A deliciously sweet and bubbly Bulk Buy, we review the new Kirkland Signature Moscato d'Asti. New Kirkland Signature wine alert! And this one is for the sweet wine lovers. … [Read more...]
The Best Sparkling Wine
Sparkling wine comes in many different varieties and forms - from red wines like Brachetto and Lambrusco - to all the different forms of rosé and white sparklers - Spanish Cava; Italian Asti, Franciacorta and Prosecco; French Cremant and Champagne; and everything in-between. The one thing all these varieties have in common is, of course, those delicious bubbles.
French Champagne is probably the most recognizable of the bunch but it's also the most expensive. Many other wines are made using the same method, "methode champenoise" - where secondary fermentation happens in the bottle versus in large tanks like Prosecco, and offer great value, they just carry a different name.
Only wines made in Champagne, France can carry the Champagne name (with the exception of an old loophole that allows a few California producers to label their wines as "California Champagne", much to the chagrin of the French).
Click here to get a printable shopping list of the best sparkling wine!
Sparkling wine is a tremendous pairing with salty and fatty foods like many of our favorite appetizers and even potato chips. There are also quite a wide range of sweetness levels in sparkling wine with names that are a bit confusing.
The driest is called "Brut Nature" or "Brut Zero" and has less than 3 g/L of residual sugar. This is followed by "Extra Brut" (0-6 g/L of residual sugar), then "Brut" (<12 g/L), then "Extra-Dry" (which is actually slightly sweet at 12-17 g/L of residual sugar), "Sec" (17-32 g/L), "Demi-Sec" (32-50 g/L) and finally the sweetest level "Doux" (>50 g/L of residual sugar).
With so many different styles and sweetness levels, not to mention all the different grape varieties used, sparkling wine offers a whole world to explore!
Keep reading for our picks of the best sparkling wine under $20!
Photo Credit: Romolo Tavani/Shutterstock.com
Lini 910 Labrusca Rosso - Get your Lambrusco On
Produced since 1910, we review a classic, dry example of the sparkling red wine Lambrusco, the Lini 910 Labrusca Rosso. 85% Salamino and 15% Ancellotta red sparkling wine from Emilia-Romagna, Italy. … [Read more...]
Kirkland Signature Champagne Brut - An Affordable Luxury
Costco delivers yet again with this authentic (grand cru) Champagne at an unheard of price, the Kirkland Signature Champagne Brut. A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier sparkling wine from the grand cru village of Verzenay in the Champagne region of France. … [Read more...]
INSIDER DEAL! Bulk Buy Bubbles From Gruet Winery
THIS LIMITED TIME OFFER IS NOW EXPIRED! Sign up below to make sure you get the next one. Learn more about our winery direct INSIDER DEALS here. As good as Champagne at a fraction of the price! Today we're featuring sparkling wine from the American off-shoot of a prestigious … [Read more...]
Kirkland Signature Asolo Prosecco - $7 of Fun
A deliciously affordable bubbly bottle from Costco, the Kirkland Signature Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG. Prosecco sparkling wine made with the Glera grape from Asolo, Veneto, Italy. … [Read more...]
INSIDER DEAL! 92-Point Bubbles For $12 A Bottle
THIS LIMITED TIME OFFER IS NOW EXPIRED! Sign up below to make sure you get the next one. Learn more about our winery direct INSIDER DEALS here. Bodega Cruzat, one of the premier sparkling wine producers in Argentina, is back with a new Insider Deal on their Cruzat Premier … [Read more...]
Lucien Albrecht Crémant d'Alsace Brut Rosé - Strawberry Fields Forever
Bubbly makes everything better, especially if it's the Lucien Albrecht Crémant d'Alsace Brut Rosé. 100% Pinot Noir Rosé from Alsace, France. This sparkling wine is made in the methode traditionnelle (the same as Champagne) where the wine undergoes a secondary fermentation … [Read more...]
Faire La Fete Brut - Crisp and Tasty
Pair it with salty snacks and a good football game! A tasty sparkling wine at a great Costco price, the Faire La Fete Brut. Sparkling wine made from 60% Chardonnay, 25% Chenin Blanc, 15% Pinot Noir from Limoux, France. … [Read more...]
Mumm Napa Blanc de Blancs - Quite Quaffable
A highly recommended sparkling wine, the Mumm Napa Blanc de Blancs. 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Gris sparkling wine from Napa Valley, California. The wine is made using the méthode champenoise like Champagne where the secondary fermentation that creates the bubbles … [Read more...]
Member's Mark Asolo Prosecco - Budget Bubbly
Sam's Club delivers a nicely priced sparkler, the Member's Mark Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOGC. Prosecco made from 85% Glera and 15% Blanchetta, Perera and Boschera (indigenous white varieties) from Asolo, Veneto, Italy. … [Read more...]
Kirkland Signature Prosecco Rosé - A Home Run?
Checking out the new Kirkland Signature Prosecco Rosé DOC bottling from Costco and whether it lives up to the high standard of the Asolo Prosecco. Extra Dry Prosecco rosé sparkling wine made with the Glera grape and 10-15% Pinot Noir from Veneto, Italy. … [Read more...]
INSIDER DEAL! Cruzat Rosé Brut - Bulk Buy Bubbles
THIS LIMITED TIME OFFER IS NOW EXPIRED! Sign up below to make sure you get the next one. Learn more about our winery direct INSIDER DEALS here. 91-93 point sparkling (traditional method) rosé from high altitude vines. Today's Bulk Buy Insider Deal is the Cruzat Rosé Brut. … [Read more...]
Vilarnau Brut Reserva Cava - Pleasant All Around
A crisp and tasty Cava, the Vilarnau Brut Reserva Cava. Sparkling wine made from 50% Macabeo, 35% Parellada and 15% Chardonnay from Sant Sadurni d'Anoia in the Cava DO of Spain. The wine is aged over 15 months in the bottle where the secondary fermentation that creates the … [Read more...]
Member's Mark Charles Montaine Champagne Brut – Bargain Bubbly
Real Champagne under $20. Starting off our reviews of Sam's Club wines with a bang, the Member's Mark Charles Montaine Champagne Brut. A sparkling blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay from Champagne, France. … [Read more...]
Dr. L Sparkling Riesling - Crisp and Vibrant
A lovely sparkler from Germany, the Dr. L Sparkling Riesling. 100% Riesling sparkling wine from Mosel, Germany. The wine is made in the Charmat method where the secondary fermentation that produces the bubbles happens in large pressurized tanks. It has 18.8 g/L of residual … [Read more...]
La Vieille Ferme Reserve Brut - Budget Bubbly
The crisp, bright and tasty La Vieille Ferme Reserve Brut sparkling wine. 90% Chardonnay and 10% Ugni Blanc sparkling wine from France. The secondary fermentation that creates the bubbles happens in the bottle, like Champagne. … [Read more...]
Villa Wolf Sparkling Pinot Noir Rosé - Mouthwatering
The crisp and refreshing Villa Wolf Sparkling Pinot Noir Rosé from Germany. Pinot Noir Sparkling Rosé from Pfalz, Germany. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and uses the Charmat method with the secondary fermentation that creates the bubbles happening in large … [Read more...]
Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Rosé - Clean and Tasty
A solid sparkler made from organically grown grapes, the non-vintage Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Rosé. 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay (both organically grown) Sparkling Rosé from high elevation estate vineyards in Alto Gualtallary, Tupungato, Uco Valley, Mendoza, … [Read more...]
INSIDER DEAL! Aimery 1531 Cremant de Limoux Brut
THIS LIMITED TIME OFFER IS NOW EXPIRED! Sign up below to make sure you get the next one. Learn more about our winery direct INSIDER DEALS here. Save $67 on this fresh, crisp and tasty sparkler with multiple 90 point ratings, the Aimery 1531 Cremant de Limoux Brut. The … [Read more...]
Vina Laguna Perla Rosé Brut – Very Refreshing
A crisp and highly quaffable find from Croatia, the Vina Laguna Perla Rosé Brut. A sparkling rosé wine made from 100% Teran in Istria, Croatia. … [Read more...]
Acquesi Asti DOCG - Irresistible
Super sweet sparkling Moscato from Piedmont, the Acquesi Asti DOCG. 100% Moscato sparkling wine from Monferrato, Piedmont, Italy. The wine is made in the Martinotti Method (also known as the tank method) similar to Prosecco. It has 95 g/L of residual sugar and is also … [Read more...]
Mionetto Prestige Organic Prosecco Extra Dry - Naturally Tasty
A perfectly tasty, basic Prosecco at a reasonable price, the Mionetto Prestige Organic Prosecco Extra Dry. This Prosecco sparkling wine is made from 100% organically grown Glera from Veneto, Italy. It has 14-17 g/L of residual sugar. … [Read more...]
INSIDER DEAL! Jean Babou Elegance Blanquette de Limoux Brut
THIS LIMITED TIME OFFER IS NOW EXPIRED! Sign up below to make sure you get the next one. Learn more about our winery direct INSIDER DEALS here. A solid little sparkler 50% off for 1 day, the Jean Babou Elegance Blanquette de Limoux Brut. One for the bubbly lovers today! … [Read more...]
Mumm Napa Brut Prestige - Classic Classy Bubbles
And tasty too! A solid sparkler, the Mumm Napa Brut Prestige. 45% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris from Napa Valley, California. The wine is made in the traditional method and aged for 18 months. It has 11 g/L of residual sugar. … [Read more...]
Breathless Blanc de Noirs – Scrumptious
Absolutely delicious sparkling wine, the Breathless Blanc de Noirs. 93% Pinot Noir and 7% Pinot Meunier sparkling wine from Sonoma County, California. It is made in the traditional method (methode champenoise) where secondary fermentation happens in the bottle. The wine … [Read more...]
SR262 Sparkling Rosé – The Road To Refreshment
Crisp, bubbly and lip-smackingly good, the SR262 Sparkling Rosé. A sparkling rosé made from 100% Syrah from the Buckshot vineyard in the Columbia Valley of Washington State. … [Read more...]