Drinking Bubbles

“I am drinking the stars!” – Dom Perignon, on his first sip of Champagne

Sparkling wine is one of my favorite indulgences. And although I can drink it any time of the year, the holidays present many more opportunities as it flows freely from one holiday party to the next. Sparkling wine has long had a reputation for being a celebration wine and you find it making its appearance around Thanksgiving, Christmas and its most revered holiday – New Years. I would argue that you can drink sparkling wine any time of the year and that it makes a great pairing for many foods. But I also love the festive feel of sparkling wine and think that its emergence this time of year is the perfect way to kick off any holiday celebration.

Sparkling wine comes by many names throughout the world – Champagne from France, Cava from Spain, Asti from Italy and Sekt from Germany. No matter where its origin, sparkling wine is bubbly because of carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is a result of natural fermentation (method champenoise), secondary fermentation (Charmat process) or an injection of CO2. Natural fermentation results in the highest quality sparkling wines and is the only method allowed in the Champagne region of France.

Sparkling wine can be a bit intimidating from the pressurized cork to the special glassware used to serve it. Although it’s true that flying corks cause some commotion, there is nothing to worry about. There are plenty of demonstrations on the internet for properly opening a bottle of sparkling wine. When you serve sparkling wine, pour a very small amount (about an ounce) into the glass and let it settle. Then top off the glass. This will help you avoid the wine foaming over the top of the glass.

Holiday Cocktail Idea: PAMA and Bubbly PAMA is a pomegranate liqueur that can be found in most liquor stores. Peel the fruit from a fresh pomegranate and place 4-5 seeds into a sparkling wine glass. Fill the glass with 2-3 oz of PAMA liqueur and 1-2 oz of sparkling wine. Gently stir to mix and serve.

Favorite Bubbles
Some of our favorite California bubbles…

Domaine Chandon California Blanc de Noirs – vibrant strawberry and cherry flavors with a smooth, creamy finish. Melts in your mouth. $22

Domaine Carneros Brut Rose - a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, drinking this sparkling rosé is like biting into a big juicy, ripe strawberry. $36

Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut – A great sparkling for the price with yummy citrus and pear flavors. The fruit comes from Gloria Ferrer's Carneros vineyards. $20

Mumm Napa Valley DVX – worth the splurge at $55 a bottle. The fruit for DVX comes from select vineyards in the Napa Valley. It’s a rich and well-balanced wine with flavors of green apple, raspberries and peaches.

Written by Linzi