same familiar labels, year in and year out, often stacked to the ceiling? Plus, if a product is produced in such obvious bulk, the producer would have to buy a lot of grapes, and because technically the grapes can come from anywhere within the Champagne region, the buyer has no clue about the quality of the grapes going into the wine. And when profit is the bottom line, we're guessing that using the best grapes is not the highest priority for companies who can sell their wines based on their name alone.

 

That is why we strongly recommend GROWER CHAMPAGNES. We have rambled on about these before, but in this critical time of bubbly-consuming, we feel we must reiterate that they offer the BEST quality for your money. You know where your grapes are coming from: small farmers whose reputaion and livelihood rests on the quality of the wine s/he produces. Their yields are small, they are more likely to practice sustainable agriculture, and most importantly, the wines show a true character that can only come from being hand-crafted. It's like buying fresh green beans from the farmer himself at the market, versus a can of Green Giant at Kroger. If they were the same price, which would you choose?

 

Highest reading recommendation goes to Champagne by Don and Petie Kladstrup: a fascinating history of the region, from cellar workers sporting iron masks to protect themselves from exploding bottles, to harvesting grapes wearing gas masks during World War I.

 

SPARKLING WINE

This category contains all wine with bubbles that is not from the Champagne region of France. Here are some great tasting alternatives that are a bit more affordable.

 

 

Cava

 

The official sparkling wine region of Spain, located near Barcelona, Cava is made in the methode Champenoise, or traditional Champagne method, which is labor-intensive and time-consuming, but gives the finished product much more finesse and delicacy. Native grapes (which include Macabeo, Xarel-lo & Parellada), a warmer climate and the terroir all contribute to its distinctive character. Excellent values can be found here, and they tend to have a yeasty character with strong bubbles, making them an excellent stand-in for Champagne. Prices generally range from $10 - $25.

 

Prosecco

 

Generally lighter-bodied than Cava or Champagne, Prosecco is the grape that goes into Italy's most well-known sparkling wine. It comes from just west of the Friuli region, and just north of the Veneto. This is Italy's premier white wine territory.

 

 

American Sparkling Wines

 

There are quite a few really nice American sparkling wines. Most are made in the traditional Champagne method. In fact, many are North American outposts of Champagne producers, like Roederer Estate in California and Gruet in New Mexico. One of our favorite sparkling wines in the store is Schramsberg from California, which actually surpasses many true Champagnes. They also make a more affordable version called Mirabelle. We have just a few bottles left of the Argyle 1997 Extended Tirage from Oregon, another one of our domestic faves. Most domestic sparkling wines use the traditional Champagne grapes (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir). Prices range from about $18 to the $30s.

 

 

French Sparkling Wines

 

Many regions in France produce outstanding sparkling wines, though they don't get to use the Champagne name on the label. The Loire and Burgundy are the most famous after Champagne, but we really recommend a sparkling wine from Savoie in the Alps, made from the Jacquere grape. Lighter than Champagne, with the freshness of an Alpine stream. Most French sparkling wines range from $10 - $20.

 

 

Helpful hints

 

We are always willing to special order something for you at no additional cost. So if you need large quantities or just a single bottle of something we don't stock, let us know. And remember, our 10% case discount definitely applies to sparkling wines.

 

Holiday Hours

 

New Years Eve: 10am - 10pm

 

WE WILL BE CLOSED:

 

January 1-3

 

Reopening on January 4 at 10am.

 

Have a safe and fun New Year's!!