Champagne and sparkling wine are for celebrations like the festive holidays. They bring the merry in the Merry Christmas and why the holidays are festive. Champagne and sparkling wine are ideal for this season because of their incredible crisp taste. Also, the iconic pop of the bottle and the bubbles signals that there is cause for celebration. You can enjoy a glass as early as Christmas breakfast with eggs and smoked salmon and continue enjoying it with lunch and dinner. A glass of sparkling wine celebrates your family’s arrival and lets everyone know they are there to enjoy themselves.
The choice of the right wine can be tricky; to ease the decision-making process, the following is a list of the best sweet champagnes for the festive season.
Andre Champagne
Andre Champagnes come in varieties of delicious sparkling choices. Since 1966, they originated from California, and the wine comes in bottles or cans. The wine cans help carry your wine party wherever you go and are popular during the festive season. Andre Champagne sparkling wine fits any occasion, from brunches, dinners to the famous ugly sweater parties during Christmas. Try the classic Andre Brut, their driest white wine with some sweetness; the California grapes give your palate hints of lemon and pear. Its versatility is refreshing and bursts with fruit notes, a classic wine for your toasts.
Another dry treat is their Brut Rosé; it has various delicious fruity scents that stand out; citrus, apple, strawberry, pear, and raspberry with a clean, crisp finish. The Rosé dry wine has hints of cranberry and raspberry. Andre wines are affordable too, at $5 without compromising quality and taste. The simplicity of the taste makes it perfect for mimosas.
Armani Prosecco
This sparkling wine is a great festive treat and costs $18; it’s affordable but gives a rich experience. Glera grapes make the Prosecco wine, and the harvest is in the perfect climate conditions of the Alpine. This Italian sparkling wine is slightly sweet and dry with refreshing apple and lemon zest hints. The ripeness of the fruit and the acidity of the grape balance perfectly and give depth. The 11% alcohol is elegant with the taste of apricot and mineral; Armani Prosecco will go well with your Christmas appetizers and make fun sparkly mimosas.
The wine also pairs with lake and sea fish and vegetarian cuisine. With such affordability, the wine is a great value. Another irresistible Armani is the Prosecco Rosé, loved by ladies and enthusiasts who know their wine. It combines 90% Glera grapes and 10% Pinot Noir for freshness and comes in a beautiful rosé color. A sip of the rosé sparkling wine hints at lemon, oranges, cherry, and strawberry. The body is medium with excellent acidity for balance; it has cinnamon and cherry scents and a crisp finish.
The delicate and fresh fruit flavors are versatile and great with appetizers. You can pair Prosecco Rosé with various dishes for Christmas dinners, such as white meat, light pasta, stir-fried mushrooms, fish soups, and vegetable risotto. Serve it at a temperature between 6-8°C.
Hallmark Channel Jingle
Hallmark sends a festive mood from the channel to its Cabernet Sauvignon wine. Famously known for classic holiday movies, the channel is where many enjoy watching movies that spark the festive spirit. You can now enjoy the festivity at your Christmas dinner table with their wine. Hallmark first launched Jingle Carbernet Sauvignon in 2018. It has a rich ruby color with scents of cherry, dark chocolate, and a hint of holiday spice. The medium-bodied wine is warm, rich and guarantees to bring the merry to the festivity. It is dry and tastes blackberry, raisin, and allspice to warm your heart.
It ends in a dry, crisp finish. The 100% Carbernet is made in California and has 14% alcohol content; it costs around $14. Pair this affordable yet delicious wine with your favorite Hallmark movies and complete with the box of tissues. The wine is a great Christmas gift for Hallmark lovers. Hallmark’s Joy Sauvignon Blanc is a great option if you prefer white wine and want the same experience. The refreshing white Sauvignon smells of ripe pineapple, peach, and tropical fruits.
Usual Large Glass of Red
This 2019 wine comes in an adorable minimalist bottle that serves as a glass of wine. Usual red wine saves you the trouble of serving wine at your Christmas party; it is known for its minimal approach, and the wine has no sugar or additives. With zero grams of sugar, the wine is natural with nothing to affect the taste. There is minimal intervention as the grapes age in the barrels to preserve the wine’s true nature. The bottles are conical-shaped and hold 6 ounces, enough to get you started in the festive mood.
The vintage wine aged in oak has a fruity burst of blackberry and raspberry and ends with a hint of fennel. The delicious wine comes from grapes slowly ripened in the Redwood Valley in California. The single-serving wine costs $8 and with the lack of additives prevents the terrible hangovers experience with most wines. The Large Glass of Brut is an excellent white wine option. The bubbly dry wine smells of lemon and elderflower. It is light and served chilled from the bottle.
Waitrose Blanc de Noirs Brut
This French dry wine has fruity flavors; at 12% alcohol, a bottle costs $20. Waitrose Blanc is considered one of the best Blanc de Noir made from 100% Pinot Noir. The wine house grows its grapes in the south of Champagne, France. The flavor is fruity with a light hint of biscuit and no sharp aftertaste; it has black cherry, apple, and sweet spice scents. Waitrose Blanc de Noirs Brut is an award winner great for toasts and cocktails and pairs with tempura fish and chips.
Lastly
Christmas and chilled sparkling wine go hand in hand. The wine list above is budget-friendly; you can get them at supermarkets and online shops. There are award-winning wines that taste great and are affordable. Champagnes pair with seafood, canapés, smoked salmon, chicken, and tempura. Serve the wines chilled in your fancy champagne flute to show off the bubbly character. If you plan to savor your opened wine and keep the effervescence, purchase a wine bottle stopper to preserve the freshness. Above all else, have a bottle, or two, for a more merry Christmas night.
