The holidays are right around the corner and no drink is more festive than one that pops and fizzes with bubbles dancing in your glass! I drink sparkling wine anytime of the year, no special occasion needed. During the holidays I purchase these wines more frequently. We are seeing the effects of inflation within many sectors of the economy this year. Unfortunately, wine is not immune from rising prices. Normally I have no problem splurging on a bottle or two of pricey Champagne. However, when hosting a larger gathering it can be cost prohibitive to purchase several prestige bottles of Dom Perignon or Cristal. Thankfully, high quality sparkling wine is made in many wine regions around the world. There are many respected producers crafting them and costs can be a fraction of the price Champagne.
Why is the majority of Champagne expensive? First, let’s emphasize that Champagne is only made in the Champagne region of France. It is considered a luxury product and has a long and fascinating history behind it. Champagne is created using a very time consuming and labor intensive process called méthode Champenoise or traditional method. In this process the second fermentation takes place in the bottle followed by riddling, disgorgement, and dosage. I won’t go into a detailed outline of each step in the process here, but it’s important to note that many sparkling wines from other countries are using this same traditional method with great success.
While there are many wonderful sparkling wines to explore from many areas of the world, the areas that offer some affordable alternatives to Champagne are: Crémant from France, Franciacorta DOCG and Alta Langa DOCG from Italy, Cava from Spain, and USA sparkling wine. These wines are quite comparable in taste and texture to Champagne but won’t break your bank account.
CRÉMANT
If you want to stick with French sparkling wine then choosing a Crémant is your best bet. There are eight Crémants produced throughout France and are named for the areas they come from. In no particular order they are:
- Crémant de Bourgogne
- Crémant de Loire
- Crémant de Bordeaux
- Crémant d’ Alsace
- Crémant du Jura
- Crémant de Savoie
- Crémant de Die
- Crémant de Limoux
These are all made using the same traditional method as Champagne, but may differ in taste and style. The differences result from the grape varieties each area is permitted to use, as well as the different micro climates the grapes are grown in. For example, Champagne consists of three main grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Crémant de Bourgogne is also made primarily with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, as well as Gamay grapes. The Crémant de Loire contains mainly Chenin Blanc or Cabernet Franc. Several other grape varieties are allowed including Chardonnay and Pinot Noir among others. Like Champagne, you will find both white and rosé versions of these wines.
Crémant has shorter aging requirements than Champagne. Less time means they may not be as creamy or have as pronounced flavors of biscuit or brioche that come from extended aging on the lees (dead yeast). Some of the Crémants listed above may not be easy to find. My advice is to start with Crémant de Bourgogne and Crémant d’ Alsace and go from there. Most Crémant wine for sale online can be found in the $20-$40 price range.
FRANCIACORTA DOCG/ALTA LANGA DOCG
We are all familiar with the hugely popular sparkling wine from Italy that is Prosecco. Prosecco is easy to drink, delicious, and quite inexpensive. While there are two denominations that are known for higher quality Prosecco, Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG and Asolo Prosecco DOCG, they are all made using the Charmat or tank method to create the bubbles and aren’t aged for long periods of time. For Italian sparkling wine that can rival Champagne try Franciacorta DOCG and Alta Langa DOCG.
Franciacorta DOCG
Franciacorta DOCG is located in the Lombardy region in northern Italy. Formed by a glacier, the soils here are rich in minerals which translate beautifully into this wine made in metodo classico (traditional method). This region has a large focus on sustainable and organic farming with close to 70% of the vineyards certified organic. Like Crémant, the grapes grown for Franciacorta are similar to Champagne. Chardonnay and Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir) are accompanied by Pinot Bianco and the native, later ripening Erbamat. Franciacorta is brut style (dry) and lower in sugar than most other sparkling wines as many producers don’t add dosage.
Pictured above is a Franciacorta Satèn which is a smoother style due to lower bottle pressure and made primarily with Chardonnay. With Franciacorta there are minimum aging requirements. Non vintage must age on the lees for a minimum of 18 months while Satèn and rosé require a minimum of 24 months. Vintage Franciacorta called Millesimato must have a minimum of 30 months aging and Riserva a minimum of 60 months. The more aging required can result in a higher price point but the flavors and texture will also be more apparent.
Alta Langa DOCG
Alta Langa DOCG was the first metodo classico sparkling wine made in Italy and is located in the prestigious Piedmont region also in northern Italy. Like Franciacorta, Alta Langa is also made in a brut style or with zero dosage. The grapes used here are also Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. They can either be blended together or made as varietal wines. Alta Langa is always a vintage wine meaning the harvest year will be indicated on the label and no other wine from previous years will be blended in.
Both Franciacorta and Alta Langa can be made as either a white or rosé wine. Pricing here can vary vastly with a price range between $25-$75 and beyond. The upper end pricing here is pretty much the same as many Champagnes.
CAVA
In my house we drink a LOT of Cava, especially rosé Cava. Spain has a reputation for making incredible, high quality wines that give you a huge bang for your buck. Cava is produced in several areas of Spain but the majority comes from the Penedès region. Like all the sparkling wines above, Cava is produced in the same traditional method called método tradicional. A huge difference however is the grapes used in the blend. The primary grape is Xarel·lo, along with Macabeu (Viura) and Parellada. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Garnacha (Grenache), and Monastrell (Mourvèdre, Mataro) are also allowed.
Cava quality can vary greatly, even with the aging requirements that must be followed. Basic Cava (Cava de Guarda) has only a 9 month minimum aging requirement while Reserva is a minimum of 18 months and Gran Reserva is a minimum of 30 months. Cava de Paraje Calificado requires 36 months of aging.
Since the majority of the Cava is produced by two large companies, several winemakers have left the Cava DO and are bottling their sparkling wine under the Clàssic Penedès DO or use Corpinnat on the label. This was done to differentiate their sparkling wine from the mass produced Cava that didn’t have a good reputation in the market. Clàssic Penendès has stricter rules for production and aging. The minimum for this DO is 15 months aging on the lees and the grapes must be 100% organic. Corpinnat also allows only organic grapes and a minimum of 18 months aging on the lees.
Cava prices can vary widely starting around $12 a bottle and can go to $40 or more. The producers I am buying regularly are Raventós i Blanc, Llopart, At Roca, and Cune (CVNE).
USA SPARKLING WINE
Old World wine regions may be thought to have the most history and prestige when it comes to winemaking. The New World, especially the United States, can’t be excluded from the list of quality sparkling wine production. Wine is now being produced in all 50 states and many wineries are offering a sparkling wine in their portfolio. The US doesn’t have Appellations or Denominations controlling wine production as Europe has. Winemakers are free to experiment with all kinds of grapes and winemaking techniques for their finished product. This results in many wonderful wines available in the domestic market that deserve to be in your glass.
California
California dominates with the highest wine production in the US at just over 80%. It also makes the most sparkling wine in the country. Just like it’s European counterparts, producers tend to use the traditional method as well as the preferred grapes Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Many of the growing areas in California have a hot climate. Sparkling wine in California is made primarily in cooler climate areas with coastal influences of cool winds and fog. Anderson Valley in Mendocino County and Carneros in Napa and Sonoma Counties are two areas that are renowned for making excellent bubbly. Producers that I enjoy and recommend you try are: Domaine Carneros, Roederer Estate, Schramsberg, Scharffenberger, and Mumm Napa. Like Cava there is a wide price range for California sparkling wine with most in the $20-$50 range.
New York State
New York State is another area that is producing excellent wine overall and making great bubbly that should not be overlooked. Several producers in the Finger Lakes, including two of my personal favorites, Ravines and Boundary Breaks offer bubbly for any occasion. Several grapes are used here, including the main Champagne grapes as well as Riesling, Gewürtztraminer, and Cayuga. If you are on the North Shore of Long Island and are in the mood for bubbles check out Sparkling Pointe and Croteaux Vineyards. Sparkling Pointe specializes in sparklers made in the traditional style from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier. Croteaux Vineyards in Southold makes only still and sparkling rosé wines from Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc.
I am hoping that you find these recommendations for less expensive, quality sparkling wine helpful. Whether you need a sparkling wine for a holiday gathering, special occasion toast, or for you wedding reception, know that there are many delicious alternatives to Champagne that will fit your budget.
