Hip-hop artists sing about it. Athletes pour it on each other after winning a game. There are paintings of women swimming (?!) in it. Champagne and other sparkling wines are celebratory drinks, sure, but not all bottles are as exclusive and unattainable as Gucci Mane and Meek Mill will have you believe. We've got proof: These bottles of bubbles are *somm's kiss* enough to have you singing... and maybe pouring some on your friends. But, like, don't swim in them. That's just a waste of good booze.
There are a lot of sparkling wines to choose from. Like, a lot. So we reached out to some experts, a.k.a. folks like sommeliers and restaurant owners, to ask what they are selling and sipping on. We also made sure to include a lot of affordable sparkling wines on this list so you can always have them chilling in your fridge without having to splurge. And we made sure to have sparkling wines from all over the world, not just champagne. So without further ado, here are the best sparkling wines to pop open at your next celebration, or just like a regular Tuesday night.
"This everyday sparkling wine is light, crisp and minerally," said Charles Bililies, CEO and founder of Greek restaurant Souvla in San Francisco. "Bringing the best of Santorini's one-of-a-kind volcanic terroir to this fun wine made in the traditional, ancestral method." He recommends enjoying it with chilled seafood and cheese.
They say OutKast's song "So Fresh, So Clean" was about Cava*. This bubbly style is citrusy, mineral-laden, and bright. Much like Champagne, the juice spends 24 months on its lees (spent yeast cells), giving it a brioche-y tone. It's an awesome value as an alternative to champagne.
Released every year in October, this wine comes from the Columbia Valley in Oregon. "We opened a bottle with our families over oysters at Thanksgiving and were blown away," said Jessica Baesler, owner of neighborhood bar Someday in Portland. "It's one of the best domestic champagnes we have ever had. With a true sense of place, this wine has notes of green apple, crushed seashell, and a hint of brioche."
This bubbly from Burgundy goes great with oysters and fresh produce. "It is elegant, slightly floral, crisp, and fresh, with notes of lemon and lime, a hint of yeast, and a fine mousse," Baesler said. "This mid-priced wine over-delivers.”
"While we were looking for a sparkling wine that could be enjoyed in a spritz and cocktails, as well as on its own by the glass, we found this white lambrusco," Baesler said. "It holds its bubbles all night long and boasts floral, orchard, and citrus notes. There is a slight savory, hay-like quality that balances out the lemon zest and citrus notes, giving an aperitif like the Aperol spritz just a little more character."
This bottle of Napa bubbly uses Pinot Noir grapes to give it richness and depth, while imparting notes of strawberry and raspberry to the nose, and blackberry once it hits your tongue. Sounds pretty luxurious, huh?
Have you seen the word "Pét Nat" and few times and wondered what it means? "Pét Nats, short form for Pétillant Naturel, are sparkling wines made with the méthode ancestrale, an ancient wine-making practice in which the wine is bottled while fermenting, trapping the bubbles and leaving a vibrant, dry, refreshing, and delicious sparkling wine," said Nicolás Andrés Martianhes, sommelier and wine educator at BALVANERA.
That's why he loves this Argentine sparkling wine so much. It pairs well with "charcuterie or with a crispy, mud-oven baked pizza."
This sparkling wine is made from chardonnay grapes grown at 3,600 feet in altitude in the Mendoza region in Argentina. "It has a great volume and an intense greasy texture surrounded by poached pears aromas, confit quince and brioche bread hints," Andrés Martianhes said. "My favorite is to pair it with quebracho wood-grilled sweetbreads, fresh chimichurri, and lime."
Prosecco is made in a style that produces peachy fruit-bombs. This bottle is refreshing with a touch of sweet with delicate florals that balance out the green apple, peach, and lemon notes. La Marca is the only Prosecco producer from this region in Italy to be awarded a “Top 100 Wines of the Year” by Wine Spectator.
Looking for a sparkling wine that's a little different? Try this Chandon California Garden Spritz. "Blended with Valencia Orange bitters and local herbs, it strikes a perfect balance between sweetness and bitterness," said Frank Brusco, owner of Patricia's of Holmdel and Gabriella's Italian Steakhouse in New Jersey. "[It's] quickly becoming a crowd favorite as an aperitivo at our restaurant!”
Louis Roederer is a 200-plus-year-old winery, making it one of the most sought after in the world. This bottle of bubbles is the first sparkling wine Roederer created in California, and it continues to showcase the finesse and depth of flavor it's famous for. Critics love it.
You know how in your group of friends, each one of you brings a unique element to the dynamic? Well, think of each of the three permitted grapes of Champagne as friends. Pinot noir is more dominant and probably the leader with the amount of power she brings. Pinot meunier is fresh and vibrant and is likely trying to lighten the mood. Meanwhile the elegant chardonnay is complex AF.
When they're all hanging out together in this particular bottle, they are perfectly balanced and hard to not want to be around. This wine is a great value for the price.
This California cutie combines the knowledge of its Champagne house, Mumm of Reims, with a style unique to the Napa Valley. All that creates a praised, value-driven sparkling wine. It's bursting with notes of strawberry blossom and crisp grapefruit that are accented with a touch of gingerbread.
This sweeter, lighter style of sparkling vino is just lightly fizzy. Notes of white flowers and plump peaches invite you to drink it with a fruity dessert. Or breakfast. And it's so drinkable at only 5.5 percent ABV
You're sure to recognize this beloved orange label. C'mon, there are polo classics celebrating these bubbles. The bottle is an icon because of its warming aromas of vanilla, cream, and brioche that pair with fresh strawberries and poached pear.
Cremants are essentially sparkling wines made in the style of champagne but without being made in the Champagne region. But guess who invented sparkling wines first. LIMOUX! In 1531! So rad. In French, Faire la Fete means "to party." So get to partying with this bottle.
RED. SPARKLING. WINE. Brachettos combine the elegance of red wines with the charm of a sparkling wine. They're lightly sweet but would balance a salty Italian cheese wonderfully. This family-run winery conveys their passion in these quality wines.
Felicia LaLomia is the Food & Culture Editor for Delish. When she isn’t covering food news or writing features about delicious trends in the culinary world, she’s searching for her next perfect bite.