Are you ready to ring in the NEW Roaring Twenties!? The Wine and Spirit Education Trust’s Business Development Advisor, Bonnie Buchanan has offered a few tips to help you celebrate in the best way possible with a little bit of the bubbly. Check out the notes from the WSET Advisor herself below!
· Tips for navigating the bubbly aisle!
“Think outside the box. Look for some lesser known areas if possible, like a great Crémant de Jura, a Cap Classique from South Africa, or Franciacorta from Italy. These wines are made in the traditional method and have incredible flavor while also coming in at a more reasonable price point ranging from $15-$30.
If you can’t get your hands on that, reach for a Cava from Spain. There are lots of Cava’s out there but try to stay $12 or above so you get the quality you are looking for.”
· Glassware tips – do you always have to use flute glasses?
“Absolutely not! Sometimes a simple white wine glass is better, it gives you the opportunity to get the full aromas from the wine as a result of the wider opening at the top, while still being narrow enough not to lose all your bubbles. Some glass producers and coming up with more creative and inventive styles that do a great job highlighting fizz and flavor, but before spending the dollars on that, try for your trusted white wine classic.”
· Easy tips for remembering the difference between sparkling wine vs. champagne!
“All Champagne is Sparkling Wine, not all Sparkling Wine is Champagne. Champagne is only produced in the area of Champagne, France. The label must say Champagne and indicate it is from France. You may see something out there called California Champagne, this is not Champagne. These are a few producers who were grandfathered in before the laws were set firmly in place. Also, consider your price point, most Champagne’s are going to start at $40 and go up from there, so if you see something that is being offered at $10 and has snuck the word Champagne on the bottle, be weary.”
· Entertaining – go to food pairings for your bubbly
“Like most still wines, sparkling wine is quite versatile. Typically, bubbles will pair well with various seafood items like chilled Shrimp, Oysters, or even Fried Calamari. They also pair well with cheeses and charcuterie. If you’re looking for Entrée pairing, dishes involving roasted Chicken and winter roasted vegetables such as Butternut Squash will show well with sparkling wines. Don’t forget though bubbles are great with snacks, including potato chips, so be afraid to put some out for your guests to enjoy a great salted treat!”
