New Year's Eve Champagne and Sparkling Wine Guide

Tonight countless bottles of bubbly will be popped as we gather to celebrate the passing of 2010 and the start of 2011. The absolute worst thing you can do is to celebrate with an inferior bottle of bubbly. But good sparkling wine and Champagne doesn't have to break the bank.

Here are four bottles that can fit your budget and will not assault your tastebuds.
Remember that you can get about 5 flutes of Champagne from a bottle so plan ahead if you are entertaining or better yet, ask your guests to bring a bottle!

	Cost: About $12 Review Spanish Cava sparkling wine. Apples and grassy notes. Larger bubbles that fizz and pop in your mouth. Not complex. Made traditionally. Easy going.
	Cost: About $27 Review California sparkling wine. Fruity with apples and cream. Medium bubbles that bounce around your mouth.
	Cost: About $40 Review French Champagne.Citrussy. Playful and delightful.
	Cost: About $50 ReviewFrench Champagne. My absolute favorite. Intense traditional character. Dry, fresh bread and cracker notes with soft cheese and flowers. Small bubbles that dance and play. Elegant, refined, and simply the best!

Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava wine review by Billy

Nose: apple and some honey melon hints
Palate: very dry, small delicate bubbles
Finish: finish is understated with green apple being the most prominent with a nearly puckering dryness.

Overall: quite nice for an affordable dry sparkling wine. This one paired best with the Ghirardelli dark chocolate with raspberry squares.

Ameztoi 2006 Wine Review by billy

Nose: Minerals and Steel and Citrus with under hints of an Alsace-Riesling like spice.
Palate: Dry. spritzig. While dry, not overly acidic. very even feel throughout the mouth. expertly made.
Finish: tempered. lingering minerals.

I walked into one of my home wine stores after a short business trip wanting ... something. I didn't know what. So I simply asked. (By the way, many of you email asking about how to get one wine or another - walk into a store and ask. Ask even if you don't know what you want.) The wine guy went over and suggested this wine. I have never heard of this wine nor the grape (we didn't know what grapes were in this wine before I came home and googled it.). What he did know was that they had just tasted it the day before and he enjoyed it. It was intriguing. He liked it so he suggested it. I bought it. For about $16.00.

I am glad I did. It is not a "sparkling" wine though it has more than a hint of fizz. It is not a sweet wine. It is not a tropical fruit bomb. The 2006 Ameztoi from the Getariako Txakolina region of Spain near the Atlantic is a gem of a wine that makes a fantastic before-dinner wine (as I am having it now) as well as it would go with a light, fruit and cheese based dessert.

At $16 it is fairly to well priced. I suspect that this vintage is rather good compared to earlier vintages simply given the quality and price point.

The majority of the grapes planted in the region (Basque region of Spain) are Hondarribi Zuri and Hondarribi Beltza (cite)

Overall, I would highly suggest that you get a bottle and try it. It is very drinkable and interesting enough to keep you asking for another glass.

Raise a Glass to BASQUE WINE!