Champagne Top 5 Listings
Lisa's US Sparkling Wine Picks

We've been running Champange and Sparkling Wine tastings for several years now. While Champagne often comes out with the best flavors, they also tend to be the more expensive. If you're on a budget and would like the best flavor for the least amount of money, you might want to consider these tasty alternatives from California.

Roederer CA non vintage brut, $22
This sparkler is very pale with small bubbles. It has a very fresh, fruity, almost bleachy flavor to it (I know that sounds unpleasant, but it was quite nice!). There was a light cherry aftertaste, and the finish lasted a long time. We all enjoyed this one a great deal.

Taittinger Domaine Carneros Brut
We tasted the 1992, but see what year you can find. The famous French house Taittinger is producing fine sparkling wines in California which garner praise from all quarters. A pale straw color, this brut has numerous, very fine bubbles. It is pure Chardonnay - smells of vanilla and tastes of a light lemon. The finish is smooth and delicate.

Westport Rivers Brut Cuvée RJR
We had the 1994 of this. Massachusetts' own Westport Rivers is very well known for its high quality sparkling wines. A chard/pinot noir mix, this is slightly yellower than the Taittinger Domaine Carneros. It has a less bright, more grapefruity flavor. It has a stronger finish than the Taittinger as well.

Mumm Cuvee Napa, $20
A Napa Valley sparkling wine created by a French Champagne house, Mumm Cuvee Napa is made from Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. Traditional Champanges only use Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meniur, so this is a bit of a break from tradition. This had medium bubbles and a light flavor - citrussy and a bit creamy.

Greg Norman non vintage, $20
OK, I'm cheating. This is from Australia, not the US. Still, it's quite delicious! This is a Chardonnay (57%) - Pinot Noir (43%) sparkler from Australia, and was one of our favorites at the 2001 tasting. It had a smooth, melon flavor and nice finish.

Tons of Champagne & Sparkling Wine Tasting Notes

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