This column originally appeared in The Centre County Gazette.
No New Year’s Eve celebration is complete without a glass of bubbly to toast the fresh start. While champagne is the traditional sparkling wine of choice for many people, it can also cost a pretty penny.
Champagne’s higher cost stems from a couple of different influences like its strict production standards, labor and time intensive méthode champenoise, limited vineyard area in France’s Champagne region and global demand for its prestigious name.
Made from either chardonnay, pinot noir or pinot meunier grapes, the sparkling wine is made using the méthode champenoise, commonly called the “traditional method.” This method entails a second fermentation done in the bottle after the wine goes through its first round of fermentation to create its bubbly quality. During the second fermentation in the bottle, the wine is in contact with the dead yeast cells, called lees, that give the bready, brioche-like notes that Champagne is known for.
And while a glass of Champagne is sure to tickle the taste buds, there are plenty of other options for a fraction of the price that provides just as enjoyable of a drinking experience as Champagne does.
BAILLY LAPIERRE CREMANT DE BOURGOGNE BRUT RESERVE
Cremant is a sparkling wine made in France outside the Champagne region. It is made similarly to champagne with the traditional method of secondary fermentation in the bottle. However, it differs by where it hails from. Cremant can be produced in any of the wine regions of France, like Alsace, Loire and Burgundy, allowing each regions’ unique qualities to be displayed in the bottle.
The wine region Burgundy — Bourgogne in French —primarily uses pinot noir for red wines and chardonnay for white wines. Both of which are grape varieties used in Champagne. For those looking for a similar flavor profile to Champagne, a Cremant de Bourgogne is a great option.
A bottle of Bailly Lapierre Cremant de Bourgogne Brut Reserve retails for $21 at the Fine Wine & Good Spirits at 1682 N. Atherton St. It is made with pinot noir grapes, though the red skins are removed prior to fermentation, so it maintains its white color. It has crisp notes of pear, apple and lemon, with some bready notes because off the aging contact on the lees.
PIERRE SPARR CREMANT D’ALSACE BRUT ROSÉ
The Alsace region is France is primarily known for its aromatic and acidic white wines, particularly riesling, gewürztraminer and pinot gris. However, the region also produces some pinot noir for rosé and red wine production.
Pierre Sparr Cremant d’Alsace Brut Rosé is made from pinot noir, however, unlike the Bailly Lapierre Cremant de Bourgogne Brut Reserve, this sparkling wine goes through a short skin contact period during the fermentation process to make it a sparkling rosé.
The wine has notes of strawberries, cherries and lemon and a crisp bubble, creating a refreshing drinking experience, perfect for ringing in a fresh new year.
A bottle of Pierre Sparr Cremant d’Alsace Brut Rosé retails for $20 at the Fine Wine & Good Spirits at 1682 N. Atherton St.
GELIDA BLANC DE BLANC BRUT NATURE GRAN RESERVA CAVA
Cava comes from the Penedès region of Spain. It is also made using the traditional method, like Champagne, with the second fermentation in the bottle. However, cava is made from macabeo, parellada and xarello grapes that have notes of green apple, pear, vibrant citrus and almonds.
Gelida Blanc de Blanc Brut Nature Gran Reserva Cava is aged for 48 months in the bottle after the fermentation and has a bright citrus and green fruit taste with some complexity from the extended bottle aging period.
A bottle of Gelida Blanc de Blanc Brut Nature Gran Reserva Cava retails for $18 at the Fine Wine & Good Spirits at 1682 N. Atherton St.
Centre County Gazette editor Jessi Blanarik is a certified sommelier and holds a master’s in wine tourism and sustainability. She has lived in and worked in the wine industry in Spain, France, Portugal and Greece.
