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Champagne altertnatives for a festive and fun season

by CHRISSY EDROZO

You may have noticed that it’s difficult to find your favorite brand of bubbly, if you are a Champagne lover, as I am. During the pandemic, Champagne sales increased dramatically. With restaurants closed, consumers were buying more bottles than in years past, and winemakers could not keep up with the demand.

Champagne supply chain issues continue to be a challenge. This shortage continues due to several factors (see “Where’s my Champagne?”).

The good news is that there are other sparkling wines you can choose from. My favorite is crémant. Unlike Champagne, this sparkler can be produced outside the Champagne region of France; it’s made in the Loire Valley, Alsace and the Burgundy regions, and its taste profile is the closest to that of Champagne. Crémants are high in acidity, with flavors of citrus, stone fruit and toasty notes. You can also try cava, a sparkling wine from Spain. Cava is dry, with medium acidity and notes of citrus, apple and some nuttiness, which makes it distinctive.

Another popular option is prosecco, which is produced in northeast Italy. Prosecco’s taste profile is different from Champagne. It is generally fruitier, with medium acidity and notes of green apple and melon. Similar to Champagne, prosecco can be enjoyed by itself, used for mimosas or mixed to make an Aperol spritz, a classic Italian bitter apéritif.

Sparkling wines are also produced in the U.S. Typically, they come from cooler regions in California. Los Carneros, which straddles Napa and Sonoma counties, is the most common. These sparkling wines are typically dry, with medium to high acidity. You’ll often note flavors of citrus, white flower, apple and vanilla.

If you’re struggling to find your favorite brand of Champagne, you can always consider one of these alternatives. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find your new favorite bottle of bubbly.

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