This week let’s a look at three — quite varied — sparklers ready to help put an exclamation mark on 2024.
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Bubbly really should be enjoyed throughout the year.
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That said, the last week of December will always be most associated with festive fizz. Indeed sales, of sparkling wine spike at this time every year.
This week let’s a look at three — quite varied — sparklers ready to help put an exclamation mark on 2024.
Jaume Serra Castelfino Brut Cava, Spain
($14.49 on sale until Dec. 28, #551218)
When in doubt and looking for something fizzy, opt for Cava. Need something sparkling to toast a crowd that won’t bust the budget? Cava check. A great option to pour with fresh OJ in those brunch mimosas? Cava check. A straight-up and tasty partner for mid-week meals, whether Chinese takeout or sloppy Joe’s are on the menu? Cava check. In short, this is your easygoing, everyday bottle of bub. A blend of the three classic Cava grapes (Macabeo, Parellada, and Zarel-lo) — it’s crisp, it’s citrusy, and it sells at a price that won’t make you think twice.
Bottom line: B, Sparkler all-rounder.
Blue Grouse Charme de L’Île Sparkling Rosé, B.C.
($29.99, available through the winery)
Don’t forget that sparkling wine comes in shades of pink. Sparkling rosé has a time-honoured tradition in the wine world, and one recent addition to the local canon is Blue Grouse’s Charme de L’Île Sparkling Rosé. Made from 100 per cent Cowichan Valley-grown Gamay Noir grapes, this “Charm of the Island” feisty fizz is produced using the Charmat method popular in Prosecco, with secondary fermentation taking place in pressurized stainless steel tanks. The result is a robust, yet-fresh, boisterous red-berry-and-herb-flecked sparkler with citrus undertones that finishes lengthy and a touch gritty. Food-wise, bring on the roast chicken or pulled pork sliders.
Bottom line: B, Tiny rosé bubbles.
Medici Ermete 2023 Concerto Reggiano Lambrusco, Italy
($22.49, #571968)
Finally, if you want to bring out a sparkling wine curveball, consider Lambrusco. We don’t often think about sparkling reds, but they truly offer an entirely different fizzy wine dimension, and Lambrusco is the sparkling red par excellence from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Pouring a vibrant purple black, this bottle of Concerto Reggiano Lambrusco presents dark berry and herbal aromatics before a slight tickle and tannins take centre stage. It’s rich but lively, and a bit unusual if you are not used to your red wines having some sparkle. But it goes great with nachos, pizza, and even hotdogs!
Bottom line: A-, Festive, fizzy red.
The Swirl: New Year’s Eve Wining
Still deciding what to do to ring in the New Year? Opt out of the planning and reserve one of the many dinners and tastings taking place at B.C. wineries. A few of note: CedarCreek has a five-course dinner focusing on pairing with their top-tier Platinum wines ($195 a person). Hester Creek Estate Winery is offering an Early Bird New Year’s After Hour Happy Hour from 4-7 p.m. on Dec, 31, with tickets $25 that include a glass of Old Vine Brut and live music by Lewis Cardinal.