Today there’s a bounty of delicious bubbles and sparkling wines for Christmas. This is the season to share good times with friends and family, and what better way to do that than with a glass of fizz - cheers to that. By wine writer Joelle Thomson.
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Here they are if you are looking for the perfect bottle of bubbles to serve with your traditional turkey roast, a seafood banquet, or a casual BBQ. Here are some of our favourites: excellent examples of their variety and easy to find.
PIPER HEIDSIECK CHAMPAGNE Cuvée Brut $60.
Steeped in history, this is one of the oldest and most respected champagne houses. With four million bottles of this delicious Cuvee Brut produced yearly, it has many die-hard fans, including us. We think this prestige cuvée brut is the gem in the Piper-Heidsieck crown.
It’s safe to say you can not go wrong with a bottle of chilled Piper Heidsieck Cuvée (meaning the first-pressed and best juice) on your festive table. This Champagne has a touch of spic with fruity flavour thanks to crisp apple and zesty pear flavours. Precisely what you would expect from the most awarded Champagne House of the Century. Yes, a bottle of Piper-Heidseck is ideal for Christmas day, but we think this delicious Champagne should be shared any time during your summer holiday.
Graze with: a platter of hard cheese and salty crackers.
Serve with: your traditional roast turkey and ham Christmas lunch or dinner with all the trimmings.
Rating: 19/20
Bollinger Special Cuvee NV, $99.
A glass of Bolli, ladies? This Champagne screams fashion, and as a premium Champagne house, its flagship wine (the one we most often see on wine lists and in retail) is called Special Cuvee.
This is a big bubbly. The toasty flavours and fresh citrus aromas are supported by a whole body and three long years of ageing before release. The savoury mushroom aromas of this excellent champagne are addictive.
Graze with: mushroom paté with sourdough.
Serve with: roast chicken or turkey with fresh summer salads.
Rating: 19/20
Quartz Reef Brut NV, $40.
Homegrown, this is Central Otago’s best sparkling wine, making up 40 per cent of the production of Quartz Reef winery every year. It’s typically a blend of approximately 70 per cent Pinot Noir and 30 per cent Chardonnay, making it a similar style to Bollinger, albeit from a very different part of the world.
Rich, savoury mushroom aromas combine with creamy citrus flavours in this complex, incredibly well-priced bubbly made by Rudi Bauer and his winemaking team.
Graze with: fresh salmon sashimi.
Serve with: warm roast vegetable salad with aioli.
Rating: 18.5/20
Villa Sandi Prosecco, $26.
Prosecco is the biggest-selling sparkling wine in the world, and Villa Sandi is a significant producer making high-quality bubbles in the Veneto region of northeast Italy, which also has some of the best beauty spas in the world.
This affordable festive fizz has a deep concentration of lemon juice and creamy, nutty flavours. If you close your eyes, you could be sipping this chilled in the warmth of summer in one of our favourite and unforgettable European countries.
Graze with: shellfish with citrus dressing.
Serve with: goat’s cheese soufflé.
Rating: 18.5/20
At home with food stylist Fiona Hugues.