| I’m of the firm belief that a good sparkling wine can enjoyed throughout the holiday season and beyond. For sparkling wine, there are many more options than just champagne these days. Other types of bubbly, such as prosecco from Italy and cava from Spain, offer the same allure at a fraction of the cost of high end French brands. Don’t get bogged down in thinking that your sparkler has to be bona fide champagne, as the other global options offer value and diverse character. This is not to say that true champagne isn’t uniquely deserving of its recognition and mystique—but rather that these other alternatives are equally deserving of attention during the holiday season.
While some might succumb to the age-old adage that these wines are only good with light foods, I challenge this convention and suggest that many of types of bubbly are equally suited to appetizers or full-flavored entrees. They range from light and fruity to more full bodied and toasty. Many good sparkling wines can pair equally well with oysters as with a roasted pork loin.
The same approach applies equally to sweet wines of all sorts. Typically relegated to the realm of “after dinner”, I present a number of sweet wines that can also pair well with certain appetizers in addition to the more traditional dessert course.
Serve the sparkling selections nicely chilled in a tall flute or slender glass. Also note that some bubbly can be enjoyed at a temperature a few degrees above what the standard ice-bucket treatment dictates. Additionally, sparkling wines make great mixers, pairing well with a splash of fruit juice or liqueur. Sweet wines can be served in a small stemmed glass or cordial—but don’t go overboard since nobody really wants a full 5 ounce pour of these more intense and (more highly alcoholic) beverages.
 Most sparking wines are designated as non-vintage (NV), which allows the winemaker to blend wines from various years to achieve a consistent flavor style or character. These non-vintage wines are ready to consume immediately and should be within one or so of production.
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