Top 10 Sparkling Wines Under $25

Picking great wines that are HUGE on taste and affordably priced can be a daunting task for anyone. We all want something that is going to taste great, everyone can enjoy and doesn’t break the bank. In America, the holiday season is always the biggest time of the year for bubbles so I have put together a list of sparkling wines that are huge on flavor and are all under $25!

These sparkling wines, which are from all around the world, are alternatives to Champagne, but made in the same exact method. They are also great for pairing so you can serve them up to even your most discriminating of guests. Without further ado, let’s take a trip around the world through this curated list of sparkling wines that I hope you will fall in love with. These are in no particular order.

Graham Beck Brut $16

This lively and engaging blend of basically 50/50  Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from South Africa will make you want to dance with its lime and fresh notes and creamy finish. It is an iconic wine that was served at the inaugurations of both Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama.

Contratto  Millesimato Pas Dose $22.99

Loocated in a storied, older winery in Canelli, Piemonte Italy, this pick was originally known as the sparkling wine of England in the 1800s. This was also the first winery to produce a drier style sparkling wine. The blend of 80% Pinot Noir/20 % Chardonnay is superb with rich notes of apricot, honey and sweet almond. It ages for five years on the yeasts and might be the best bang for your buck on this list.

Szigeti Gruner Veltliner Brut $19.79

This super fun and refreshing sparkling Gruner Veltliner from Austria (southeast of Vienna close to the Hungary border) has always been a huge crowd pleaser at every event I have ever served this at. It is flavored with lovely, refreshing citrus fruit with bubbles that seem to cleanse and rinse your tongue, preparing it for the next bite of food or sip; making it difficult to put down.

Langlois Chateau Cremant de Loire Brut $20

This pick hails from the Loire Valley of France and has the creaminess acidity and elegance that screams Champagne at half to one third of the price. The heavy lifting of this extremely complex wine is done by Chenin Blanc at 60% and the rest is an equal split of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc. This might be the easiest or best food pairing wine on this list.

Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups Brut Tradition $25.99

Hailing from the Loire Valley France from the famous Jacky Blot, this selection is 100% Chenin Blanc featuring juicy, honey quince notes that potentially have the longest finish on this list. The chalky, limestone soil and rigorous hand methods used here are on display for this cult producer.

Gruet Blanc de Blancs Brut $21.59

This is an American classic from New Mexico with French family roots. Think brioche bread, lemon zest, granny smith apples and lush tropical fruits with a touch of almond from this 100% Chardonnay wine. When it comes to quality, I believe this is one of the most affordable sparkling wines from America.

Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut $22.49

An almost 50/50 blend of Chardonnnay/ Pinot Noir from vineyards all over California that has you proud to support American! Beautiful pear, lemon, baking spices and red apple make this wine just a treat to smell because of its enticing aromas! It has a wonderful acidity and minerality which make it a supple pairing partner as well.

Casa Coste Piane Valdobbiadene Prosecco $20.89

The ultimate “breakfast” or brunch wine, this Prosecco is from the top appellation of Valdobbiadene in Veneto, Italy which is nothing to pontificate on, but is packed full of flavor, acidity and minerals making it fun and food-friendly. On a personal note, I have fond memories of drinking this wine at 10 am while the Michelin Chef Roberto Rossi prepared eggs in a very unpretentious setting, his beautiful garden. We easily drank the bottle!

Juve y Camps Brut Cava $13.49

Produced by of the larger producers of Cava in Spain; one sip of this and there isn’t any doubt that they know exactly what they are doing. Try some of their Gran Reservas bottlings as well if you care to splurge a little bit more. Think about baking spices, yeasty, breads, but with wonderful acidity. This goes down easy! It is a blend local varieties – Xarel- lo, Macabeo, and Parellada.

Avinyo Reserva Brut Nature Cava $18.90

Another Spanish wine appearing on this list which should be signaling you to look at Spain for extreme value. (Cava) This is beautifully fresh in the mouth with white flowers and juicy fruit that leaves your tongue salivating for another sip. It is a blend of Macabeo and Parellada.

This list isn’t all inclusive, but it is definitely a go-to guide for you that features quality sparkling wines that are priced affordably. I hope you  look forward to popping some bottles with you soon!

#EatDrinkExplore: Try starting your meal every single night with a glass of sparkling wine as it will open up your palate to receive the food.

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