Who died and made champagne king? I mean, I love champagne, but I'm not sure that the low end champagnes are better value than the higher end sparklers of other varieties. For the holiday festivities, I'm perfect happy to have gotten a case of Prosecco Sorelle Bronca for $40 more than what I spent on one bottle of Krug last year.
And I just had a taste flashback of a lovely sparkler I got from the Hudson Wine Merchants when I took my little upstate outing in September. Hudson Wine Merchants is the kind of charming, not-intimidating place you'd love to have around the corner from your house. The adorable bespectacled proprietor suggested a fabulous Phillipe Foreau Sparkling Vouvray NV at about $25/bottle, which he was planning to serve at a party of his own. From France's Loire Valley, it had an elegant texture and a yummy tropical berry flavor, without the yeastiness that I (apparently) don't like. I haven't been able to forget it (especially because Doug accidentally left the second bottle in the rental's refrigerator.)
Not going to be in Hudson anytime soon? Me neither (sadly). You can also buy it at Smith and Vine (who have a very classy website).
Need a case of something? Hudson Wine Merchants has plenty of city-dweller patrons, and they're happy to deliver cases in NYC.
Read their newsletters (with a nice piece on a variety of sparklers) here.
Thanks for the prosecco info - I hope you try that Veuve rose' reserve at some point. You should read this book btw - it's really good!!!
The French Paradox and Drinking for Health
by: Gene Ford
(amazon $8.95)