Cava Archives

Great news: it seems like everyone has caught on to the fact that sparkling wine isn’t just to toast special occasions; it’s an excellent pairing for everything from crispy fried chicken to salty snacks and, of course, big dinners. Bubbly’s whenever, wherever era is here and if you haven’t been initiated into the club yet, we’re here to convince you to join. While Champagne might get top billing in the cast of sparklers, there’s a wealth of options from around the world that reflect regional production, local grapes and more, from Spanish Cava to Italian Prosecco as well as impressive New World bottlings. And better still: there are excellent choices at all price levels. The Wine Enthusiast tasting panel, which reviews thousands of bottles of sparkling wine in order to find the most exciting and worthwhile selections, rounded up their top picks below and shared a bit about why you should try them, too. Champagne The classic sparkler may be associated with high-end affairs, but Anna Christina Cabrales, Director of Tasting at Wine Enthusiast and our resident Champagne reviewer, believes “Champagne should be enjoyed every day,” she says. For this approach, we selected a bottle from JCB that serves as an excellent regular sipper. “It’s well-balanced, approachable and versatile, pairing effortlessly with a variety of meals and occasions,” Cabrales says. But if you want to reserve a bottle for those very special occasions, consider the Philipponnat below. “It’s an emotional experience in a bottle, designed to celebrate those once-in-a-lifetime moments with depth, complexity and luxury in every bubble,” Cabrales says. Budget Splurge Overall Cava Hailing from Spain and produced using the traditional method, Cava has typically been prized for its affordability, but recently producers have been laser-focused on improving the category’s quality. This has led to bottles that are a fraction of the cost of Champagne, but boast an incredible array of aromas—like the apple, pear, vanilla and peach pie in our splurge pick, which still rings in under $100. Budget Splurge Overall Prosecco Prosecco is still basking in its afterglow after a viral video of House of Dragon stars Emma d’Arcy and Olivia Cooke extolling the virtues of Negroni Sbagliato. And while Prosecco is an excellent cocktail ingredient, we like to savor it straight from the bottle. And for good reason, says Wine Enthusiast Writer at Large Jeff Porter, who reviews wine from Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland. “The Zonin is in the zone,” Porter says of our budget pick. “Dad joke and all, this is a fun, classic and tasty wine that fits the bill for everyone. From brunch to a picnic to a date, the wine will bring smiles all around.” Prosecco, as a category, is also a bit less well known than Champagne, which lends itself to pleasant surprises. “Most people do not know that there are designated single vineyards, and Bisol shows how it's done with this wine,” he says of the splurge pick below. “This is not just another bubbly wine in your glass but a complex site specific, terroir driven wine that shows how good the Glera grape can be.” For those who are interested in getting to know Prosecco more, or want a reminder of how stellar the style can be, we suggest starting with the overall pick. “This is the reason Prosecco became famous,” Porter says. “Not only is this wine super tasty, but Nino Franco led and continues to lead the way forward for Prosecco. This wine excites the novice or the jaded wine critic.” Budget Splurge Overall Sekt Yes, it’s time to have the Sekt talk. The sparkling wine is one of Germany’s best kept secrets, and we want to let you in on it. With all three of our bottles coming in under $50, consider using them to make a flight to better familiarize yourself with the style. Budget Splurge Overall Cremant Meet Champagne’s affordable cousin, Crémant. “It’s relatively under the radar in the U.S., but one that is an open secret of affordability in France where it is the default wine for casual and everyday enjoyment,” notes Wine Enthusiast Writer-at-Large Reggie Solomon, who reviews wine from France. But Crémant is far more than a Champagne dupe. Yes, it’s made using the same traditional-method winemaking process as Champagne, but with fewer restrictions on the grapes. Solomon explains that while Champagne relies on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier, Crémant is often made from other grape varieties such as Chenin Blanc, Mauzac and Pinot Blanc. “Access to a larger range of grape varieties means Crémant can take on a wider range of flavors,” Solomon says. We selected three picks in the category. Solomon notes that the main difference between the three is aging. “Budget crémant may be aged for less time on the lees and offer more fresh-fruit flavors while splurge-worth bottles will often see more lees aging and and have more developed yeast and brioche flavors,” he says. But no matter which bottle you choose, “you really can't go wrong with a Crémant,” Solomon adds. “Once you go down the rabbit hole of experimentation at various price points, you'll find a Crémant style of your own to come back to again and again.” Budget Splurge Overall English Sparklers Across the English Channel, there’s plenty of excellent sparkling wine, too. It’s yet another territory for adventurous drinkers to explore. "England has exploded onto the wine scene in recent years, recording the fastest growth of any wine region on the planet,” says Christina Pickard, a Wine Enthusiast writer-at-large who reviews wines from England, Australia, New Zealand and New York. “Often compared to Champagne from the 1980s and '90s, when the climate there was truly ‘cool,’ English bubbles offer vivid acidity that brings an unmatched refreshment factor. Combine this with the complexity gained by lengthy lees aging and you get some of the sparkling world's most thrilling bottles.” She describes our budget pick as “a bargain for the level of complexity” and our splurge option as an opulent, powerful bottle “that is an extra-special treat and demonstrates just how far Blighty's wine scene has come.” Meanwhile “you can’t go wrong with Henners, which consistently delivers on quality” she says of the best overall pick. Budget Splurge Overall New World Sparklers Europe’s top sparkling producers have some serious competition coming from the United States, especially producers in California and New York. “The ability to discover both a range of styles and endless mix of varieties makes sparkling wine from the United States especially exciting,” says Elaine Chukan Brown, a Wine Enthusiast writer-at-large who reviews wines from the Napa Valley and Northeastern Spain. “Tasting the best from across the country reveals how varied our growing conditions are. It also reveals that the quality right now is the best it’s ever been—so far.” Budget Splurge Overall More Sparkling Wine Coverage What’s better for drinking Champagne, coupes or flutes? We debate each of their merits. Here’s when to use every style of Champagne glass. A warming climate is changing the face of Champagne. Why grower Champagne should be on your radar. Meet the Champagne producers redefining France’s bubbly. Can Champagne give up farming with chemicals? In the shop Savoy Champagne Coupe Glasses (Set of 2) In Stock | $100 Shop Now

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