SPARKLING FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Which wine pairs with prawns?
Nothing says the holidays like sparkling wine, and if we have learned anything in 2020, sparkling wine is back in a way it has never been before.
It's becoming clear that all that celebrating that was going on in restaurants has moved home. Factor out restaurant markups, the 10 per cent liquor tax, and the five per cent GST on the wine list price, and that means big savings for consumers. Now that is something to celebrate.
The artisanal sparkling wine market is booming in B.C., but the competition is global, and it is tough. Experience and the ability to produce large amounts of sparkling wine makes the opposition highly competitive when it comes to price. Consumers need only decide what they like and how much they want to pay to find the right bubble for the right occasion.
Before we look at some of the key regions and providers of sparkling wine, look for our Champagne column later this month; here are some quick serving tips. Flutes are not necessary glassware for fizz; today, the cool kids drink it from a tulip-shaped white wine glass. Pour half an ounce into the first glass, rinse all the rest of the glasses with wine to remove any dust and wet the bowl to conserve the bubbles. Do not serve it too warm or too cold; 15-20 minutes in the refrigerator should work just fine.
Due to their mostly high acid content, all sparklers are better with food. Think simple bites such as smoked salmon on cream cheese, mushroom bruschetta, popcorn, cheese straws or a favourite sushi roll.
Here are our holiday sparkling wine favourites by country: BRITISH COLUMBIA: Your choices are growing daily in B.C. with the largest selections in SaveOn-food and B.C. Liquor Stores. Here are many of our local favourites: Unsworth Vineyards Sparkling Rosé Brut ($19.49), Gray Monk Odyssey White 2018 ($25.99), Blue Mountain Gold Label Brut ($27.90), Summerhill Pyramid Winery Cipes Brut ($27.99), Fitzpatrick Family Fitz Brut ($34.99), Meyer Family Vineyards ($34.88), Township 7 Polaris Seven Stars 2017 ($35.97), Haywire Vintage Bub 2013 ($38.99), Sperling Vineyards Brut 2011 ($38.99), Road 13 Sparkling Chenin Blanc 2015 ($39.99). FRANCE: The most affordable, quality non-champagne sparklers, or crémant, come from Burgundy, Limoux and the Loire. Wines we like; André et Mireille Tissot Crémant du Jura ($24.99), Louis Bouillot Perle Rare Crémant de Bourgogne ($26.99), De Chanceny Cremant de Loire Brut Rosé ($26.99).
GERMANY: German sekt is mostly carbonated in huge tanks, but the top wines over-deliver for the price, especially the Riesling-based bubbles. We like Henkell Trocken Dry Sekt ($14.99), Dr. Loosen Sparkling Riesling N/V ($17.99), Selbach- Oster Riesling Brut 2016 (32.97).
ITALY: Prosecco sales are slowing but still growing while other Italian regions continue to make inroads. All are better with small bites Italian style. Bottega Il Vino dei Poeti Prosecco Brut N/V ($17.99), Medici Ermete i Quercioli Lambrusco di Sorbara Secco N/V ($20), Sorelle Bronca Extra Dry Valdobiadene Prosecco Superiore N/V ($25), Bottega Gold Spumante Brut N/V ($25), Ferrari Brut Metodo Classico N/V ($33.99).
SOUTH AFRICA/AUSTRALIA: There is only one South African sparkler in B.C. Liquor Stores, but it is royalty: Graham Beck
Brut ($29.99). The Oz turkey wine is Majella Sparkling Coonawarra Shiraz ($38.99). SPAIN: There is an attractive nutty character to the dry sparkling Cavas of Spain with a whiff of fresh fruit. There are mostly dry and very appetizer-friendly. Wines we like: Codorníu Clásico Brut ($14.99), Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava ($16.99), Anna Spinato Prosecco Organic N/V, ($17.99), Villa Conchi Brut N/V ($17.99), Cune Brut ($23.99), Segura Viudas Heredad Brut Reserva ($33.99).