10 fizzy options to help ring in the new year

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/12/2022 (731 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With one week to go until the end of 2022, it’s time to start thinking about what sparkling wine you’ll be chilling down to ring in the new year (or to bid good riddance to the current one). Here are 10 fizzy options you may not have tried before that are worthy of your champagne glass this New Year’s Eve…

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Loxarel 2017 Amaltea Brut Nature Reserva

(Penedes, Spain – $29.99, Jones & Co.)

A blend of Xarel-lo, Macabeu and Parellada from Spain’s Penedes region, this organic and biodynamic bubbly is pale straw in colour and slightly hazy, bringing herbal, bread dough, green apple and lime aromas. It’s bone-dry, light-bodied and tart, with green apple and citrus flavours coming with moderate acidity and lively bubbles, and a chalky note that persists. More character than your typical Spanish Cava, but all of the vibrancy. Purchased at Jones & Company. 4/5

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Freixenet NV Carta Nevada Extra Dry

(Cava, Spain – $16.49, Liquor Marts and beyond)

Also made from Xarel-lo, Macabeo and Parellada grapes, this bubbly, while labelled “extra dry,” is in fact a touch sweeter than the more popular Cordon Negro. Green apple, lemongrass and lime aromas are most prominent aromatically, and on the light-bodied, zippy palate it’s much of the same — not an earth-shattering sparkling wine, but will work for a midnight toast or holiday mimosas. On sale right now for $14.49. 3/5

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Famiglia Pasqua NV Romeo & Juliet Prosecco Brut

(Veneto, Italy – around $30, Kenaston Wine Market)

This Italian sparkling wine is pale straw in colour, with pear, floral, peach, ripe apple and bread dough aromas that bring more complexity than your typical Prosecco. It’s light-bodied and slightly off-dry, with the ripe tree fruit flavours working well with the doughy, slightly chalky components; effervescence is lively, which works nicely with the moderate acidity. Quite tasty on its own, but would also work well in a sparkling wine cocktail; available at Kenaston Wine Market. 3.5/5

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Carpene Malvoti NV 1868 Prosecco Extra Dry

(Veneto, Italy – around $30, De Nardi Wines)

This Italian sparkling wine brings loads of melon, peach, red apple, pear and lemon zest notes aromatically, with hints of floral and peach as well. It’s mainly dry and light-bodied, with a hint of residual sugar bolstering the peach, red apple and melon notes, modest acidity that comes with a lemony splash and some decent length on the finish. Available in both 750ml bottles and smaller formats at De Nardi Wines. Impressive. 4/5

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Cono Sur NV Brut

(Bio Bio Valley, Chile – $16.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

This Chilean bubbly from the cool, southern Bio Bio Valley is mostly Chardonnay with a splash of Pinot Noir. It offers lemon zest, floral, green apple and a hint of peach aromatically, with much of the same coming on the bone-dry, light-bodied palate. The bubbles and acidity are fresh and lively, keeping things crisp and racy. 3.5/5

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Bouvet NV Brut

(Saumur, France – $21.99, Liquor Marts and beyond)

A blend of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay from France’s Loire Valley, this French fizz is pale straw in colour, delivering big honeycomb, apple seed, lemon zest and pineapple candy aromas with some underlying chalkiness. It’s bone-dry and light-plus bodied, with richness to the ripe red apple and tropical notes, some fine bubbles and modest acidity showing well on the palate and a chalky, almost-saline note throughout. Good complexity for the price. 4/5

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19 Crimes NV Blanc de Blancs

(South Eastern Australia – $19.49, Liquor Marts and beyond)

Made from Chardonnay grapes coming from Down Under, the 19 Crimes is pale gold in colour and offers ripe red apple, peach, lemon candy and fig aromas. There’s some weight on the off-dry palate that bolsters the ripe apple and peach/tropical notes, while the bubbles are slightly subdued. Fun and approachable. 3/5

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Benjamin Bridge NV Rosé methode classique

(Gaspereau Valley, N.S. – around $34, private wine stores)

A blend of L’Acadie, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, this Nova Scotia pink bubbly is made in the traditional method used in Champagne. Pale salmon in colour, it brings red berry and green apple aromas as well as a light chalky note; on the bone-dry, light-plus bodied palate those flavours come with fresh acidity, hints of citrus and floral notes and vibrant effervescence. Elegant and stylish; you really can’t go wrong with any sparkling wine from Benjamin Bridge. 4.5/5

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Henry of Pelham NV Cuvée

Catharine Rosé Brut (Niagara Peninsula, Ont. – around $35, private wine stores)

Made in the traditional Champagne method and from a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, this Niagara bubbly brings complex bread dough, green apple, herbal, lemon zest and strawberry notes aromatically. It’s dry, light-bodied and zippy, with lemon and green apple notes leading the charge, a chalky note running throughout, hints of strawberry, bread dough and peach lingering in the background and a long, fresh finish. An exceptional, Champagne-like bubbly. 4.5/5

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Champagne Ayala NV Rosé Majeur Brut

(Champagne, France – around $66/375ml bottle, private wine stores)

Made predominantly from Chardonnay with some Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier thrown into the mix, this French champagne is bright pale pink in colour, with aromas of bread dough, spiced apple, floral, herbal and chalky notes that are complex and elegant. It’s a dry and light-bodied bubbly, offering fresh and ripe red apple and cherry flavours, hints of biscuit and bread dough that add remarkable complexity and a long, lovely finish that delivers chalky, almost peppery notes. Excellent — treat yourself if your budget can manage. 5/5

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