by Ellen Andre

How did we get here so fast?  Festive lights up before Halloween, stores playing holiday music in early November and Santa already posing with children in stores.

When I think about wine suggestions for holiday gatherings (small or large), I always envision glasses of bubbly prosecco, champagne and punch bowls.

Prosecco, as you may know, is quite versatile and affordable.  Generally under $20, often from Italy (nine different provinces including Veneto) and as of late popular with Californian producers.  There are several types from very dry to somewhat sweet…all equally enjoyable.  With an average alcohol rating of 9-11% it’s a little lighter and easier drinking than other wines.  Once thought to be served only in a flute glass… because of its’ similarities in style and effervescence to champagne, I’ve lately read we can advance to a larger glass to allow it to breathe like a sister red or white.  Good news for those who prefer a few more ounces in hand.

Prosecco or the glera grape is considered an easy to grow grape and abundant.  Sometimes you might see a rose’ Prosecco which would generally be ‘blended’ with pinot noir (a red grape), for a very short amount of time in process. I like to use prosecco as a welcome greeting for guests  and it’s also nice at the end of a meal with dessert.  Your local wine shop can make recommendations but here are a few:  Mionetto, La Marca and Josh Cellars.

Moving on to Champagne most know and expect to pay more for this French wine.  Champagne has the distinguishing feature of only being grown in that specific region of France.  No other wine, even if it is produced exactly the same way, can call itself that.  So with it comes the requirements of specific grapes (most often Chardonnay), from specific areas and with stringent production methods.  Because of these very detailed limitations, the cost of champagne tends to be higher than most other sparkling wines requiring more of a hands on approach.  There’s nothing quite like a champagne for a celebration but cost can sometimes have an impact.  Often a Veuve Cliquot will sell for anywhere from $50-70.

I have found some nice “substitutes” under $20 such as a Blanc de Blancs or Cava from Spain or just a simple “sparkling wine” from California.

Cava is sometimes called the hidden gem from Spain!

They are often just as pleasing and some have small bubbles (called perlage), and can be “creamy” and light.

Finally, if you’d rather make a punch to serve a bigger group you can do it for low cost and make it look very inviting.  You can use any combination of fruits, frozen juice or lemonade, a sparkling soda such as sprite and just about any bottle of alcohol or fruity wine.  There’s no need to spend a lot on the wine…using a Spanish red such as tempranillo or a white pinot grigio with really make it special but not too expensive.

These are just a few affordable options available to put a little extra “sparkle” into your holiday festivities. Do you have a favorite or a recommendation? Please tell us about it in the comments below. Happy Holidays!