We’ve learned many lessons over the last year, but one little one that should not be overlooked: Champagne shouldn’t be reserved only for special occasions anymore. A bottle of bubbles can make any occasion special on its own. Nor does it have to be strictly champagne from the eponymous region in France—although that doesn’t hurt. There are plenty of bottles of sparkling wine—whether it be crémant, cava, sekt, or simply sparkling wine from anywhere producing wine.
And as lovers of rosé wine already know, pink can make things even more fun and festive—not to mention they can be a lot fuller and richer on the palate.
With that in mind, here is a wine list of sparkling rosés to make your festivities a little more merry and bright this winter.
McBride Sisters Collection NV Hawke’s Bay New Zealand Sparkling Brut Rosé
With roots and vines in both California and New Zealand, McBride Sisters is quickly building a cult following among wine lovers.The female-founded and largest Black-owned wine company in the U.S., the winery recently launched a reserve collection of premium wines. But the treasure of their expanding portfolio is still the sparkling brut rosé, which tastes like an effervescent burst of strawberries and cream straight out of the bottle. With a creamy body and dry finish, this rosé is sublime all year round. SRP: $23
Dom Maria Brazilian Sparkling Rosé
Brazil’s wine industry might not have the kind of cache or recognition like that of Argentina or Chile, but this sparkling rosé is proof that it deserves more attention. Produced in partnership with Casa Valduga—one of Brazil’s oldest wine-making houses—Dom Maria’s sparkling rosé is a blend of 60% Chardonnay grapes and 40% Pinot Noir, and is made in the traditional (champenoise) method and matured for 12 months. A refreshing yet dry rosé, the wine has no added sulfites (an ideal asset when having guests over and you don’t know their potential allergies). SRP: $40
Champagne Drappier Carte d’Or Brut
A favorite for decades at the Élysée Palace—the official residence of the president of France—Champagne Drappier is among one of the most prominent (and increasingly fewer) champagne producers still owned and run by a family, versus a corporate entity. The careful and personal craftsmanship shows in each of Drappier’s bottles, especially Carte d’Or, the house’s signature expression since 1808. A belnd of 80% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay, and 5% Meunier, the Carte d’Or champagne is a rich, fruit-forward bubbly wine, with a bright and powerful mouthfeel. A go-to choice for an apéritif. SRP: $50
Dough Wines 2016 Sparkling Brut Rosé
The Dough Wines sparkling brut rosé was harvested from Oregon’s largest and most prominent winemaking region, the Willamette Valley. Bright and elegant, the salmon-hued wine is a blend of 47% Pinot Noir, 37% Chardonnay, and 16% Pinot Meunier grapes. With notes of rose petal, cardamon, and peaches, this rosé is optimal for pairing with any part of your meal, from canapés to dessert. But if you’re interested, buy now—only 50 cases of this wine were made. SRP: $55
Billecart Salmon Brut Sous Bois Carafe Gift Box
Among one of the few houses in Champagne still owned by the original family versus a corporation, Champagne Billecart-Salmon is always a safe bet for high-end champagne. For an extra special gift, the winery is offering a new Brut Sous Bois Carafe Gift Box for the holiday season this year. Entirely vinified in wood, the carafe is a a dazzling piece of mouth-blown glasswork inspired by the house’s iconic bottle shape.
“Decanting our Brut Sous Bois gives it the opportunity to fully express itself and release all its beautiful aromas,” said Mathieu Roland-Billecart, Billecart-Salmon CEO and the seventh generation winemaker, in a statement. “Our Brut Sous Bois is our Non Vintage cuvée that we age the most, and decanting it let the wine breathe and show all its complexity.” SRP: $230
Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé 2013
Perrier-Jouët is often known just as much for its intricately designed bottles as it is for the delightful champagne inside. This year, Maison Perrier-Jouët renewed its long-standing collaboration with Austrian designers Katharina Mischer and Thomas Traxler for a pair of exclusive gift boxes. Inspired by the biodiversity found in France’s Champagne region as well as the “Belle Epoque” era at the turn of the 20th century, the gorgeous illustrations on the bottles are meant to “explore the theme of the interaction between man and nature, which speaks to house’s sustainable grape cultivation in its vineyards to reduce environmental impact,” according to a spokesperson for the brand. But the champagne itself is just as special: First created in 1978, the maison’s rosé champagne is bottled only in exceptional years and produced in extremely limited quantities. SRP: $305
Wölffer Estate Vineyard ‘Spring in a Bottle’ Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Rosé
This is more of a surprise bonus—and could be an especially welcome addition at your table for any non wine-drinkers. Long Island’s famed Wölffer Estate Vineyard—best known for its dry rosé ciders and rosé wine—has launched a new non-alcoholic sparkling wine. Even with a name like “Spring in a Bottle,” don’t let that put you off from drinking this in December; think of it more like a hint of things to come. The sparking beverage offers earthy and fruity notes (especially red berries, peaches, and pears), and it’s perfect for food pairings, such as with soups, salads, spicy dishes, pork, and fish. SRP: $18
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