"cava" news and stories

It wouldn't be a proper hello to 2011 without a glass of sparkling wine in your hand as the clock approaches midnight. But French Champagne can be pretty pricey.

We've got five bubblies to recommend, a mix of Cava, Prosecco, sparkling wine and sparkling Rosé, none of which cost more than $22 a bottle. Cheers!

Domaine Chandon Extra-Dry Riche, California ($22)
If you're not a fan of sweet sparkling wines then give this one a whirl. Touted as "extra-dry," we found that it actually was on the drier side. Floral aromas deepen into a palate with rich apricot notes before wrapping up in a finish accented by lemon.
Suggested pairings: Extremely versatile, it can match with just about anything.

Reginato Winery "Celestina" Rosé of Malbec 2008, Mendoza, Argentina ($20)
Notes of baked strawberries and rhubarb cascade into a complex, spicy sparkling wine with good mouthfeel and a clean finish. In the glass, this wine is a deep pink, a cross between fuchsia and garnet.
Suggested pairings: Spicy foods

Cupcake Vineyards Prosecco, Italy ($10)
Notes of creamy nectarines and melons produce a sparkling wine that's sweet on the palate but coasts into a smooth, clean finish.
Suggested pairings: Nonchocolate desserts, such as cupcakes, cookies or layered cakes

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The sparkling wine we drink on New Year's Eve is not the stuff we drink at other times of the year. Beyond marking the end of the year, Dec. 31 also caps the end of holiday season, a last gasp of celebration -- and provides a ray of hope for what lies ahead. People want to party, not reflect. Chug, not sip.

Circumstances dictate that the sparkler you give or receive will likely be consumed by many mouths -- some quite inebriated already -- and not just by an intimate group of two or four. These factors influence what you buy.

Generally speaking, the ideal bottle will be inexpensive, widely available and fairly dry. The guide below walks you through New Year's Eve options, from fancy French Champagne to an international stable of less expensive, lesser-known alternatives.

Learn How to Open Champagne

Photo: oskay, Flickr

Gretchen Roberts writes the wine blog Vinobite, has passed the introductory course at the Court of Master Sommeliers and is studying for her sommelier certification this fall.

August, in all its hot, humid, waning-of-summer glory, is my favorite month of the year. It may be sweltering and sticky, but August is like the bachelorette party before the wedding: Live it up while you can, because school is gonna start soon.

Which is why sparkling wine is the perfect antidote to impending fall. Light, refreshing, and bubbly, it has all the ingredients for celebrating (mourning?) the passing of Casual Season. (Besides, I'm still practicing Champagne service for my sommelier test. I almost have the silent "pop" perfected, but if you have any tips, I'm all ears!)

So what kind of sparkling wine do you like in the summer? Tyler Colman, author of "A Year of Wine," recommends saving the expensive and complex Champagne for chilly winter and sticking to simpler bubblies when it's hot, and I happen to agree (except for my anniversary on August 26, when Champagne is the only way to go ... are you reading this, honey?).

After the jump, my criteria for smashing, wallet-friendly summer sparklers.

Saw this recipe in the latest issue of Imbibe. It's named after the son of Highland Kitchen owners Marci Joy and Marc Romano. You have to be a fan of blackberries to enjoy it, since it's not only made with blackberry brandy but also has a fresh blackberry floating in it.