“I DRINK IT when I’m happy, and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company, I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry, and I drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it…unless I’m thirsty.” - Madame Lily Bollinger, reflecting on Champagne.
June is a month for weddings, anniversaries, and graduations – and a great month for Champagne! The warm weather makes one want to drink something light, and bubbly, refreshing, and delicious. If you expect to be purchasing Champagne for a festive occasion, Frugal MacDoogal has some advice and some deals too good to pass up.
First, some words of guidance. The word “Champagne” now refers only to those wines that originate in the Champagne region in France. That doesn’t seem totally fair, since so many French winemakers now have large California holdings, but wines made in places other than Champagne are designated as “Sparkling”. Second, the driest Champagne, or Sparkling, is “Extra Brut”. The next driest is “Brut”. “Extra Dry” is actually “off-dry”; “Sec” is lightly sweet; and “Demi-Sec” tends toward sweet. “Blanc de Blanc” on a label means that the wine is made entirely from Chardonnay grapes. “Blanc de Noir” means that the wine is made from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes. Both of the latter have black skins, but produce white juice when pressed and drained. If the juice is allowed to remain in contact with the skins of dark grapes for a short time, the result will be a “Rose”. There is a taste difference among these designations, so consult one of the wine guys to select the choice that is right for you and your occasion.
If you want the best Sparkling wine at the lowest price, our pick for several years has been Piper Sonoma Select Cuvee Brut (California). The highly regarded Wall Street Journal wine writers have designated this as the “Best Value” Sparkling wine. It goes for $16.99 per bottle, with a 10% case discount. This means that you can buy a case of this for about $15.30 per bottle plus tax. The wine guys not only sell wines at great prices, they have years of experience with special occasions and can help you decide how much wine you need. Remember that the Champagne or Sparkling is usually brought out only for toasts at weddings. The Piper Sonoma is a very decent and drinkable wine (we served it at our own daughter’s wedding).
If you want to go upscale a bit, Frugal’s has one of the best deals in years. As a result of a special purchase, and as long as supplies last, Piper Heidsieck Champagne Brut, which is usually priced at $38.99, is reduced to only $29.99 per bottle. In addition, the 10% case discount still applies! On top of that, Wine Spectator has given this a “91” rating! This means you can buy a case of top quality French Champagne for about $27.per bottle, plus taxes—a full $12 off the regular price. If you pride yourself on knowing an opportunity when you see one, and want to save real money, while impressing your guests, you will act on this right away! A word to the wise should be sufficient.
Our recommendation for a medium-end Champagne is Bollinger Special Cuvee. This is the French Champagne favored by James Bond in all those memorable movies. One good thing about Champagne—it shouldn’t be shaken or stirred! The Bollinger is rated “93” and goes for $55.99 per bottle. Impressive for a graduation, anniversary, or any special event.
We don’t want to overlook Schramsberg, which has been one of the top winemakers in America for many years. They offer three vintage 2003 Sparkling wines: a Blanc de Blanc at $32.99; a Blanc de Noir at $32.99; and a Cremant Demi-Sec (a bit sweeter and less effervescent), at $35.99. If you are having a big event, buy a case of each. One of them, at least, is sure to please the most discerning celebrants.
We think you should also consider another choice. Nothing is more festive than a Sparkling Rose. It has more body on the palate, and shows beautifully in the glass. Our choice is Mirabelle Brut Rose at $24.99 (also made by Schramsberg). This is beautiful, very dry, and will please your guests!
If you are on a limited budget, we suggest the Italian Sparkling known as Prosecco. This is a delightful wine with a lot of tradition behind it. The Zardetto is on sale for $12.99 per bottle, and the Zefiro, at $14.99 per bottle, was recently listed as one of the “Top 100” wines. These are frothy and drinkable and render value far beyond their modest prices. Don’t forget that the 10% case discount applies to 12 bottles of any wine over $10 per bottle.
Finally, we think it is appropriate to offer a non-alcoholic Sparkling wine for those guests who, for whatever reason, prefer to avoid alcohol. Offering this additional choice will set you apart as a thoughtful host who is sensitive to the needs of all his or her guests! We recommend Ariel Brut Cuvee non-alcoholic wine at $7.49. This is bubbly and good, but it is your thoughtfulness that will be remembered. Note: The label gives the alcohol content at 0.5%, which is roughly the same as for cough syrup.
Most Champagne newsletters are sent out only in November or December, and that is a shame, because a lot of very special occasions occur this time of year. In the final analysis, we are talking about making memories. Many of the June occasions are celebrations that come but once in a lifetime. Such occasions are too important to be spoiled by the wrong wine. Let the wine guys make your special time the very best that it can possibly be—at a price you can afford.
Photo credits: Jerry Hall | 2BSEEN.
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