Some inspiration and recommendations for the end-of-year festivities. Or for some other occasion:
For Christmas and New Year, we recommend bubbles from all corners of the world. Why not for a change venture outside the safe territory of champagne? As a bonus, a few unusual grape varieties and a brand-new wine region.
All in a reasonable price range, below 30 euro. If you can’t find these wines then at least they might serve as inspiration:
Clos Henri Chapel Block Blanc de Noirs, 2016, Marlborough
New Zealand, ~25 euro
Clos Henri is an excellent estate in New Zealand, owned by the French Sancerre producer Henri Bourgeois. This sparkling is 100% pinot noir and made with the traditional method with a second fermentation in the bottle. The vineyard is planted with high density, 6000 vines per hectare, as is common in Sancerre but rarer in New Zealand. This way says Damien Yvon, the winemaker, every vine carries less but more concentrated grape bunches.
Costa & Pampa Extra Brut 2018, Trapiche, Chapadmalal, Buenos Aires
Argentina, ~18 euro
The name Costa & Pampa refers to the fact that the grapes come from the coast of Argentina, not far from Buenos Aires. The area is called Chapadmalal and was planted with vines very recently. Trapiche, who made this wine, was a pioneer. The grapes are chardonnay and pinot noir. The Atlantic climate is perfect for making fresh sparkling wines.
Izar-Leku Hondarrabi Zuri, 2016, Txakoli de Getaria, Basque Country
Spain, ~25 euro
The producer of this wine is called Artadi and is based in Rioja. The project in the Basque Country started in 2015. Artadi now has 3.75 hectares with the local Basque grape hondarrabi zuri from which they make this excellent sparkling wine.
Domaine La Croix Montjoie, Vézelay, Crémant de Bourgogne
France, ~18 euro
The 10-hectare family estate Domaine La Croix Montjoie is located in northern Burgundy, less than 50 kilometres south of Chablis. The grapes are 80% chardonnay and 20% pinot noir. Sophie and Matthieu Woillez founded the winery in 2009. Sofie is an agronomist, and Matthieu is an oenologist. The wine is aged for 18 months on the lees.
Raventós i Blanc de la Finca, Raventós i Blanc, 2016, Catalonia
Spain, ~20 euro
Pepe Raventós is the 21st generation of this old wine family dating back to the 15th century. He makes De la Finca with his oldest macabeu (30%), xarel·lo (60%) and parellada (10%). They were planted in 1964 in a vineyard called Vinya dels Fòssils. After spending 30 months on the lees, the wine is disgorged with no added dosage. Raventós i Blanc is organically farmed.
Domaine André et Michel Guillaume Quenard, Crémant de Savoie Extra Brut, Savoie
France, ~18 euro
This sparkling wine comes from the small Alpine region of Savoie, which in 2014 became the eighth French crémant region. The grape is Savoie’s most cultivated, the local white jacquère, which gives a scent of citrus and acacia and always with high acidity. Michel’s son Guillaume has now taken over and puts his personal stamp on the wines.
Loimer Extra Brut Reserve, Niederösterreich
Austria, ~20 euro
We have an exciting grape blend in this Austrian bubbly from biodynamic Weingut Loimer in Kamptal: chardonnay, grüner veltliner, pinot noir and zweigelt. Fred Loimer has recently resumed the estate’s tradition of making high-quality sparkling wines. This extra brut gets 18 months on its lees before the disgorging. Dosage is only 2 grams of sugar.
Project Sparkling Chenin Blanc Voyager Estate, 2019, Margaret River
Western Australia, ~20 euro
With its high acidity chenin blanc is an excellent variety for sparkling wines. Voyager Estate is situated in the cool Margaret River in southwestern Australia and was planted in 1978. For this sparkling wine, the winemaker uses his oldest chenin vineyards. The wine spends 6 months on its lees before disgorging.
