My top 3: budget sparkling wines
I always advise having a selection of budget bubble on hand for impromptu evenings. Case in point: my boyfriend and I had an unexpected gathering this past Monday when happy hour became a full evening affair, turned roasted chicken dinner party turned living room dance party turned hot tub party! I wrote about this in a past post about best budget wines to have on hand for unexpected drop ins/stop by's - these are my favourite bubbles to have on hand for those exact situations, plus, I don't feel bad if we go through a couple bottles to share with friends!
La Marca Prosecco $18-25
Prosecco is made in a simpler, quicker version than traditional, Champagne method sparklings. If you want to impress your friends, mention the term "charmat method". It simply means the bubbles are achieved via a pressurized tank versus the secondary fermentation that Champagne method sparkling wines go through. As well, Prosecco tends to have a higher content of residual sugar than most dry styles of sparkling wine, so it's extremely friendly to a large demographic of palates.
Segura Viudas Cava Brut Reserva, $15-20
Cava has to be my go to sparkling wine when it comes to budget bubble. It's made in the same method as Champagne, however, with different grape varieties and produced in Spain. They begin with a still wine, that's then allowed to go through a secondary fermentation in bottle producing a natural effervescence. As this style is left to age "on the lees" (lees meaning dead yeast cells that are left in bottle post fermentation), this style of bubble results in "autolytic" character - bready, toasty, brioche-y type of aromas that impart a lot more complexity than the aforementioned Prosecco style.
Antech Blanquette de Limoux Brut Reserve $25-30
La Marca Prosecco $18-25
Segura Viudas Cava Brut Reserva, $15-20
Cava has to be my go to sparkling wine when it comes to budget bubble. It's made in the same method as Champagne, however, with different grape varieties and produced in Spain. They begin with a still wine, that's then allowed to go through a secondary fermentation in bottle producing a natural effervescence. As this style is left to age "on the lees" (lees meaning dead yeast cells that are left in bottle post fermentation), this style of bubble results in "autolytic" character - bready, toasty, brioche-y type of aromas that impart a lot more complexity than the aforementioned Prosecco style.
Antech Blanquette de Limoux Brut Reserve $25-30
Hailing from southern France in the Languedoc area - this is a traditional method sparkling wine made with indigenous grapes from this lesser known region. An incredibly friendly and easy drinking style, it's aged 18 months "on the lees"- however it's a bit tricky to find! Check your local wine boutique, and ask if they have any of this super tasty and unique bubble!
Happy drinking!
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