15 Champagnes for a Sparkling Holiday Season

The holidays are in full swing and Champagne is a great option for a special celebration. The sound of a bottle of Champagne being popped delights everyone, am I right? Did you know that 25% of all Champagne are bought within the two weeks before the New Year? If you are struggling to choose one or don’t have a favorite handy - here’s my guide on all things bubbly! There’s one for everyone that suits every budget!

Click on each one to read full tasting notes and/or pairing recommendations. Prices are from Wine-Searcher.

Under $50

Don’t want to spend big? No problem. There’s no need to spend big to get a good bottle of Champagne!

1. Champagne Lanson Black Label Brut $41

Le Black Label owes its iconic name to Victor Lanson who named it as such in 1937, as proof of openness to the world. For 80 years, the label has not ceased evolving, but its characteristic style always remained the same: a balanced alliance of vitality and finesse, freshness and elegance.

2. Ponson 'La Petite Montagne' Premier Cru Extra Brut $45

Beef Carpaccio with white truffle fonduta, paired with Ponson "Le Petite Montagne" Champagne Extra Brut NV. Ultra thinly sliced tenderloin, dressed in lemon juice, vinegar and extra virgin olive oil, simple as it is yet creates powerful sensation to stimulate one's buds. A bone dry sparkler, with bracing stony fruit, chalky minerality and zesty acids did a fantastic job to attack on the raw fat. Along with deep musky notes from Alba white truffle, everything melted down heavenly on the tongue, a moment more than enjoyable.

3. Champagne Geoffroy $40-$120

If big Champagne houses are about the precision with which they blend their cuvées from various vineyards and vintages for the house style, the beauty of grower Champagne lies in the reflection of the terroir. Grower Champagne is doubtlessly trendy these days. It is quite fascinating to learn about the histories and stories of the vigneron families.

4. Billecart Salmon $40-$180

Left to right: Extra Brut, Brut Rosé, Brut Sous Bois, Cuvée Louis ('06), Cuvée Elisabeth ('07), and Cuvée Nicolas Francois ('06). While each house has its unique style, Billecart-Salmon tends to be delicate, fresh and pure.

5. Dufour Bulles de Comptoir $46

Charles Dufour began working in the family business (Robert Dufour) in the mid-twenty-first century. No enrichment of must, alcoholic fermentation with only indigenous yeasts, no filtration or clarification of the sparkling wine bases. The aging is executed in wood and on the lees, in a spirit of respect for wine, and with the desire to facilitate breathing. The result are wines of great character, grit and taste voltage.

$50 - $100

Celebrate this special time of year with an exquisite bottle of Champagne!

1. Bollinger Rosé $59

My go to champagne this year during quarantine. It's not easy to focus on the positives all the time, but we all need to find things that make us happy and keep us going. For me - watching Planet Earth with a bottle of Bollinger Rosé helps me to pull myself together and rebalance.

2. Laherte Freres Les Vignes d'Autrefois 2014 $67

This is a bottle that powerfully shows what Pinot Meunier is capable of! Extremely balanced and complex, notes of stone fruits, dried herbs, flowers, and toasted almonds. I love its precision and finesse. Great for champagne lovers who are passionate about exploring and trying different styles! Also a special bottle for me as it was my "finisher champagne" after NYC Marathon - the best bottle to celebrate with!

3. Guy Charlemagne Mesnillésime Brut Grand Cru 'Le Mesnil-sur-Oger 2005 $72

This 2005 Mesnillésime Grand Cru is a jewel of the Charlemagne house - light golden color with creamy mousse, the nose shows fresh green apples and ginger, with hints of freshly baked brioche and flowers; palate has more zesty nectar and lemon flavors, as well as roasted almonds and gingerbread cookies. A prime example of the terroir, powerful and elegant the same time, well-structured and balanced by freshness - definitely one that needs to be on your holiday table!

4. Ayala Blanc de Blancs Brut 2008 $95

This Ayala 2008 Blanc de Blancs has a rich and full-bodied profile, a complex nose of rose, ginger, mushroom, apricot layered with brioche, brûlée, and mixed nuts, finishes with nice lemon curd and cheese flavors. Its vibrant acidity, elegant mousse, and great depth is perfect for a hot summer afternoon.

5. Champagne Mousse Fils 'Special Club' 2013 $99

A grower since 1750, Champagne Moussé sits in the village of Cuisles, in a valley perpendicular to the Vallee de la Marne. While Pinot Meunier often struggles to be taken seriously in Champagne, at Moussé, Pinot Meunier is celebrated. This bottle is 100% Meunier - fine and creamy texture, with a firm backbone of mouthwatering acidity. Structured, saline minerality.

Over $100

These Champagnes are the world’s top bubblies—the perfect gift for someone truly special!

1. Doyard Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 2008 $109

The Doyard family traces their roots in Champagne back to the 17th century. All of the wines undergo very long lees aging — a minimum of 48 months on all cuvées, lending a vinous quality to the wines that have become the envy of Vertus. Every single decision made in the vineyard and cellar are geared toward making the most expressive, terroir focused Champagne possible.

2. Champagne de Saint Gall Orpale Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru 2002 $113

The "Orpale" signature is only used for the great vintages, and 2002 is one of them. An elegant Champagne filled with wonderful toasty elements! It’s got some age, but still delightfully fresh. The scents take you back to its vineyard origins. Pure, restrained, generous, with notes of spiced brioche, fresh lemon, a bouquet of acacia blossoms that nicely echoed on the palate.

3. Pol Roger Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne 2008 $135

This 2008 blanc de blanc is expressive with a smoky and woody nose, delicate tangerine and poached apple. Creamy and lingering bubbles, the palate reveals a full-bodied texutre with aromas of fresh biscuits, mushrooms and a hint of spice and cheese, as well as a smooth and persistent finish. A well-balanced wonderful bottle makes it hard for one to stop sipping!

4. Champagne Jacques Selosse Grand Cru Extra Brut $230

Champagne Jacques Selosse is a highly regarded Champagne house. It is known for its Substance cuvée, and its use of a solera system dating back to 1986, a technique more commonly associated with Sherry.

5. Dom Perignon Rosé 1993 $492

There is a reason people believe Dom Perignon Rosé is one of the best in the world. A graceful selection displaying wild berries, explosive bouquet, and sexy aromas of a fresh fruit basket. The limited production makes it your go-to-wine for special occasions and this spectacular wine will easily make them memorable.

Other Sparklings

Looking to pop open some other Sparklings other than Champagne? Here are some of my favorites!

Chandon Etoile Brut & Rosé $50
Louis Pommery Rosé California $27
Juvé & Camps Brut Rosé Cava $17
Tawse Spark $26
Argyle Brut & Rosé $25
Garda DOC Sparkling wines $20

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