Choosing the right Sparkling Wine for Brunch Cocktails

Mimosas, anyone?

Besides the holidays and New Year's Eve, Springtime is the next best time to drink sparkling wines. In addition to the warmer weather (unless you live in Chicago), it's also time for seasonal brunches like Easter and Mother's Day, as well as bridal showers. What's better to toast these happy occasions than a glass of sparkling wine?

If you plan on serving a sparkling wine at your brunch, I want you to consider these two factors:

1) Will you be serving it on its own?

Or...

2) With mixers, in a cocktail?

Mixing sparkling wine with other flavored mixers can be fun and festive! However, you shouldn't put a mixer into a $100 sparkler! Let's have a quick 101 session on the general sparkling wines of the world...

France - Champagne

The most well known sparkler is, of course, Champagne. This is produced in the Champagne region of France from the main grape varieties Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (plus a few other minor varietals). To call your wine "Champagne" you must have your vineyards within the Champagne region of France (just NE of Paris) and follow the wine laws for production (Method Champenoise).

Please remember this: if it comes from Champagne it doesn't mean that it's high quality, and if it doesn't come from Champagne, that doesn't mean that it's bad quality.

There are many high quality sparkling wines produced throughout Europe and the rest of the world. By law, they can't be referred to as Champange. If they are made by the same method used for making traditional French Champagne, that method could be referred to as Methode Traditionelle, not Method Champenoise.

Outside of the Champagne region, the Loire Valley makes a lovely sparkler called Cremant d'Loire.

Spain - Cava

Their Champagne style wine is called Cava. If you plan on serving Champagne cocktails, one of the best values is Cava from Spain. There is a very wide selection to choose from and many are under $10 per bottle! They also taste great on their own. A few of my favorites are Cristalino, Sigura Viudas, and Raventos.

Italy - Prosecco plus more

The Italians make Champagne style wines from Franciacorta, as well as a lighter style sparkler called Prosecco. Next to Champagne, it's among the best choices for cocktails. Proseccos are lighter and crisper, and are the traditional wines for making Bellinis (Prosecco mixed with peach nectar). A few favorite proseccos are Nino Franco "Rustico" and Bisol.

USA - American Sparklers

We produce some wonderful Champagne style wines! A safe bet would be a sparkling wine from California like Schramsberg, Roederer Estate, or Scharffenberger. However, with a little adventurous spark, you could look into Oregon and find a delicious sparkler from Argyle or even New Mexico, home of one of my personal all time favorite values - Gruet!

Generally speaking, if you want to serve a high quality sparkling wine on its own you could find plenty from any of the above mentioned regions. The trick, however, is finding quality for value when making Champagne cocktails. 

The Mimosa is one of the most popular brunch beverages. This is made by filling a Champagne flute half-way with orange juice, then topping it off with sparkling wine.

Another popular cocktail is made using flavored liqueres. A popular brand is Mathilde. They make peach, raspberry, pear, and framboise flavors. These liquers are strong on their own so a little bit goes a long way. Just pour about an ounce in the flute and top off with the sparkler from there. Delicious!

The next time you plan on serving sparkling wines for your festive brunches, remember that there's a whole world of choices out there and it doesn't have to be French Champagne. Cheers!

Photo credit - rick via Flickr

Wines by Mike Matonte Part of the Second City Soiree Monday Contributor Series. Mike is on Twitter @VinoMike. Read his full bio here.