The Second Glass

Champagne may be the most famous sparkling wine in the world, but other wine regions make some excellent bubbles without the high price tag. Italy has been crafting spumantes (literally, sparkling wines) since before the Romans arrived. They’ve had a lot of practice, and the country produces more sparkling wine than any other place in the world. The Spanish varieties have recently become extremely popular as every day bottles. Finally, there are also plenty of domestic vineyards that turn out some excellent sparkling wines including some right here in New England. As you can see there are plenty of affordable alternatives to Champagne, which mean it’s not always necessary to wait for a special occasion to drink one.

Prosecco

One of Italy’s entrants into the sparkling wine category, Prosecco, has become extremely popular in the United States over the last couple of years. Named for the grape, Prosecco is commonly described as having flavors of pears, almonds and melons.

Proseccos tend to have a dry, champagne-like quality, but with a certain light smoothness and a slightly lower alcohol content. Along with fresh peach juice, Prosecco is the co-star of the Bellini, the famous Venetian cocktail. You can find several popular Proseccos for around ten dollars. They are perfect for mid-summer afternoons or in lieu of a cocktail before dinner.

Cava

Drinking bubbles in Spain? You’re probably enjoying a cava, Spain’s answer to Champagne. Cava, which has a slightly fruity quality, has become big in the United States in recent years. If you’ve ever had Freixenet, consider yourself initiated. Freixenet accounts for more than 60 percent of cava imported to the US. Because of cavas popularity, it’s relatively easy to find a good cava, whether it’s a, 1 plus 1 = 3, Freixenet, or Cristalino, three of the better known producers.

California

If you prefer to shop American, don’t worry. California is noted for producing a number of quality sparkling wines. Shop carefully, however. Since the United States did not sign the famous Treaty of Versailles, vintners can throw the “champagne” label on wines that may not live up to the name. Out of respect for the region, most legit American vineyards will not put “Champagne” on their labels.

Some of the famous Champagne houses, like Moët and Chandon and Louis Roderer, own land in California and produce some tasty sparkling wines. Unlike the fickle weather in Champagne, the California sun produces consistent wines year after year. Also be on the lookout for anything Schramsburg, the oldest sparkling wine producer in the United States.

Cremant

by Amy Ullman

So you want a bottle of bubbly to ring in the holidays. Champagne is just a bit out of your financial reach at the moment and Prosecco with its soda pop bubbles are too synonymous with summertime fun to be seasonally appropriate. Now would be the perfect time to bust out a bottle of cremant, Burgundy’s method champinoise sparkler. Made with the same blending grapes used in France’s most celebrated wine region, the addition of a little aligote – a minor white grape grown in Burgundy - ups that delightful acidity. The wine is so called because of its creamy texture derived from the chalky soils of Chablis. For an even more celebratory quaff the producer Vitteaut-Alberti in Rully makes not only a traditional blanc de blanc but a delightfully pink rose as well.