I really hate to repeat the topic, but regarding celebratory champagne/sparkling wine...

[msallied]

There was a thread on here several weeks back where everybody was recommending their favorite sparkling wines, and I'm looking to pick up a great bottle tomorrow. I searched for the thread here on DU and I can't find it, but maybe I'm utilizing the search option incorrectly. lol

So, what're you all drinking or can you recommend for a great celebratory bottle of bubbly? I normally drink the cheap stuff, but I think the occasion calls for the good stuff. :)

[Lifelong Protester]

1. Love the bubbly myself,,,

if you can get any of these, they are worth the price:

Moet White Star
Roerderer Estates
Piper Sonoma
Taittenger
Domaine Chandon

Good old Freixenet (spanish) as well as Segura Viudas are also good.

Pierre Gimmonet also a good choice.

[msallied]

4. Thank you!

I saw the Freixenet today at the store and it was very reasonably priced. I was tempted to buy it because they had a most amazing ad last year that Martin Scorsese made as an homage to Alfred Hitchcock movies. lol I guess some forms of marketing really do work on me. :)

[morillon]

38. Oh, thanks for the recs!

I'm leaning toward the Moët at the moment. If I can't find any at the store down the road, I'll try one of your other recs.

I bought some Dom there before, so maybe they'll have a good variety.

[babylonsister]

2. Is this it?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7530102

[msallied]

5. YES! Thank you so much!

How do you do that? I do you just use the search in the upper-right hand corner? I swear I'm a dummy sometimes.

[babylonsister]

7. Actually, yes.

:) I plugged in 'champagne', and did a DU search, looking for something from a few weeks ago.

[msallied]

11. Sigh, then I really need to pay more attention. lol

Thanks again! :toast:

[spinbaby]

3. And while we're asking for advice...

We have a bottle of pretty good sparkling wine that has been in our refrigerator for about a decade. Is it still good to drink or should we buy a new bottle for this momentous occasion?

We have fireworks lined up, too.

[msallied]

6. hehehe... I also have some fireworks leftover from the 4th.

As for the bottle in your fridge, I would say that it probably isn't in very good shape. I know that sediment tends to settle over time in regular wines and that can affect the taste. But it might be different with sparkling wines... I had some special Korbel Millennium bottles in my fridge until last year, but I couldn't quite bring myself to open one of them. lmao I bought the wine and then found out I was pregnant that year, so there was no bubbly for me.

[Lifelong Protester]

44. No, it will not be good if it has been in the fridge

the reason is that the humidity level in your fridge raises and lowers, and that plays havoc with the cork, making it loose then tight. This will GREATLY affect the quality of the champagne. My advice is go out and get some other bottle(s). Like I said, the Spanish sparkling is pretty good for the price~ Freixenet is about $8.00 a bottle.

[bbernardini]

8. I'll be drinking whatever beer I have left by then...

Most likely Victory Lager (by Victory Brewing Company...somehow appropriate, don't you think?), but I may end having to resort to the beers hiding in the back of the fridge if I'm truly desperate (Cranberry Lambic and Strawberry Wheat). I'll probably see if we have any wine hiding in the basement before I drink those, though...I just don't care for fruity beers.

[Motown_Johnny]

9. I was thinking about this a couple hours ago.. I need a bottle that goes well with pie

I may go with a blush or switch up to an asti spumante. It depends on what catches my eye

I can't see a traditional dry champagne/sparkling wine with sweet potato (or whatever) pie

[msallied]

10. I looove spumante. I know bruts are pretty dry, but I've had some good ones.

Generally, if it's a dry wine I only need to get through the first few sips and then I'm acclimated enough to polish off the bottle. lmao

[Motown_Johnny]

21. I agree, but if I am eating something sweet I can't do both.

A brut or extra brut does not go well with dessert IMO

After dessert it is excellent, but I don't think I can plan on waiting that long to celebrate.


I expect to be eating pie and drinking wine a good portion of the evening

[Cirque du So-What]

12. I don't restrict my sparkling wine list to only champagne

My wife won't touch any wine that hints of 'dryness,' and I'm averse to wine that's overly sweet. We've found a happy medium in Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante, however. It's become the sparkling wine of choice in our household.

[msallied]

15. That is one of my favorites as well.

My husband also loves it. I figure if I can't settle on anything else, I will get my old standby. :)

[lamp_shade]

13. Ah... my wonderful one. Would you care for a glass of champagn-ya?

Christopher Waulken... The Continental.

[msallied]

16. LOL! That's how my husband and I always pronounce it here at home.

Always loved that sketch. :)

[MadBadger]

14. BEEEEEEEER

[msallied]

18. Is it still considered bad to mix wine and beer? I might switch later in the night. lol

It will be early out here when the election is called and I can't drink champagne all night. Unless I want to lose consciousness. ;)

[Jennicut]

22. Beer before liquor makes you sicker quicker or something like that

I had a bad episode at a club my husband's band plays at. Don't ever mix two Stolis, Rum and Coke, a White Russian, and a shot of blackberry rum together. NOT a good combo on a weak stomach. Funny thing is no beer before the liquor, just too many different types of liquor. I myself will be sticking to Bud Lights the night of the election. I learned my lesson. No liquor for me.

[Left Is Write]

40. Here's a little rhyme for you:

Liquor before beer, you're in the clear
Beer before liquor, never sicker

[MadBadger]

23. Well how bout this?

This Beer Wine Hybrid is what I may be drinking

[Jackpine Radical]

35. Bier auf Wein, das lass sein.

Wein auf Bier, das rat' ich dir.

Beer after wine--leave it be.
Wine after beer, that I advise thee.

(My ad hoc doggerel translation).

[Left Is Write]

39. Nah. Beer to wine or vice versa is fine. You want to avoid mixing

wine with liquor or beer with liquor; however, if you're going to have both, have the liquor first (e.g., a martini before dinner) and the wine or beer later.

[Lifelong Protester]

46. Let me tell you about an Irish mix...

half Guinness Stout, and half champagne. It is called a 'velvet hammer' for reasons that might become apparent if you indulge in too many. But it is gooooooood.

[rucky]

17. Domaine Ste. Michelle

Columbia Valley, WA - makes some mean sparkling wine.

[msallied]

19. Well shoot, that's a local brand for me. I will look for that!

I think the Pacific NW has some amazing wineries.

[medicswife]

26. Argh! I can't get my hands on their sparkling wine here on post, just

their Riesling which is a favorite! Husband comes from Woodland, WA so we try very hard to keep it "local" even when we're far from home.

[rucky]

28. Check Trader Joe's

if there's one near you, that's your best shot

keep hope alive.

[medicswife]

31. Nope! lol no Trader Joes, and KY is one of the states that you can't

have alcohol sent to via the internets. :( Shame, that!

[Lifelong Protester]

47. Also good, I forgot that one!

[helderheid]

20. What I'm drinking and HIGHLY recommend (aaprox $18) Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs

Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs


Our Blanc de Noirs is predominantly made from hand-harvested Pinot Noir grapes, the hallmarks of which are a vibrant red fruit character. The creamy palate and rosy hue are a result of a small addition of Vin Gris, which was blended into the base cuvée. Over forty different clones and selections of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are planted on our 340-acre estate in the Sonoma Carneros district. This allows us to consistently produce cuvées with complexity and clear fruit expression.

2007 GOLD MEDALS
National Women's Wine Competition (Sweepstakes Winner)
Pacific Rim International Wine Competition (Gold, Best of Class)
Critics Challenge International Wine Competition
Los Angeles Wine & Spirits Competition (Platinum & Best of Class)
North of the Gate Wine Competition (Gold, Best of Class)
Sonoma County Harvest Fair (Gold, Best of Class)

http://store.gloriaferrer.com/productinfotabs.aspx?ProductID=GFBN3053

[WeDidIt]

34. I would highly recommend this as well.

I prefer Veuve, but speaking strictly in terms of value per dollar, Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs is a better value.

[medicswife]

24. I'm saving my first bottle of Dom Perignon for when my husband

gets home from Iraq in a couple of weeks. I bought a bottle of Crane Lake Spumante for Tuesday night. I don't know if it will be any good or not!!!! I got the kids a bottle of sparkling cider. My 8 year old is supremely confident. He is not jaded like his old Ma!

[msallied]

25. Awww! I'm so happy for you!

I love seeing military families united after a long separation. An early congratulations to you and yours!! :toast:

[medicswife]

27. Thanks! We're not out of the woods yet, he is still in Iraq for a little

while longer, but he had his last convoy the other day and that is a BIG relief. As soon as he's in Kuwait, I'll start to decompress a little bit.

[stuntcat]

29. we got two personal-size bottles :D

They're very small, we'll have a real bottle of wine also :D but with the little champagnes we get to pop two corks :party:

[WeDidIt]

30. Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin

[msallied]

32. I saw that at the store today and ALMOST bought it.

It was about $50 for the bottle and I wanted to try and read some reviews on it before I bought it. Is it very dry?

[WeDidIt]

37. It is, in my opinon, the best Champagne under $100/bottle

Know that Champagne only comes from France.

Veuve is superior. tT is a dry Champagne, as are all champagnes, but it is superior in bouquet and flavor. I highly recommend it. Cost should be just under $40/bottle.

I intend to purchase a bottle tomorrow morning to pop when it's called for Obama (and just prior to setting off the fireworks I have in my closet).

For my second bottle, I will have a bottle of Gloria Ferrer at about $18 for the bottle.

[Lifelong Protester]

48. Now THAT is the good stuff!!

[libnnc]

33. gonna go to the wine store tomorrow

we've said all along that we were going to splurge on a real bottle of champagne

:D

[renie408]

36. I saw this thread and said out loud, "Oh, yeah, I need to pick up some champagne for Tuesday." and

my daughter said, "Why?"

I told her, "Because one way or the other we are going to need it."

[AtomicKitten]

41. Margaritas. Rocks. No salt. No bubbles.

:bounce:

[GreenInNC]

42. Buy French!!!!!

and really rub it in the Repubs face.

[BlooInBloo]

43. I can't stand champagne. This is what I'll be drinking liberally....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7703942&mesg_id=7704051

[Fluffdaddy]

45. Not to be a party pooper. To early for me to think about it.

I have 3 cans of bud.............that will have to do. Don't want to jinx anything.

Yep I'm very very superstitious

[CADEMOCRAT7]

49. French, small batch, champagne Blanc de Blanc Ruelle-Pertois goes well with pie !

It will go well with our sweet potato pie because it actually states that it has flavors of pie crusts ! It is reasonable, around $33.00. Also, it is French, and we appreciated the fact that President Nicolas Sarkozy held a joint press conference with Senator Obama !!!!

[FreedomRain]

50. Goin with Sam Adams' Black Lager myself

:) Though my 14 year old son says we should lay in some "Arrogant Bastard Ale" in case McCain wins!