We know that sparkling wine sales spike at this time of year, driven by the category’s association with the celebrations that are abundant throughout the holiday season. And increasingly, consumers have integrated bubbly into their year-round purchasing habits; a January report from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis found that about 25 percent of all adults are sparkling wine consumers, and the category saw a six percent CAGR in volume between 2017 and 2022, even as still wine volume declined.
But we also know that consumers are tightening their budgets amidst stubborn inflation, cutting back on some of their spending and seeking out value when it comes to alcohol purchasing. With this in mind, SevenFifty Daily asked sommeliers and beverage directors across the country to name the sparkling wines that over-deliver for their price points.
There were domestic pét-nats and German and Italian sparklers, and yes, some even pointed to value in Champagne. These are the bottles that seriously punch above their weight. (All wines are listed with suggested retail price per bottle.)
Don’t miss the latest drinks industry news and insights. Sign up for our award-winning newsletters and get insider intel, resources, and trends delivered to your inbox every week.
Barbichette ‘Claro Qué Si’ 2022, Seneca Lake, New York; $26
Selected by Cressida Greening, partner, Winona’s, Brooklyn
At Winona’s in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn, the dinner vibes are casual and convivial, complemented by a list of natural, organic, and biodynamic wines. The sparkling wine that delivers the most value for its price on this list also keeps things local; Barbichette started in a building just down the block from Winona’s before moving upstate. “It’s increasingly difficult to find domestic wine that is delicious, well made, and at an approachable price point, and this wine knocks it out the park on all fronts,” says Cressida Greening, a partner at Winona’s. Made from Chardonnay, the Claro Qué Si is a “near-perfect pét-nat—bright acidity with a racy, mineral backbone and just enough body,” she says.
J. Lassalle ‘Préference’ Brut NV, Champagne, France; $54
Selected by Ariana Tsuchiya, director of beverage, G.Lion Hawaii, Honolulu
“It’s hard to find quality, value-priced Champagne in 2024,” says Ariana Tsuchiya, the director of beverage for G.Lion Hawaii, which includes La Vie, Hy’s Steak House, and Quiora in Honolulu. She calls Champagne J. Lassalle one of her personal favorites, a family-run Champagne house with three generations of women at the helm. The Préference, a blend of about 60 percent Pinot Meunier, 20 percent Chardonnay, and 20 percent Pinot Noir, is aged for four years on its lees yet retaining “freshness and elegance” in the finished wine.
Peter Lauer Riesling Sekt 2020, Mosel, Germany; $40
Selected by Daniel Beedle, assistant director of food and beverage, Kimpton The Forum Hotel, Charlottesville, Virginia
The Sekt category as a whole can sometimes be overlooked, but this 100 percent Riesling bottle from Peter Lauer absolutely should not, says Daniel Beedle, the assistant director of food and beverage at Kimpton The Forum Hotel. “This is one of the only sparkling wines I’ve had to date that fully expresses the typicity and purity of the grape while undergoing full [traditional method] production,” he says. “There is also a touch of petrol [from TDN] that makes this wine all the more intriguing for a sparkling.”
Denis Salomon ‘Histoire de Famille’ Brut NV, Champagne, France; $55
Selected by Justin Parramore, beverage director, Petit Pomeroy, Chicago
In the notoriously pricey Champagne category, Justin Parramore, the beverage director for Parisian-style bistro Petit Pomeroy, looks to a cuvée that takes advantage of the underdog history of Pinot Meunier. “The Salomon family brings a lot of value to the table by using this less-popular grape,” he says. The Histoire de Famille uses 100 percent Pinot Meunier to create a rich yet balanced Champagne. “It’s true to style with notes of brioche, ripe green apple, zesty citrus, limestone minerality, and a texture that shows complexity and finesse,” says Parramore.
Contratto ‘Millesimato’ Alta Langa 2020, Piedmont, Italy; $36
Selected by Erin Lindstone, sommelier, Barolo Grill, Denver
Unsurprisingly, the wine program at Barolo Grill centers on Italy, but its sparkling list goes beyond well-known Italian bubblies like Prosecco or even Franciacorta. Sommelier Erin Lindstone finds immense value in the Contratto ‘Millesimato,’ which comes from the Alta Langa region of Piedmont. All Alta Langa wines, including this one, must be made using the traditional method, and this bottle spends 30 months on the lees. “To me, it punches way outside its weight class,” says Lindstone, who points to the wine’s brioche and hazelnut notes. “It has such depth, complexity and richness.”
Cazé-Thibaut ‘Crayère’ Brut Nature NV, Champagne, France; $65
Selected by Jhonel Faelnar, beverage director, NA:EUN Hospitality, New York City
Guests often flock to Atoboy, Atomix, and Naro, the restaurants that comprise NA:EUN Hospitality (which translates to “better” in Korean), for unforgettable dining experiences, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t deals to be found on the wine list. When it comes to sparkling wine that exceeds expectations, beverage director Jhonel Faelnar looks to the Cazé-Thibaut ‘Crayère,’ a blend of Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay from a producer that prioritizes meticulous farming. “It over-delivers on the palate in terms of complexity and texture, not to mention the reasonable price point behind it,” says Faelnar. “The experience is well worth it and then some.”
Pierre Sparr Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rosé NV, Alsace, France; $20
Selected by Adele Corrigan Wade, general manager, 13 Celsius, Houston
The team at 13 Celsius in Houston aims not only to emulate the classic wine bars of Europe, but to surpass them, offering a wide range of selections from around the world. Earlier this year, the wine bar spotlighted bottles made by women winemakers, such as the Pierre Sparr Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rosé, a traditional-method sparkling made from Pinot Noir. “As Houston had yet to really get fall-like temperatures, any pink bubbles are in high demand,” says general manager Adele Corrigan Wade.
Dispatch
Sign up for our award-winning newsletter
Don’t miss the latest drinks industry news and insights—delivered to your inbox every week.
Courtney Schiessl Magrini is the editor-in-chief for SevenFifty Daily and the Beverage Media Group publications. Based in Brooklyn, she has held sommelier positions at some of New York’s top restaurants, including Marta, Dirty French, and Terroir, and her work has appeared in Wine Enthusiast, GuildSomm, Forbes.com, VinePair, EatingWell Magazine, and more. She holds the WSET Diploma in Wines. Follow her on Instagram at @takeittocourt.
