Valentine's Day Sparklers

Shhh--None of these are Champagne!

Sometimes I'm in the mood for fizz without all the fuss. And with Valentine's Day less than a week away, many of us will be frantically pulling together evenings of romance, bubbles included. Whether you're staying home or headed out on the town, these Champagne-alternatives are sure to help you stress less as you're reaching into your wallet. Affordable and just as tasty to the naked palate, your V-Day sweetie will be impressed with your sparkling savvy when you order one of these Valentine's Day bubblies. 

Crémant (France) - Pronounced "Cray-mont" the French word literally translates to "creaming", describing the creamy texture of the wine (relative to other fizzies). Made in the same method as Champagne, there are 7 distinct appellations allowed to designate Crémant in their name (including Alsace, Loire and Bourgogne to name a few). Light and delicate, Crémants are a favorite alongside light, creamy dishes, desserts (think cheesecake) or completely on its own.

Lucien Albrecht Cremant

Beers On Wine Recommends:

• Lucien Albrecht Cremant d'Alsace Brut (100% Pinot Blanc) and Cremant d'Alsace Brut Rose I just sent the Brut to a recently engaged friend in New York! Both will run you around $20. 
• Allimant Laugner Cremant d'Alsace, made from 100% Pinot Noir. Sounds like a mouthful, but costs less than $20 a bottle. At almost half the price of the Brut Rose Champagne being offered by the glass, I felt like the most sophisticated bargain drinker in the bar.

Prosecco (Italy) - The Italian sparkler is quite dry, so keep this in mind when purchasing. Prosecco is a perfect cocktail wine, so whether it's a romantic brunch or pre-dinner cocktail, feel free to add your favorite fruit juice or purée to concoct a bellini or Mimosa. Unlike Champagne and some other bubblies, Prosecco should be drank while young, otherwise it could lose it fizz and go stale. This shouldn't be a problem on V-Day, right?

Beers On Wine Recommends:

• Mionetto Prosecco Brut DOC is an apple-y explosion in your mouth. This wine has received numerous accolades from major wine press, and rightly so. Its light golden sparkle will make any occasion shine.
• Zonin Prosecco For a steal at around $10 a bottle, you might as well live a little and grab two ; ) Trader Joe's sells this for a mind-boggling $5.99/bottle, so it's a staple in my fridge.
  

Segura Viudas Aria Brut Cava

Cava (Spain) -Cava, meaning cellar or cave in Spanish, is the Spaniards' champagne. With varying degrees of flavor from extra brut (very dry) to sweet, Cava possesses slightly less fizz than other sparklers with the same affordable price tag. Most I've tried have been dry and crisp with a smooth finish and all under $20 a bottle.

Beers On Wine Recommends:

• Segura Viudas Extra Brut "Aria" Cava is a simple, clean and refreshing Cava at $12 bottle. Produced in Spain's Penedès region, the wine has nice honeyed aromas with a clean, dry finish.

Sparkling Wine (USA) - I'll admit, ever since my move to the Bay Area, I've grown a bit biased in favor of our domestic sparklers over the pricey French wines. Once you've had a chance to visit a winery (in some cases several--on multiple occasions!), a special place in your heart is forever cemented. California possesses several sparkling houses that are actually owned by major French Champagne houses. For example, the Carneros sparkling gem Domaine Carneros (where The Editor says he fell in love) is founded by Taittinger, Napa Valley's Domaine Chandon by Moët-Hennessey and Mendocino County's Roederer is owned by big sister (or shall I say, big brother) Champagne Louis Roederer.

Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut

Beers On Wine Recommends: 

• Gloria Ferrer Brut - Perfection in a glass for a California Brut. Almost every visit to wine country for me involves a stop by this mission-style winery perched atop a hill in Carneros. With notes of apples, pears and toast, you can sip this sparkler with any meal.
• Roederer Brut Rosé - As close to Champagne as it gets in the USA. Creamy, elegant, dry and oh-so-bubbly, Roederer's Brut Rose is a true sophisticate's sparkler. With subtle hints of strawberry and teeny, tiny bubbles, add a little pink to your Valentine's Day this weekend at $30 a bottle!
• Gruet Brut Rosé - Give it up for the southwest! This New Mexico sparkler deserves at least an honorable mention. Each glass BURSTS with cherry, strawberry and raspberry flavors and big, mouth-filling bubbles. At just $13.75 a bottle, they're practically giving it away. Check out the rest of the Gruet line here.

Sweet, Fruity & Low in Alcohol - If you or your sweetheart are occasional drinkers with a mean sweet tooth, a sparkling Moscato might do the trick. At less than 10% alcohol in most, these wines provide the celebratory flavor without all the boozy side effects. Light, floral and refreshing, sparkling Moscatos are a "one size fits all" option to Valentine's Day!


Beers On Wine Recommends:
Mionetto il Moscato for a low alcohol (7%), subtly sweet and lightly fizzed drink. My alcohol-only-on-holidays grandmother loved this so much during Christmas, I sent her two bottles for her birthday a month later (go Nana!). At less than $15 a bottle, this unpretentious bubbly has a bottle cap closure.

Mionneto il Moscato