By David Setley
No holiday is more associated with popping a bottle of bubbly than New Year’s Eve. In fact, toasting the New Year has been customary for more than 1,500 years. After the Revolutionary War, Americans began making toasts (sometimes as many as 13!) at all major celebrations as an act of patriotism. This tradition has been an integral part of ringing in a new year since the early 1800s. As we reflect on 2024 and anticipate 2025 with hope, allow me to shed light on the history of the bubbly beverage and provide some recommendations for your Dec. 31 festivities.
Champagne, the most famous sparkling wine in the world, has become something of a deonym — a brand or specific product that has become synonymous with the entire product category. When people think of bubbly beverages, they often reference Champagne. However, to carry the name “Champagne” the wine must be produced in the Champagne region of France and utilize only the Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grapes. Initially, Champagne is made much the same way that still wine is. After being bottled for a while, however, the cork is removed so that additional yeast, flavorings and (sometimes) sugar can be added. The bottle is then recorked, and a second fermentation begins with the newly created carbon dioxide contained in the bottle. This process, known as the Méthode Champenoise or the Méthode Traditionnelle, originated in the Champagne region and is what produces the bubbles that distinguish sparkling wines from still wines.
Dom Pierre Pérignon, a 17th-century Benedictine monk from France, is credited with inventing sparkling wines. Legend has it that upon first tasting the bubbly wine, he exclaimed: “Come quickly! I am tasting the stars!” Although the accuracy of the quote, and even some details of the origin story, are questioned historically, the invention and standardization of the Méthode Champenoise process are attributed to Dom Pierre, along with one other very important contribution to the wine world. It was he who discovered that white wine can be made from red grapes by removing the skins, stems, and seeds from the juice during wine production. Pretty amazing guy! For his efforts, one of the world’s most famous and valuable Champagne wines bears his name. Dom Pérignon, though delicious, may be a bit of a stretch for the budget, but if you can swing it, New Year’s is the perfect celebration to pop that cork!
For those of us looking for a more reasonably priced option, there are plenty of wonderful Champagnes to choose from at a wide range of prices. In the Champagne region, Premier Cru is a certification of superior quality and has been awarded to less than 15% of the appellations in the region. For an outstanding and reasonably priced Premier Cru Champagne, try the Gonet-Médeville Champagne Premier (1er) Cru Brut. Also worthy of your consideration are Veuve Clicquot and Nicolas Feuillatte-Blue Label Brut. See? You can absolutely enjoy French Champagne without breaking your budget.
Prosecco, the Italian sparkling wine, is another lower-priced option for your New Year’s Eve celebration. Similarly to the rules of Champagne, Prosecco must be produced in the Prosecco appellation of the Veneto Wine Region of Northeastern Italy and must be made from the Glera grape. It is a myth that Proseccos are always sweeter than Champagne; although sweeter options are available, most are quite dry. Dryness is indicated by the word “Brut”. The driest is Extra Brut, followed by Brut. Demi-Sec is the sweetest. If you are looking for maximum dryness in your Prosecco, the Bele Casel Asolo Extra Brut Prosecco is a great choice. The aromas are fresh with notes of golden apple and a touch of grapefruit. Or, for a wonderful, reasonably priced Brut Prosecco, try the NaoNis Prosecco DOC Brut. This lovely effervescent wine has an intense stone-fruit taste, with a fine and long-lasting finish. The aroma is a bouquet of fruits and flowers. Lastly, for a Prosecco that comes in a bottle as sparkly and festive as the wine itself, try the Billa! Prosecco and Prosecco Rosé.
A splurge-worth Prosecco is the Bortolomiol Grande Cuvee Del Fondatore Motus Vitae Prosecco from Valdobbiandene, Italy. This wine is also an Extra Brut and is dedicated to Giuliano Bortolomiol, a skilled sparkling winemaker and founder of the winery. He is credited with developing the first brut Prosecco in 1960. This is the most incredible Prosecco I have ever tasted and is worthy of your consideration for New Year’s Eve. It will likely be at my table.
Cava, Spain’s contribution to sparkling wine, is produced in the Penedès appellation of the Catalonia region near Barcelona and is made from the grapes that are native to the region: Macabeu, Xarel-lo, and Parellada. Cava has the flavor of ripe tree fruits, light notes of Meyer lemons, and a touch of almond and ginger on the finish. The Caves Naveran-Cava Brut is a classic Cava option that is produced from organically grown grapes and is vegan-friendly. Dibon Cava and Freixenet Cava are also excellent options. If you haven’t tried a Cava yet, take this as your invitation.
Avaline Wines is a wine company owned by Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power. The goal of their company is to produce all organic wines with no added sugar or other additives. The Avaline Sparkling wine is a wonderful wine produced in Spain near Barcelona. This is a dry, refreshing wine with the same crisp, fresh characteristics of Cava.
No matter how you choose to greet the new year, I hope you have a very happy and healthy new year and a safe celebration. As always, if you have any questions or comments, contact me at dsetley@passionvines.com or stop by the Somers Point store. Until 2025, happy wining!
