Business & Tech
Wine and Champagne for New Year's Eve
Recommendations for wines and Champagne to welcome 2012.
Walking into a wine store can be overwhelming for someone who doesn't know much about wine. But most shops in town offer expert advice to guide novices, like myself, through the selection process.
Steve Small of not only makes recommendations for wine pairings for your holiday meals, but he's a wealth of information about winemaking, including the differences between regions and the wineries themselves.
When it comes to Champagne, a sparkling wine only produced in the Champagne region of France, Small said a good bottle is priced at about $50.
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If you want to try a more reasonable vintage, try a sparkling wine produced in California. Prosecco, Italian sparkling wine, is also a popular choice.
"Prosecco is a grape that is primarily grown in northern Italy," said Small. "It's a little bit fruitier than a Brut [sparkling wine or Champagne] and much less expensive."
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Between the dry Brut vintages and the fruity Prosecco is the Spanish Cava.
"Casas del Mar is a little dryer than Prosecco," said Small.
And for those who are planning a special dinner, there are also some recommendations for white and red wines. Whether you're serving up lobster or steak, finding the right wine pairing is easy, as long as you ask. Here are some suggestions from two local wine shops, as well as my wine-lover brother, who has never steered me wrong when it comes to wine.
Yankee Discount Wine and Liquor
Champagne: Veuve Clicquot, $54.99
California Sparkling wine: Roederer Estate Brut, $24.99
Prosecco: Mionetto, $16.99
Spanish Cava: Casas del Mar, $10.99
Red wine: Flying Horse, Cabernet Sauvignon, $29.99
White wine: Rombauer, Chardonnay, $34.99
California sparkling wine: Varichon & Clerc, $13.99
Prosecco: Neirano, $11.99
Red wine: Entwine, Cabernet Sauvignon, $11.99
White wine: Bogle, Sauvignon Blanc, $10.99
Family Recommendations
Champagne: Nicolas Feuillatte NV
Sparkling wine: Gloria Ferrer (California); Argyle Brut (Oregon)
Spanish Cava: Any producer - this is always a good value for sparkling wine.
Red wine: Acustic Cellar Montsant (Spanish); 2009 Bodegas Volver La Mancha (Spanish)
White wine: 2009 or 2010 Bodegas La Cana Albarino
What are your favorites? Let us know in the comments.
