Sparkling Wine Recommendations

Out With the Old, Try Something New

December 31st--- Champagne's night to shine. On the eve of every new year the world pauses to toast seasons passed and the possibility of the future with heady, elegant and sensual impressions of the cellar's most mysterious libation.

Rather than risk ending the year on an anticlimactic note, serving the same reliable—yet uninspired—choice as every past New Year's Eve, embrace the Gayot motto of discovering something unique, handcrafted and perhaps even a bit adventurous. With more exciting and affordable options than ever from home to Europe's exotic shores, grab the spirit of the season with a new wine for the new year.

L. Mawby Blanc de Blancs
A mature, elegant sparkling wine with a balance to rival that of France's finest-from Michigan? This lovely, sparkling Chardonnay will make any party shine and at $16 a bottle, it has to be one of the wine world's best kept secrets. Serve it with appetizers or dessert; its complexity and spice are fine accompaniments to any part of the meal.

Inniskillin Sparkling Ice Wine
For something truly unique, look to Canada's Niagara region for this wild creation from one of the world's most respected ice wine producers. A gently effervescing wine, its style is more that of a dessert wine than champagne. Sweet, honeyed with gentle stonefruit flavors, it is the perfect accompaniment to soft cheeses, raw oysters and custard desserts.

Bouvet Rose Excellence
An inspiring wine from France's Loire Valley, Bouvet offers affordable elegance for even the most grand affair at a mere $12 a bottle. Made from Cabernet Franc grapes, this sparkling wine offers a more forward berry flavor than the typical Rose. A simple, intense wine, it makes a wonderful accompaniment to the flavors and textures of sushi.

1992 Vilmart & Cie Cuvee Creation
Established nearly a century before California's wine boom, Vilmart & Cie has a sizeable leg up on its New World competition. A grand champagne house on a tiny production scale, their sophisticated Cuvee Creation has been compared to the elegant wines of Krug and Bollinger. A component of nutmeg and spice prominent in the 1992 reflects the flavors of the season. Try it with traditional fare such as mini quiches, roast beef and a creme caramel.

Varnier-Fanniere Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru
A highly respected, yet all too often overlooked, champagne house, Varnier-Fanniere has been regarded as one of the Champagne region's finest grapegrowers since 1860. Using traditional winemaking methods, Varnier-Fanniere produces a creamy, floral style of Champagne. A blend of three vintages, the Grand Cru offers elegance and complexity with a slowly evolving finish. A perfect wine to drink on its own, its delicate, fresh flavors will make a sophisticated enhancement to simple hors d'ouevres like soft boiled eggs, oysters and caviar toasts.

Familiar faces are offering something unique. According to Christian Navarro of Los Angeles premier fine wine purveyor Wally's, two of the wine world's most familiar faces offer something new to smile about this New Years Eve...

Laurent Perrier Brut Rose
Although it has long claimed among the wine world's favorite Brut Rose's, Laurent Perrier has managed to improve on near perfection with a brand new cuvée. More rich and intense in flavor than the previous blend, Navarro describes its new direction as "a mouthful of wild strawberries."

1990 Salon
Coming from one of Champagne's most respected houses, Salon's latest release may just be its finest to date. According to Navarro, who extols its virtues as "one of the finest Champagnes" he's been fortunate enough to taste, you should grab a bottle while you can!

Don't forget to check out these other wine pages...
>>Holiday wine pairing
>>Learn about wine
>>Zinfandel tasting