It’s one of the most celebratory times of the year, bringing an onslaught of toast-filled festivities.
Though Champagne is often the de facto alcohol filling flutes, the popular sparkling French wine isn’t ideal for everyone’s palate — or budget, particularly when it comes to serving a big group.
Madison Aspinwall, a California-based sommelier, told Business Insider that there are plenty of high-quality, affordable alternatives to real Champagne, which can cost well over $60 per bottle.
In fact, some decent bottles of sparkling wine can be found for less than half that price.
Here are a few of Aspinwall’s recommendations you can feel confident about grabbing for your next celebration.
Prosecco can be an affordable alternative to Champagne
Made from Glera grapes in Prosecco, Italy, this sparkling white wine can be a less expensive (but still delicious) swap for Champagne.
“Prosecco is rarely over $30 a bottle,” Aspinwall said. “It’s made in a totally different style from Champagne, but I find it equally delicious.”
She said that many people who try different sparkling wines for the first time actually tend to prefer prosecco over Champagne, finding the former tastes fresher, cleaner, and more citrusy.
For a classic, easy-to-find option, Aspinwall recommends La Marca, an extra-dry prosecco that runs between $15 and $20 for a 750-milliliter bottle.
Brut prosecco is the perfect option if you prefer acidic flavors
Brut prosecco is a solid starter sparkling wine.
“I think a brut prosecco is the best for someone who is just getting into sparkling wines and doesn’t like the taste of Champagne,” Aspinwall said.
She added that brut is on the lower end when it comes to sweetness (specifically, it has between 0 and 12 grams of residual sugar per liter), giving it a fresher, more acidic taste than other varieties.
Aspinwall told BI that one of her go-to choices is Pizzolato, a brut prosecco. A 750-milliliter bottle typically costs between $20 and $25.
“It tastes amazing, and it’s in the most fun bottle with funky packaging,” she added.
Fruit-forward Lambrusco is a fitting choice for the holiday season
On the hunt for a sparkling wine that feels special? Turn to Lambrusco, a sparkling Italian red that comes in a range of sweetness levels.
“I think it’s perfect for the holiday season because, as a red wine, it has a bit more warmth to it than a prosecco or Champagne,” Aspinwall said.
She added that this type of wine tends to have more body, tannins, and fruit-forward flavors, such as cherry, raspberry, and strawberry.
You can also get it in white and rosé variations.
“It can be super complex, unique, and fun to experiment with if you’re just getting into sparkling wine,” she said, adding that one of her top recommendations is Broletto Lambrusco.
A 750-milliliter bottle typically retails for between $16 and $20, depending on the retailer.
If you love sweet wine, pour yourself some demi-sec prosecco
For those who prefer a very sweet wine, Aspinwall recommended turning to a demi-sec variety.
This type of prosecco has between 32 and 50 grams of residual sugars per liter, meaning it’s generally sweeter than a brut prosecco.
“It’s perfect for people who are looking for something that’s really approachable,” she said.
Consider trying a demi-sec variety from La Marca — a 750-milliliter bottle can cost between $15 and $20.
Moscato d’Asti is another sweet sparkling wine that pairs well with dessert
One of Aspinwall’s favorite sparkling wines is Moscato d’Asti.
The sparkling white Italian wine, which she described as tropical, fruity, and juicy, pairs well with certain sweet treats.
“I absolutely love Moscato d’Asti with soft-serve ice cream because it’s a really cool dessert combination,” she told BI. “It has that fruity, delicious tart acidity, but it’s also very sweet, so it’s super easy for people who are just getting into sparkling wine to enjoy.”
Consider picking up Vietti Moscato d’Asti, which retails between $15 and $23 for a 750-milliliter bottle.
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