It’s Champagne Time Again

Prices are Lowest in Years

Mother’s Day and June Brides means many people are thinking about Champagne or Sparkling Wine as it must be called if it is not from the Champagne district of France. Well, if you are one of those that are thinking about it, you are in great luck. Values combined with real flavor abound in all price ranges.

America particularly, and to a lesser degree Spain, are closing the gap on France and now offer excellent sparklers at amazing prices.  The runaway overall best buy right now in any category is Louis Roederer Estate produced in the Anderson Valley just North of Napa by one of the great French Champagne makers. Last year it was around $20 a bottle. You can find it on sale in many stores for $14.95.  If you are having a large party and need many bottles and don’t’ want to spend $100-200 on champagne, here is a great choice.

It is Cristalino from Spain and can be found for as low as $5.95 a bottle. It is dry, flavorful and your friends will be begging you to tell them where you bought it if you make the mistake of leaving the price on the bottle.

If true Champagne from France is your prime desire, there are some non-credit card busters out there. Taittinger Le Francaise, an excellent choice at over $32 last year, can be found for as low a $26 if you buy 6 bottles. If you are on good terms with your local wine merchant he might be able to find Feuilatte for around $23. It is close in quality to Taittinger.  Down the French line a bit is Montebello Champagne at around $17. But once you are there, I would go for the Louis Roederer above.

Finally, there is the ubiquitous Korbel, which is the number one selling domestic sparkler. It is consistently good but not great. Buy only Brut or Natural. The extra dry is actually semi- sweet. All should be under $10.
 

Now that sparkling wine and champagne prices have come down to the levels of the ordinary people. (at least I know that I’m ordinary) you can have a great Sunday afternoon on the patio by obtaining Icelandic (if possible) lumpfish to go with the bubbly. It looks like caviar and almost tastes like it. It is very inexpensive. Rinse it well before serving to get rid of most of the saltiness.

A better taste choice is Alaskan Salmon Caviar. It doesn’t look like black sturgeon caviar but is close in taste. It is widely available and slightly higher than lumpfish. I like it a lot.

Finally if you are above ordinary then you might be willing to pop for the real stuff from sturgeon in the Caspian Sea. The supposed top of the line is Beluga (The type of sturgeon) 000 (the size of each pearl of caviar). Pass on it for three reasons. The fish is endangered. It is overpriced and many people think that Osetra that is cheaper is actually more satisfying. Nevertheless you will be in the $30 per oz. range. Do not settle for the stuff from the local luxury markets in a tin. Find a serious purveyor that has it on ice fresh. There is a very discernible difference.