The Best Bottles of Bubbly for Valentine’s Day
There’s nothing like celebrating Valentine’s Day with a fine glass of bubbly! In honor of this day of love, we asked our dear friend and sommelier for the Montage Hotel & Resort, Ritz Carlton, and most recently, Robert Redford’s Sundance Mountain Resort, about her favorite picks.
Read on for her recommendations for the best bottles of bubbly for Valentine's Day and enjoy!
First and foremost, it is helpful to understand all wine is made of hundreds of concentric circles and it all depends upon which rabbit hole you want to explore. Additionally, each individual’s palate has a unique set of taste buds dictating a custom crafted selection process. This is often why you hear Sommeliers say, “Drink what YOU enjoy, NOT what a score in a magazine tells you!” Who wants a whole bunch of wine around the house that is someone else’s favorite?! Make your collection your own and be excited about every bottle you buy!
Where do you start? … A question most people ask:
With “true” French Champagne, or Domestic Sparkling Wine?
A general golden hue or the ever-seductive pink bubbles?
A Classic Non-Vintage (NV) or the hidden gems of a specific vintage?
The best answer I can provide is simply pick a category, any category, to get started with and then work your way through all the categories and determine which you enjoyed most (or can afford)!
In an effort to help aid in this process, Hatched Baby has asked for a selection of “my” favorite bubbles. For me, this is next to impossible since this entire category of wine is my favorite!
With that said, here are some popular favorites that span the spectrum of “bubbles”. They are all delicious and for your convenience, they are all available at TOTAL WINE, most even qualify for the mixed 6 discount. However, once you have fallen in love with a specific brand I highly encourage buying directly from the winery (via their website) to supports the wine growers instead of the business distributors!
Have fun and good luck on your unique journey to determine which labels are YOUR Favorite!
Testing the Waters: Under $40
Gruet Brut $16.99 / Gruet Rose $15.99 / Argyle Brut $22.99
Roederer Estate Brut $19.97 / Roederer Estate Brut Rose $25.99 / Chandon Etoile Grande Cuvee $39.99
Worth the Splurge: Under $70
Schramsberg Blanc De Blancs Vintage $33.99 / Schramsberg Brut Rose $38.99
Piper Heidsieck Brut $35.97 / Veuve Clicquot Brut Rose NV $59.99 / Henriot Blanc de Blancs $67.99
Worth Every Penny: Under $110
Billecart Salmon Blanc de Blancs NV $79.99 / Billecart Salmon Brut Rose $84.99 / Ruinart Rose NV $89.99
Ruinart Blanc de Blancs NV $84.97 / Domaine Carneros Le Reve Blanc de Blancs $109.99 / Schramsberg 'J Schram' $104.99