Look out for the Food Top Wine Award stickers on these bottles at supermarkets and selected liquor retailers.
Lindauer Brut (Non Vintage) ($15)
New Zealand’s most popular sparkling wine is as good as ever. The fruit is a combination of both citrus elements and stonefruit notes, but more than this, a toasty, creamy mouthfeel adds weight and texture. Everyday wine with a touch of sophistication.
Freixenet Cordon Negro Cava (Non Vintage) ($17)
Fresh and crisp, with zesty lime and herbal fruit characters, a honeyed mid palate and a clean, firm finish. A benchmark example of Spanish Cava, at a very sharp price.
Brancott Estate Brut Cuvée (Non Vintage) ($18)
A rich, creamy, rounded style, with toasty, spicy fruit and a full, rich palate. A touch of sweetness makes for a great sipper on its own.
La Gioiosa et Amorosa Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore (Non Vintage) ($20)
This classy example of Italian Prosecco is elegant and understated, with apple-like fruit and a fine, creamy mouthfeel; great balance on the finish. And a stunning bottle design to boot!
Lindauer Special Reserve Blanc de Blancs (Non Vintage) ($20)
The Special Reserve range of Lindauer has now been extended to four different styles of sparkling wine, this perhaps the most elegant. Made entirely from Chardonnay, the fruit is delicate, almost flowery in nature; the palate light and racy, with a crisp, dry finish.
Leveret IQ3 Méthode Traditionnelle (Non Vintage) ($22)
A really toasty, bready, complex style of méthode. If you like lots of flavour and texture in your sparkling wine, this one is for you. Amazing value.
Daniel le Brun Méthode Traditionnelle Brut (Non Vintage) ($25)
Quite possibly my favourite local bubbly – year in, year out, this never fails to deliver. Packed full of rich, spicy fruit, a fuller, rounder style of sparkling wine that can be enjoyed on its own.
Quartz Reef Central Otago Méthode Traditionnelle Brut (Non Vintage) ($33)
This elegant Otago bubbly has a touch of class about it. Delicate honey and citrus characters, and a lovely dry finish. The crisp acidity would be a great counterpoint to lots of dishes – seafood, chicken, pork, even cheese.
Pol Roger Brut Réserve Champagne (Non Vintage) ($70)
Quintessential Champagne from one of the few Champagne houses still in family ownership. This has vibrancy and freshness, but also great concentration and depth of flavour. Rich, yet balanced; a real treat on those special occasions.
Champers or bubbles?
While a lot of us use the term ‘Champagne’ as a blanket label for a wine with bubbles, there are actually pretty serious rules around what constitutes a real Champers. It’s illegal to label a sparkling wine as Champagne unless it comes from the Champagne region in France, which has been produced under the strict regulations. Très bien!
