By admin
The holiday season is jam-packed with parties, and along with parties comes the dilemma of what kind of wine to serve (or bring, or drink). Rosé and white wine are perfect in the summer, but not really what you’re looking for when it comes to winter get-togethers. Red wine is a solid, cozy choice. But, if you want to bring something a little more festive and fun than a bottle of Merlot, sparkling wine is definitely the answer. (And, if it’s New Year’s Eve we’re talking about, bubbly is the only way to go.) It can be sweet, dry (not sweet), or somewhere in the middle, so there’s a bottle out there to suit every taste. Plus, who doesn’t smile when they pop the a bottle?
The best part? Sparkling wine doesn’t have to be expensive—there are plenty of bottles out there that cost under $15. First, we chatted with master sommeliers to get their take on these inexpensive options. “Delicious wines from other parts of the world can [often] be found on the middle and lower shelves of the sparkling section of your favorite store,” Belinda Chang, James Beard Award-winning sommelier, tells SELF. “Don’t be discouraged just because they are inexpensive, as this doesn’t mean they are bad. Inexpensive sparkling wines come from great grape-growing regions that aren’t quite as exclusive as places like Champagne.” Northern Italian Proseccos, Spanish Cavas, and New Zealand varieties are some of Chang’s favorite good-value sparkling wines.
SELF staffers and a few other editors (we share an office floor with Bon Appetit, Wired, and Epicurious) stopped by the kitchen the other day to taste and rank 19 bottles of sparkling wine. We tasted sparkling red, white, and rosé-based wines, and chose only the ones that we liked enough to actually buy and drink again. Many of us preferred dry wines, and the majority of the bottles on this list are balanced and fresh. That said, there are also a few sweet wine recommendations, if that’s you’re thing!
Without further ado, here are our favorite 12 sparkling wines under $15, listed by price from low to high.
(And, remember to always drink in moderation—that’s no more than one drink a day for women or two drinks a day for men, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.)
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Cupcake Vineyards1 Cupcake Vineyards Prosecco, $11
The white peach, honeydew, and grapefruit aromas make this a refreshing and dry take on Prosecco. and a few testers mentioned that this would go well with salty cheese. It comes in a standard 750 mL bottle, but you can also get mini 187mL bottles to pass out at a party.
Buy it here: $11, wine.com
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90 Cellars2 90+ Cellars Moscato D’Asti, Lot 134, $12
This crisp, balanced, and tastefully sweet Moscato is great for a celebration. “It’s a subtly sweet, [and] playfully effervescent option that is crisp and balanced,” Brett Vankoski, V.P. & Wine Director for 90+ Cellars, tells SELF. Testers “loved the fruit taste.”
Buy it here: $12, store.ninetypluscellars.com
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Zonin3 Zonin Prosecco, $12.99
Testers thought this Prosecco was “strong, dry, good, and a little spicy.” It’s a “laid-back bubbly, full of frothy lemon citrus and fresh off the branch crisp green apple,” Heather Gordon, sommelier and wine blogger at Blanc de Blonde, tells SELF.
Buy it here: $12.99, wine.com
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Domaine Ste. Michelle4 Domain Ste. Michelle Brut, $13
“Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut is the perfect, balanced brut with bright citrus notes. Its persistent bubbles provide that fun and lasting fizz you want from a sparkling wine,” Rob Bigelow, master sommelier, tells SELF. Testers found this Brut to be “light and bubbly,” and wanted to pair it with fruit and cheese.
Buy it here: $13, ste-michelle.com
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5 Domaine Ste. Michelle Extra Dry, $13
This light, extra dry sparkling wine has flavors of apples and pears, Bigelow says. Some of our testers found it to be totally dry, while others picked up on a little bit of sweetness. Either way, most people loved it.
Buy it here: $13, ste-michelle.com
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Domain Ste. Michelle6 Domain Ste. Michelle Brut Rosé, $13
This one was top finisher among our taste testers. “I loved the color of it,” said one tester, while another felt it had “enough flavor, yet was still dry.” The ‘lightly sweet’ taste comes from the favors of ripe strawberry, Bigelow says. Tasters wanted to pair this with cheese since it was so smooth.
Buy it here: $13, ste-michelle.com
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Anna de Codorniu7 Anna de Codorníu Brut Rosé, $13
“A more sophisticated version of a frozen strawberry lemonade,” is how Gordon describes this wine. “The lush, tangy fresh smashed strawberry notes work perfectly alongside the poppy citrus that laces these bubbles. So, forget summer, this is the kind of rosé that can warm your spirit all winter.” Tasters agreed that this rosé “easy to drink.”
Buy it here: $13.49, totalwine.com
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Ruffino8 Ruffino Sparkling Rosé, $13
Think fruity and light for this sparkling rosé. “[It’s fresh and fragrant with notes of strawberry and slight hints of rose petals,” Beppe D’Andrea, sommelier, tells SELF. “On the palate this wine has elegant bubbles and refreshing acidity, offering alluring flavors of delicate red berries and white fruits that linger through the finish. Even if you don’t like rosé, we recommend you give this a shot. “I’m not a rosé person, but this is great. [It has] a nice buttery finish,” one tester said.
Buy it here: $13.49, totalwine.com
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Cupcake Vineyards9 Cupcake Vineyards Red Sparkling, $14
This was another favorite of our testers. With flavors of black cherry and florals, it’s the dash of nutmeg that gives the sparkling red a bit of an edge. While “definitely sweet,” it was still a favorite for “dessert wine” or to pair with chocolate taste. One tester even went so far to say it reminded them of port.
Buy it here: $14, shop.twgwines.com
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Martini and Rossi10 Martini and Rossi Rosé, $15
Martini and Rossi are known for their vermouth, but they’ve also got this “pleasantly surprising” sparkling wine. “The rosé perfectly fits the bill for a ‘get a chilled glass into every guest’s hand right as they walk into the door and get this party started!’ aperitif for any soirée,” Chang says. “This sparkling wine will take your party through fancy chips and dips and even roasted turkey, pork or veal dishes.”
Buy it here: $14.49, totalwine.com
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14 Hands11 14 Hands Brut Rosé, $15
Testers described this as “simple; good for something you’ll just drink all night.” So, consider serving it at any party that’ll last for hours and hours. “Behind its beautiful coral color, this sparkling rosé is the perfect balance of tart and sweet and has a finish of fresh berries. All that’s left is to pop and savor this refreshing rosé,” Bigelow says.
__Buy it here: __ $15, 14hands.com
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14 Hands12 14 Hands Brut, $15
“Delicate and crisp, 14 Hands Brut makes a perfect match for a variety of appetizers and entrees,” Bigelow says. “With hints of apples and citrus, this sparkler is sure to satisfy.” Testers liked how the wine was tasty but not too sweet, and said that it would pair perfectly with hard cheese and crackers.
Buy it here: $15, 14hands.com
