entertaining
BRING ON THE BUBBLY
Sparkling wines and champagnes perfect for any occasion.
WRITTEN BY HEIDI BETHEL
PHOTO BY JACI GOODMAN
Whether it’s a quiet dinner at home, sharing Sunday brunch with family, or ringing in the New Year with a few hundred of your closest friends, champagnes and sparkling wines work with any occasion. So why wait for big events? Why not enjoy a glass (or two) of the chilled sparkling refreshment that Marilyn Monroe famously drank while eating potato chips? (If Marilyn could drink champagne with snacks, then we all should be able to, too!)
No matter the occasion, here are a few favorite recommendations offered by local wine shop owners. These choices are sure to make any day feel like a celebration.
Caraccioli Cellars Brut Rosé 2006
This sparkling wine from the Santa Lucia Highlands in California displays a light salmon hue and is a blend of 60 percent pinot noir and 40 percent chardonnay.
“This selection has a little strawberry-lemon citrus flavor with a hint of a light tang,” says Debby Bullentini, owner of L’uva Bella Wine Gallery in Reno. “It has a nice bright acidity that makes it really refreshing as well.”
Bullentini recommends serving this with pumpernickel and salmon-wrapped mangoes (featured on page 44). Available for $54.99 at L’uva Bella Wine Gallery in Reno (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Luva-Bella-Wine-Gallery/326919228077?ref=ts&fref=ts), 775-851-1110
Collet Brut Non-vintage
A relatively unknown boutique vineyard, Collet grows and produces champagne from the infamous Champagne region in France. Offering citrus notes with a pear flavor on the finish, the champagne blend includes 20 percent chardonnay, 30 percent pinot noir, and 30 percent pinot meunier.
“The acidity presented in the Collet Brut pairs well with Brie, Mild Cheddar, or Gouda cheeses,” says Rick Shamhart, owner of Vintage in Reno.
Available for $29.99 at Vintage in Reno (https://www.facebook.com/vintagewineshop?fref=ts), 775-824-9463
Renardat-Fâche Cerdon du Bugey Sparkling Rosé
With grapes harvested on a small vineyard south of Beaujolais, France, this eco-friendly champagne offering is produced the old-fashioned way, with wild yeasts, hand harvesting, and natural viticulture.
“This is a little dry and has strawberries on the forefront with a rustic carbonation,” says Ty Martin, owner of Craft Wine and Beer in Reno. “A sugar cookie or brioche matches the sweetness perfectly.”
Or, try this wine with a Nothing Bundt Cake in Reno bundtini (featured on page 44).
Available for $21 at Craft Wine and Beer in Reno (https://www.facebook.com/craft.reno?fref=ts), 775-622-4333
The grape debate
Champagne versus sparkling wine.
Champagne is a legally controlled and restricted name used to represent sparkling wine grown and produced in the Champagne region in France and the appellation under which it is sold. Sparkling wine or “bubbly” is comparable to its French counterpart, but can be produced throughout the world.
A big fan of effervescent offerings, freelance writer Heidi Bethel enjoys sharing a bottle of champagne or sparkling wine with friends and family, no matter what the occasion.
