Dec 30thEnjoy the Bubbly

New Year’s Eve makes many people think of drinking bubbly at midnight to celebrate the possibilities of that new year beginning and say goodbye to the year that is ending. Midnight this year may be one of the most momentous in recent history as 2020 has been a year like no other we can recall. 2021 gives us all hope for better times. So bring on the bubbly!

Champagne is the bubbly that comes to mind, but most people have never really had Champagne. For most people this is just the generic name they give to bubbly wine. The only true Champagne comes from the Champagne  Appellations in France with requirements on its making. But sparkling bubbly wines are made almost everywhere that wine is made using Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. Some countries have put their own customization on this popular celebratory wine.

Germany’s sparkling wine, Sekt, is not very well-known outside of the country. Until recently it wasn’t able to be purchased except in Germany. The uniqueness of Sekt is that it is made with Riesling grapes. Spanish sparkling wine, Cava, is made with Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel·lo grapes, though also sometimes with Chardonnay or Pinot Noir. Probably most wine lovers are more familiar with Prosecco, a sparkling wine made in Italy with the Glera grape. Prosecco has been around for centuries and in much of the twentieth century was a rather sweet wine. Today, Prosecco is generally a crisp aromatic wine. It is sometimes made with Perera, Bianchetta, and Verdiso, and the better known wine grapes Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir.

New World wineries in the Americas, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa are also contributing excellent sparkling wines. Names like Brut and Blanc de Blancs are on labels from California, Washington, and Oregon. Kentucky wineries Smith-Berry Vineyards and Winery and Talon Vineyards and Winery make sparkling Moscato wines that are sweeter choices.

My personal favorites tend to be Prosecco. La Vostra Prosecco, a crisp Italian sparkling wine is easier to find than some and is excellent.

Whatever your choice, raise a glass at midnight tomorrow, say goodbye to 2020 and welcome 2021. “To a better year!”