Your Bubbly Personality
by Jane A. Nickles
It’s the holidays and we are all in need of some serious fun, and nothing says “celebrate” like a bottle of bubbly. When stalking bubbles most people immediately think of Champagne, the end-all, be-all of all bubblies. And why not…it just sounds festive…even speaking the word can put a smile on your face.
However, all sparkling wine is not Champagne, so before you automatically reach for the Champagne this holiday season, consider that virtually every major wine producing region has a bubbly stunt double. With so many sparkling wines out there, you’ll find one for every mood, every occasion, and even every price range. So consider these alternatives, and see which type fits your bubbly personality.
French Champagne – The Grande Dame of sparkling wines, true French Champagne, comes only from the Champagne region of France and is made under exacting, labor-intensive conditions. If you are in the mood for a splurge, spending your holidays on the French Riviera, buying diamonds of any size, or are about to ask someone to marry you, go for the French Champagne! Always a classic, Champagne is elegant and smooth and will be sure to match the most special of occasions.
Spanish Cava – You may not know it, but you are probably familiar with Cava, Spain’s version of high quality, traditionally produced sparkling wine. You have probably noticed those coal-black bottles with gold script on the grocery store shelves. That’s Freixenet Cordon Negro Cava, which like all Cava, delivers flavor and finesse at about a quarter of the price of Champagne. Cava is an up-and-comer on the world sparkling wine scene, so if you are on the lookout for the “next big thing”, yearning to be unconventional, or a wanna-be trendsetter, Cava is for you!
Italian Prosecco – From the grape of the same name, Prosecco is a popular bubbly form the Veneto region of Northwestern Italy. Prosecco has a delightful, light freshness and apple-citrus flavor that is easy to love. As a matter of fact, Prosecco lovers tend to be so enthusiastic I have often thought about starting a Prosecco cult. If you are the type of person who throws parties where everyone is invited, truly believe in “the more, the merrier”, or don’t even bother screening your calls, you are the Prosecco type: friendly, open, fun-loving and spontaneous. Luckily, this lively bubbly is inexpensive, so Prosecco lovers can afford to make every gathering a celebration!
California Sparkling Wine – California sparkling wines are capable of crossing over to star status, and can hold their own with the best wines in the world when it comes to flavor, intensity, and finesse. Admittedly the beneficiary of French technology and tradition, California has been making amazing sparkling wine since about the 1960’s, to the delight of foodies everywhere. If you make your own bread, buy locally-grown organic produce at the Farmer’s Market, or tend to wander around the grocery stores in a Foodie haze, California sparkling wine is for you!
Rosa Regale Brachetto d’Acqui – If you are a true romantic and can’t keep your hands off your sweetie even in public, this is the wine for you! This wine has all the ingredients you need in a romantic wine...it is pink and bubbly, and lightly sweet. The aromas of this wine are easily recognizable and always consistent: the first aromas to hit are raspberry and strawberry, followed by the haunting memory of roses, which can be described as "dried roses" or “wedding bouquet”.
Whether you are a worldly Champagne lover, a cutting-edge Cava Craver, the fun-loving member of my Prosecco cult, a hopeless “PDA” in need of Brachetto or a serious foodie in search of California’s finest, there’s a bubbly for you. Pick one that fits your personality and have a great Holiday Season…at least the wine will be good!
