Many
partygoers believe that a flute of bubbly champagne makes any
celebration special. Welch’s sparkling grape juice, on the other
hand, can make your guests feel as if they are sitting at the kids’
table on Thanksgiving. There is a way to please all of your guests,
whether or not they drink alcohol. No matter what your price range,
there is something out there for you.
Alcoholic
Pol Roger’s 1996 vintage Sir Winston Churchill ($159), France
This champagne is named after the famous man who was Pol Roger’s
most loyal customer. He drank it religiously and even had 20,000
bottles set aside for himself at one point.
"You will get what you pay for. This champagne lasts a lot
longer on the palate and has more complexity," says Michael
Greguska of Discount Liquors in Waukesha. "It is used with
reserved grapes from the best vineyards."
French Pommery ($32), France
Another decadent champagne is the French Pommery which is
excellent, yet more inexpensive than the Churchill. This is a blended
champagne that is often used at the Nobel Peace Prize Awards. "It
is the number one sparkler used since 1901. It is a crisp, dry
champagne with a nice acidity. It is very clean," says Greguska.
Moletto Presecco ($15), Italy
This is a very popular sparkling wine because it fits in everyone’s
price range. It is also a good beverage to celebrate everything, from
the holidays to buying a new car. Stephanie Metz of Vino 100 in
Grafton agrees that this is a delectable bubbly that everyone can
afford. "It tends to be drier, but still has some nice crisp
fruitiness, A tasty lemon-lime flavor with a hint of melon," says
Metz.
Non-alcoholic
Ariel Brut non-alcoholic champagne ($6) California
Partygoers can still enjoy the bubbly fruity taste of champagne
with less than 0.5 percent of the alcohol. It’s hard to tell the
difference between this drink and real champagne. A regular fine wine
is made first, then the alcohol is removed by cold filtration, saving
the fruity taste. "With its crisp and dry taste, it is one of the
world’s finest non-alcoholic champagnes," says Greguska
Duche De Longueville Sparkling Cider ($5) France
This cider is a great alternative to alcohol. It is completely
natural with no added sweeteners and has been around for over 50
years. "The apples come from orchids in Normandy and it is kept
in controlled temperatures. It is quite good," says Greguska.
Fré by Sutter Home ($5) California
Another sparkling wine where the alcohol is removed, Fre is a great
way to treat your guests. They make both a brut and a spumante.
"The brut is dry and refreshing and the spumante is sweet,"
says Greguska.
