Excuse me waiter, my Sauvignon Blanc appears to be bubbling.

Inexpensive sparkling wine imports, namely Prosecco and Cava, have received a lot of press in the last 18 months.  Hoping to relate to a hipper crowd, media outlets like the Wall Street Journal have been frantically trying to place themselves on the cutting-edge of wine consumption: five years too late.  I love Prosecco, and I love Cava too.  But I’d like to suggest a couple of sparkling options you might not have encountered yet that tend to be just as affordable and equally compelling.

Odd Aussies

Australian wine makers are courageous; they will try things that producers from older regions would never attempt, for fear of breaking tradition.  De Bortoli’s new line of sparklers is a perfect example of this.  Named Emeri for a family matriarch, the line includes a sparkling Sauvignon Blanc.  Fresh, herbaceous, lime fruit and a well-balanced effervescence make this the coolest beach wine anywhere.

Emeri de Bortoli Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc: $12.99

Sekt

Few have ever been accused of associating the Germans with jollity.  That being said, and evening spent with their native sparkler, Sekt, is almost always delightful.  Most Sekt producers us the Italian Charmat method to craft their wines, which gives Sekt the same refreshingly volatile carbonation that Prosecco displays.  Henkell’s trocken Sekt contains more residual sugar and adds a layer of richness to the sharp dryness of brut Sekt.

Henkell Trocken Brut Sekt: $15.99

Loire Valley

The Loire never fails to supply drinkers with delicious, and affordable, wines.  Remy Pannier is a Loire stalwart, and a substantial portion of their yearly production is devoted to their Marquis de la Tour sparkler.  Composed largely of Chenin Blanc, this bubbly definitely exemplifies Chenin’s deliciously crisp and dry, fruitiness.

Marquis de la Tour Brut: $11.99

J.

Tags: cava, Chenin Blanc, emeri de bortoli, henkell, Loire, marquis de la tour, prosecco, remy-pannier, sauvignon blanc, sekt, sparkling wine, wall street journal
Category: The Wine Blog