A guide to sparkling wine worth seeking out, by region.

Sparkling wine in Champagne

Krug ★ 5.0

AOC ChampagnePinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot MeunierFounded 1843LVMHReims

Prestige Reims maison founded in 1843, owned by LVMH, built on a multi-vintage reserve blend across all three main grapes for its Grande Cuvee.

Tasting: By appointment only through the Krug hospitality programme; the family house is not open to the general public.

Signature wines: krug-grande-cuvee, krug-clos-du-mesnil

Tip: Each Grande Cuvee release carries an ID code linking it to its blend and disgorgement.

Moet & Chandon ★ 4.6

AOC ChampagneChardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot MeunierFounded 1743LVMHEpernay

The largest Champagne house, founded 1743 in Epernay and owned by LVMH, with 28 km of chalk cellars on the Avenue de Champagne and the Dom Perignon prestige cuvee.

Tasting: Guided cellar tours and tastings in French or English; book in advance, the cellars reopened after renovation.

Signature wines: dom-perignon, moet-imperial-brut

Tip: The Dom Perignon prestige label is produced here and released only in declared vintages.

Louis Roederer ★ 4.9

AOC ChampagneChardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot MeunierFounded 1776Rouzaud familyBiodynamic PracticingReims

Family-owned Reims maison founded 1776, famous for the Cristal prestige cuvee created for Tsar Alexander II and for its estate-owned, partly biodynamic vineyards.

Tasting: Visits by appointment; the family house focuses on private and trade hospitality.

Signature wines: cristal, roederer-collection

Tip: Cristal is made only from estate vineyards, much of them farmed biodynamically.

Champagne Bollinger ★ 4.8

AOC ChampagnePinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot MeunierFounded 1829Bollinger family (Societe Jacques Bollinger)Ay

Family-owned Ay house founded 1829, Pinot Noir-led with oak fermentation and a reserve of magnums; long the supplier of fictional spy James Bond's Champagne.

Tasting: Visits by appointment; Pinot-led house known for barrel fermentation and long lees ageing.

Signature wines: bollinger-special-cuvee, bollinger-grande-annee

Tip: The rare Vieilles Vignes Francaises comes from ungrafted, pre-phylloxera Pinot Noir vines.

Champagne Pol Roger ★ 4.8

AOC ChampagneChardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot MeunierFounded 1849Pol Roger / de Billy familyEpernay

Family-owned Epernay maison founded 1849, Winston Churchill's favourite Champagne, with cool, deep cellars and a prestige cuvee named in his honour.

Tasting: Visits by appointment; family house on the renamed Epernay street, formerly rue Henri Lelarge.

Signature wines: pol-roger-brut-reserve, pol-roger-cuvee-winston-churchill

Tip: The street was renamed rue Winston Churchill in 2025; older sources still say rue Henri Lelarge.

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin ★ 4.6

AOC ChampagnePinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot MeunierFounded 1772LVMHReims

Reims house founded 1772 and owned by LVMH, shaped by Madame Clicquot, who pioneered the riddling table; known for its Yellow Label brut.

Tasting: Guided cellar tours and tastings; booking required, with a Clicquot Cafe on site.

Signature wines: veuve-clicquot-yellow-label, veuve-clicquot-la-grande-dame

Tip: Madame Clicquot is credited with inventing the riddling rack and the first known vintage rose.

Champagne Taittinger ★ 4.7

AOC ChampagneChardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot MeunierFounded 1734Taittinger familyReims

Reims house tracing to 1734 and re-acquired by the Taittinger family in 2006, Chardonnay-led with deep Gallo-Roman chalk cellars beneath the Saint-Nicaise hill.

Tasting: Guided tours of the Gallo-Roman chalk crayeres at Saint-Nicaise; booking recommended in season.

Signature wines: taittinger-comtes-de-champagne, taittinger-brut-reserve

Tip: Its cellars occupy former Gallo-Roman chalk pits and the crypt of a 13th-century abbey.

Ruinart ★ 4.7

AOC ChampagneChardonnay, Pinot NoirFounded 1729LVMHReims

The oldest established Champagne house, founded 1729 in Reims and owned by LVMH, Chardonnay-focused and famous for its deep UNESCO-listed chalk crayeres.

Tasting: Tours of the UNESCO-listed chalk crayeres, tastings and garden visits at the redesigned 4 rue des Crayeres site.

Signature wines: dom-ruinart-blanc-de-blancs, ruinart-blanc-de-blancs

Tip: Its crayeres descend about 40 metres into Gallo-Roman chalk and are a UNESCO World Heritage feature.

Champagne Billecart-Salmon ★ 4.8

AOC ChampagneChardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot MeunierFounded 1818Roland-Billecart familyVallee de la Marne

Family-owned Mareuil-sur-Ay house founded 1818, celebrated for its delicate brut rose and a long, cold fermentation that yields a fresh, precise style.

Tasting: Estate visits by appointment at Mareuil-sur-Ay; family house known for cold, slow fermentation.

Signature wines: billecart-salmon-brut-rose, billecart-salmon-cuvee-nicolas-francois

Tip: Its salmon-pink Brut Rose is one of the most acclaimed roses in Champagne.

Charles Heidsieck ★ 4.7

AOC ChampagnePinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot MeunierFounded 1851EPI (Descours family)Reims

Reims house founded 1851 by Charles-Camille Heidsieck and owned by EPI, prized for a large reserve-wine component and rich, mature Brut Reserve.

Tasting: The house is not generally open to the public for visits.

Signature wines: charles-heidsieck-brut-reserve, charles-heidsieck-blanc-des-millenaires

Tip: Founder Charles-Camille earned the nickname Champagne Charlie selling in 19th-century America.

Piper-Heidsieck ★ 4.4

AOC ChampagnePinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot MeunierFounded 1785EPI (Descours family)Reims

Reims house founded 1785 and owned by EPI, Pinot-led with a crisp, fruit-forward brut and the rare prestige cuvee Rare.

Tasting: Cellar visits and tastings; book in advance.

Signature wines: piper-heidsieck-cuvee-brut, piper-heidsieck-rare

Tip: Marilyn Monroe famously name-checked the brand; the prestige cuvee Rare is now its own label.

Champagne Laurent-Perrier ★ 4.6

AOC ChampagneChardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot MeunierFounded 1812Laurent-Perrier / de Nonancourt familyVallee de la Marne

Family-controlled house at Tours-sur-Marne founded 1812, known for a fresh, Chardonnay-influenced style and a pioneering saignee Cuvee Rose.

Tasting: Visits by appointment; family group house at Tours-sur-Marne.

Signature wines: laurent-perrier-la-cuvee, laurent-perrier-cuvee-rose

Tip: Its Cuvee Rose is made by skin maceration (saignee), unusual among the big houses.

Champagne Deutz ★ 4.6

AOC ChampagnePinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot MeunierFounded 1838Groupe Louis RoedererAy

Ay house founded 1838 by William Deutz and Pierre-Hubert Geldermann, now part of the Roederer group, with an elegant, structured Pinot-led style.

Tasting: Visits by appointment at the Ay house.

Signature wines: deutz-brut-classic, deutz-cuvee-william-deutz

Tip: Its prestige cuvee Amour de Deutz is a refined Chardonnay-driven counterpart to the William Deutz.

Champagne Salon ★ 4.9

AOC ChampagneChardonnayFounded 1905Laurent-Perrier groupLe Mesnil-sur-Oger

Single-cuvee Blanc de Blancs house at Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, founded 1905, releasing only declared vintages of Cuvee S from one Grand Cru village.

Tasting: Not open to the general public; allocation only through trade and private channels.

Signature wines: salon-cuvee-s-le-mesnil

Tip: Salon makes one wine only and in non-declared years the fruit goes to sister house Delamotte.

Perrier-Jouet ★ 4.6

AOC ChampagneChardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot MeunierFounded 1811Pernod RicardEpernay

Epernay house founded 1811, owned by Pernod Ricard, known for the Art Nouveau anemone bottle of its Belle Epoque prestige cuvee and a Chardonnay-leaning style.

Tasting: Belle Epoque Society tastings and visits at Maison Belle Epoque; reservation required.

Signature wines: perrier-jouet-belle-epoque, perrier-jouet-grand-brut

Tip: The anemone bottle was designed by Emile Galle in 1902 and revived for Belle Epoque in 1969.

Champagne Philipponnat ★ 4.7

AOC ChampagnePinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot MeunierFounded 1910Lanson-BCC groupVallee de la Marne

Mareuil-sur-Ay house founded 1910, owner since 1935 of Clos des Goisses, the steep south-facing walled vineyard behind one of Champagne's great single-clos wines.

Tasting: Visits by appointment; house known for its walled single vineyard Clos des Goisses.

Signature wines: philipponnat-clos-des-goisses, philipponnat-royale-reserve-brut

Tip: Clos des Goisses is among the steepest and warmest sites in Champagne, so it is rarely chaptalised.

Champagne Henriot ★ 4.5

AOC ChampagneChardonnay, Pinot NoirFounded 1808Henriot familyReims

Family Reims house founded 1808 by Apolline Henriot, Chardonnay-leaning with a fresh, refined style and the prestige Cuve des Enchanteleurs.

Tasting: Visits by appointment in Reims; book ahead in high season.

Signature wines: henriot-brut-souverain, henriot-blanc-de-blancs

Tip: The house has a strong Cote des Blancs sourcing, giving its blends a Chardonnay backbone.

Champagne Lanson ★ 4.5

AOC ChampagnePinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot MeunierFounded 1760Lanson-BCC groupReims

Reims house founded 1760 and part of Lanson-BCC, known for a fresh, malolactic-free style and the walled Clos Lanson vineyard in the city.

Tasting: Year-round guided tours of the Clos Lanson, winery and cellars; reservations required.

Signature wines: lanson-le-black-creation, lanson-clos-lanson

Tip: Lanson traditionally blocks malolactic fermentation, keeping its wines crisp and ageworthy.

G.H. Mumm ★ 4.4

AOC ChampagnePinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot MeunierFounded 1827Pernod RicardReims

Reims house founded 1827 and owned by Pernod Ricard, Pinot-led with the red-sash Cordon Rouge brut and around 25 km of city cellars.

Tasting: Cellar tours and tastings daily; book in advance, cellars span around 25 km.

Signature wines: mumm-cordon-rouge

Tip: The Cordon Rouge red sash references the French Legion of Honour ribbon.

Champagne Gosset ★ 4.6

AOC ChampagnePinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot MeunierFounded 1584Renaud-Cointreau groupEpernay

The oldest wine house in Champagne, established at Ay in 1584 and now based in Epernay, owned by Renaud-Cointreau and known for blocking malolactic fermentation.

Tasting: Visits to the Epernay house and its classified one-hectare park, open to the public since 2021.

Signature wines: gosset-grande-reserve-brut, gosset-grand-blanc-de-blancs

Tip: Gosset began as a still-wine producer in 1584, long before sparkling Champagne existed.

Domaine Jacques Selosse ★ 5.0

AOC ChampagneChardonnay, Pinot NoirFounded 1949Selosse familyWinemaker Anselme SelosseBiodynamic PracticingAvize

Cult Avize grower under Anselme Selosse, applying Burgundian, low-intervention and oxidative methods to terroir-driven Blanc de Blancs and lieu-dit cuvees.

Tasting: No general visits; the family also runs the Hotel Restaurant Les Avises in Avize. Allocation only.

Signature wines: selosse-initial, selosse-substance

Tip: Selosse pioneered grower-Champagne terroir thinking; bottles are scarce and allocation-only.

Champagne Egly-Ouriet ★ 4.9

AOC ChampagnePinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot MeunierFounded 1930Egly familyWinemaker Francis EglyMontagne de Reims

Benchmark Ambonnay grower under Francis Egly, working old Grand Cru Pinot Noir at low yields with very long lees ageing for powerful, vinous Champagne.

Tasting: Grower estate; visits only by prior arrangement, subject to availability.

Signature wines: egly-ouriet-les-vignes-de-vrigny, egly-ouriet-grand-cru-brut-tradition

Tip: Les Vignes de Vrigny is a rare 100 percent Pinot Meunier Premier Cru bottling.

Champagne Pierre Peters ★ 4.8

AOC ChampagneChardonnayFounded 1919Peters familyWinemaker Rodolphe PetersLe Mesnil-sur-Oger

Leading Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Chardonnay grower under Rodolphe Peters, working Grand Cru vines with a perpetual reserve and the single-vineyard Les Chetillons.

Tasting: Grower house; visits by appointment in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger.

Signature wines: pierre-peters-cuvee-de-reserve, pierre-peters-les-chetillons

Tip: Les Chetillons is a single-vineyard Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs from old Chardonnay vines.

Champagne Pascal Agrapart ★ 4.8

AOC ChampagneChardonnay, Pinot NoirFounded 1894Agrapart familyWinemaker Pascal AgrapartBiodynamic PracticingAvize

Avize Chardonnay grower under Pascal Agrapart, farming Cote des Blancs Grand Cru chalk with low-intervention methods for taut, terroir-marked Blanc de Blancs.

Tasting: Grower estate; visits by appointment in Avize.

Signature wines: agrapart-terroirs, agrapart-mineral

Tip: Cuvees like Mineral and Terroirs spotlight specific Grand Cru parcels of the Cote des Blancs.

Champagne Larmandier-Bernier ★ 4.8

AOC ChampagneChardonnay, Pinot NoirFounded 1971Larmandier familyWinemaker Pierre LarmandierDemeter CertifiedECOCERTCote des Blancs

Vertus grower farming the Cote des Blancs since 1971, organic from 1992 and Demeter-certified biodynamic from 2003, making vivid, low-dosage Blanc de Blancs.

Tasting: Grower estate; visits and tastings by appointment in Vertus.

Signature wines: larmandier-bernier-terre-de-vertus, larmandier-bernier-longitude

Tip: Terre de Vertus is a non-dose single-village Blanc de Blancs from Premier Cru Vertus.

Champagne Vilmart & Cie ★ 4.7

AOC ChampagneChardonnay, Pinot NoirFounded 1890Champers-Vilmart familyMontagne de Reims

Rilly-la-Montagne grower founded 1890, known for oak-fermented, Chardonnay-rich Premier Cru cuvees of depth and texture such as Coeur de Cuvee.

Tasting: Grower house; visits by appointment in Rilly-la-Montagne.

Signature wines: vilmart-grand-cellier

Tip: Vilmart ferments in large oak casks, unusual for a Montagne de Reims grower.

Champagne Chartogne-Taillet ★ 4.7

AOC ChampagnePinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot MeunierFounded 1683Chartogne familyWinemaker Alexandre ChartogneMontagne de Reims

Merfy grower with roots to 1683, led by Alexandre Chartogne toward terroir-driven, single-parcel Champagnes from the northern Massif de Saint-Thierry.

Tasting: Grower estate; visits by appointment in Merfy.

Signature wines: chartogne-taillet-cuvee-sainte-anne, chartogne-taillet-les-barres

Tip: Les Barres comes from ungrafted, own-rooted old Pinot Meunier vines.

Champagne Ulysse Collin ★ 4.7

AOC ChampagneChardonnay, Pinot NoirFounded 2003Collin familyWinemaker Olivier CollinCote de Sezanne

Congy grower founded 2003 by Olivier Collin in the Sezannais, making single-vineyard, lieu-dit Champagnes of texture and depth from reclaimed family vines.

Tasting: Small grower; no public tasting room, allocation through importers.

Signature wines: ulysse-collin-les-pierrieres

Tip: Les Pierrieres is a single-vineyard Blanc de Blancs from chalky Sezannais soils.

Roses de Jeanne (Cedric Bouchard) ★ 4.8

AOC ChampagnePinot Noir, ChardonnayFounded 2000Cedric BouchardWinemaker Cedric BouchardCote des Bar

Celles-sur-Ource micro-grower founded 2000 by Cedric Bouchard in the Cote des Bar, bottling single-parcel, single-vintage, single-grape Champagnes with no dosage.

Tasting: Tiny grower; no public visits, allocation only.

Signature wines: roses-de-jeanne-val-vilaine

Tip: Each cuvee is one parcel, one grape and one vintage, with no added dosage.

Champagne Drappier ★ 4.6

AOC ChampagnePinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Arbane, Petit Meslier, Pinot Blanc, Pinot GrisFounded 1808Drappier familyCote des Bar

Family house at Urville in the Cote des Bar, founded 1808, Pinot-led and a custodian of Champagne's rare grapes through its four-grape Quattuor.

Tasting: Family estate in the Cote des Bar; visits and tastings, see the house for hours.

Signature wines: drappier-carte-dor-brut, drappier-quattuor

Tip: Quattuor blends the rare Arbane, Petit Meslier and Blanc Vrai with Chardonnay.

Champagne Pierre Gimonnet & Fils ★ 4.6

AOC ChampagneChardonnayFounded 1935Gimonnet familyWinemaker Didier and Olivier GimonnetCote des Blancs

Cuis Chardonnay grower bottling since 1935, with major Cote des Blancs holdings including Cramant and Chouilly, making crisp, precise Blanc de Blancs.

Tasting: Grower reception and tasting in Cuis, Monday to Friday and Saturday by appointment.

Signature wines: gimonnet-cuis-1er-cru, gimonnet-fleuron

Tip: The family owns more Cote des Blancs vineyard than almost any other grower.

Champagne Frederic Savart ★ 4.6

AOC ChampagnePinot Noir, ChardonnayFounded 2005Savart familyWinemaker Frederic SavartMontagne de Reims

Ecueil grower under Frederic Savart on the south Montagne de Reims, making precise, Pinot-led Premier Cru Champagnes from massale-selection vines.

Tasting: Small grower; visits by appointment in Ecueil.

Signature wines: savart-lopen

Tip: Savart works the prized pinot fin d'Ecueil, an old massale selection of Pinot Noir.

Champagne Marguet ★ 4.6

AOC ChampagnePinot Noir, ChardonnayFounded 1870Marguet familyWinemaker Benoit MarguetDemeter CertifiedECOCERTMontagne de Reims

Ambonnay grower led by Benoit Marguet, farming Grand Cru vines biodynamically with horse ploughing, Demeter-certified, for vivid low-dosage Champagnes.

Tasting: Grower estate; visits by appointment in Ambonnay.

Signature wines: marguet-shaman

Tip: Marguet has ploughed its vineyards with horses since 2010, unusual in Champagne.

Champagne Bereche et Fils ★ 4.7

AOC ChampagnePinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot MeunierFounded 1847Bereche familyWinemaker Raphael and Vincent BerecheMontagne de Reims

Ludes grower established 1847, run by brothers Raphael and Vincent Bereche toward low-dosage, terroir-driven Champagnes with extended lees ageing.

Tasting: Grower estate; visits by appointment in Ludes.

Signature wines: bereche-brut-reserve

Tip: Le Cran is a single-village Ludes Premier Cru that helped build the estate's modern reputation.

Champagne Paul Bara ★ 4.6

AOC ChampagnePinot Noir, ChardonnayFounded 1833Bara familyWinemaker Chantale BaraBouzy

Seventh-generation Bouzy grower founded 1833, working 100 percent Grand Cru vines, Pinot Noir-led with a renowned rose and the rare still Bouzy Rouge.

Tasting: Grower estate; visits by appointment in Bouzy.

Signature wines: paul-bara-grand-rose-de-bouzy, paul-bara-brut-reserve

Tip: All the fruit comes from Grand Cru Bouzy, famed for ripe, powerful Pinot Noir.

Champagne Vazart-Coquart & Fils ★ 4.5

AOC ChampagneChardonnayFounded 1954Vazart familyWinemaker Jean-Pierre VazartCote des Blancs

Chouilly Grand Cru Chardonnay grower founded 1954 under Jean-Pierre Vazart, making generous, single-village Blanc de Blancs with a large perpetual reserve.

Tasting: Grower estate; visits by appointment in Chouilly.

Signature wines: vazart-coquart-grand-bouquet, vazart-coquart-special-club

Tip: All fruit comes from Grand Cru Chouilly at the northern end of the Cote des Blancs.

Champagne Diebolt-Vallois ★ 4.7

AOC ChampagneChardonnayFounded 1959Diebolt familyCramant

Cramant Chardonnay grower making Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs from the Cote des Blancs, with the old-vine, oak-fermented prestige cuvee Fleur de Passion.

Tasting: Grower estate; visits by appointment in Cramant.

Signature wines: diebolt-vallois-blanc-de-blancs, diebolt-vallois-fleur-de-passion

Tip: Fleur de Passion is fermented in old oak from old vines and made without malolactic.

Champagne Gaston Chiquet ★ 4.5

AOC ChampagneChardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot MeunierFounded 1935Chiquet familyVallee de la Marne

Dizy grower bottling estate Champagne since the 1930s, with the rare Blanc de Blancs d'Ay from Chardonnay grown in the Pinot stronghold of Ay.

Tasting: Grower estate; visits by appointment in Dizy.

Signature wines: gaston-chiquet-tradition-1er-cru, gaston-chiquet-blanc-de-blancs-day

Tip: Its Blanc de Blancs d'Ay is a rare Chardonnay grown in a village famed for Pinot Noir.

Champagne La Closerie (Jerome Prevost) ★ 4.8

AOC ChampagnePinot MeunierFounded 1998Agnes and Jerome PrevostWinemaker Jerome PrevostMontagne de Reims

Gueux micro-grower founded 1998 by Jerome Prevost, with a cult following for Meunier-dominant single-vineyard Champagne from the Les Beguines parcel.

Tasting: Tiny grower; visits by email appointment only, subject to availability.

Signature wines: la-closerie-les-beguines, la-closerie-fac-simile

Tip: Les Beguines is built almost entirely on old-vine Pinot Meunier, rare as a varietal cuvee.

Sparkling wine in Mosel

Weingut Dr. Loosen ★ 4.8

VDP.Grosse Lage MoselRieslingFounded 1988Ernst LoosenWinemaker Ernst LoosenBernkastel-Kues

Ernst Loosen's estate holds parcels of ungrafted old vines in many of the Mittelmosel's grand crus, from Wehlener Sonnenuhr to Erdener Pralat and the Bernkasteler Lay. A leading global ambassador for Mosel Riesling.

Tasting: Wine tastings and cellar-door sales Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 17:00 by appointment at St. Johannishof.

Weingut Markus Molitor ★ 4.7

VDP.Grosse Lage MoselRiesling, Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir), Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc)Founded 1984Markus MolitorWinemaker Markus MolitorWehlen

An ambitious estate spanning the Mosel and Saar with one of the largest collections of top sites in the region, plus serious Mosel Pinot Noir. Famous for its star-coded labelling of dry, off-dry and sweet styles.

Tasting: Vinothek open Monday to Friday 10:00 to 17:00, weekends and holidays by appointment.

Sparkling wine in Piedmont

Vietti ★ 4.8

Barolo DOCG, Barbaresco DOCG and Barbera d'Asti DOCGNebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Moscato Bianco, ArneisFounded 1919Krause Holdings (Kyle Krause); historically the Vietti-Currado familyBarolo DOCG

A historic Castiglione Falletto house founded in 1919, known for single-cru Barolo (Rocche di Castiglione, Brunate, Ravera) and artist-label bottlings. Acquired by the Krause family in 2016.

Tasting: Guided cellar visits, classic and experience tastings, and a vineyard trekking experience by online booking.

Signature wines: barolo-rocche-di-castiglione, barolo-ravera, barbera-dasti-la-crena

Michele Chiarlo ★ 4.5

Barbera d'Asti DOCG, Nizza DOCG, Barolo DOCG and Gavi DOCGBarbera, Nebbiolo, Moscato Bianco, CorteseFounded 1956Chiarlo family (Stefano and Alberto Chiarlo)Barbera d'Asti DOCG

Founded in 1956, Michele Chiarlo is one of Monferrato's leading houses, with holdings across Barbera d'Asti, Nizza, Gavi and Barolo and the La Court vineyard art park near Asti.

Tasting: Tastings at the Calamandrana cellar and the open-air Art Park La Court; visits by reservation.

Signature wines: barbera-dasti-la-court, nizza-cipressi, barolo-cerequio

Sparkling wine in Rhone Valley

Domaine du Tunnel ★ 4.4

Saint-Peray AOC, Cornas AOCMarsanne, Roussanne, SyrahFounded 1994ORGANIC CERTIFIEDSaint-Peray

Saint-Peray specialist producing still and sparkling Marsanne alongside compelling Cornas from adjacent granite terraces.

Tasting: By appointment at the cellar in Saint-Peray

Signature wines: tunnel-saint-peray-marsanne, tunnel-cornas-pur-noir

Sparkling wine in Sicily

Murgo ★ 4.5

Etna DOCNerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante, CatarrattoFounded 1860Etna DOC

A historic estate on Etna's eastern slopes, Murgo introduced Sicily's most acclaimed traditional-method sparkling wine in 1990 using Nerello Mascalese. The 30-hectare property has been in the Scammacca del Murgo family since 1860.

Tasting: Wine tastings available Monday to Saturday 11:30 to 14:00. Restaurant and accommodation on site.

Signature wines: murgo-brut-metodo-classico, murgo-etna-rosso, murgo-etna-bianco

Firriato Cavanera Etnea ★ 4.4

Etna DOCNerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, CarricanteEtna DOC

Firriato's Etna estate in the Verzella contrada includes the Cavanera resort, one of the most complete wine-tourism experiences on Etna, with accommodation, restaurant, cellar visits and the Gaudensius traditional-method sparkling wine from Nerello Mascalese.

Tasting: Wine resort and restaurant on Etna's north slope. Visits and stays bookable via Firriato.

Signature wines: firriato-gaudensius-etna-brut, firriato-cavanera-ripa-di-moraci

Sparkling wine in Tokaj

Sauska Tokaj ★ 4.3

Tokaj PDOFurmint, Hárslevelű, Sárga MuskotályRátka

The Sauska family's Tokaj winery, with a new Rátka facility opened in 2023, produces sparkling Furmint, dry whites and Aszú alongside the estate's Villány reds under the same family label.

Tasting: Winery tastings and visits at the Rátka facility, opened November 2023.

Signature wines: sauska-furmint, sauska-tokaj-aszu

Tip: The traditional-method sparkling Furmint is an unusual and rewarding expression of the grape's high natural acidity.

Sparkling wine in Veneto

Nino Franco ★ 4.7

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCGGleraFounded 1919Primo FrancoWinemaker Primo FrancoConegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

Founded in 1919 in Valdobbiadene, Nino Franco is credited with introducing quality Prosecco to international markets in the 1970s under Primo Franco. The estate produces Rive single-hill bottlings and the iconic Rustico brut.

Tasting: Tasting visits at the Valdobbiadene estate by appointment; Rive single-vineyard and Rustico poured.

Signature wines: nino-franco-rustico, nino-franco-grave-di-stecca, nino-franco-primo-franco

Bisol 1542 ★ 4.7

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCGGlera, Verdiso, Perera, Bianchetta TrevigianaFounded 1542Bisol familyWinemaker Matteo BisolConegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

One of Italy's oldest documented wine estates, with records dating to 1542 in Valdobbiadene. The Bisol family produces premium Prosecco Superiore DOCG including the prized Cartizze single-hill designation.

Tasting: Estate visits and tastings at Valdobbiadene; DOCG Cartizze and Rive range poured.

Signature wines: bisol-cartizze, bisol-crede-brut, bisol-relio-extra-dry

Bortolomiol ★ 4.5

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCGGleraFounded 1949Bortolomiol familyWinemaker Giuliana BortolomiolConegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

Giuliana Bortolomiol manages this family estate founded by her father Giuliano in 1949. Known for consistently well-made Valdobbiadene DOCG across multiple styles from brut nature to extra dry.

Tasting: Wine bar and tasting room in Valdobbiadene town; walk-in and appointment visits.

Signature wines: bortolomiol-senior, bortolomiol-ius-naturae

Ruggeri and C. ★ 4.5

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCGGlera, VerdisoFounded 1950Bisol familyWinemaker Ruggeri winemaking teamConegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

Founded in 1950 in Valdobbiadene, Ruggeri produces classic Prosecco Superiore DOCG including the historic Giustino B label, one of the zone's most-awarded extra-dry expressions.

Tasting: Visit and tasting at the Valdobbiadene winery by appointment.

Signature wines: ruggeri-giustino-b-extra-dry, ruggeri-oro-extra-dry

Adami ★ 4.6

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCGGleraFounded 1920Adami familyWinemaker Armando AdamiConegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

Family estate in Vidor producing Prosecco Superiore DOCG from steep Rive hillside vineyards. The single-vineyard Vigneto Giardino from Rive di Colbertaldo is one of the zone's most admired single-cru expressions.

Tasting: Visits and tastings at the Vidor estate by appointment.

Signature wines: adami-dei-casel-col-credas, adami-vigneto-giardino

Villa Sandi ★ 4.4

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCGGlera, Pinot Grigio, Pinot NeroFounded 1622Moretti Polegato familyWinemaker Villa Sandi winemaking teamConegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

Operating from a 17th-century Palladian villa in Crocetta del Montello, Villa Sandi is one of the Treviso Marca's largest premium producers. The estate spans Cartizze and Rive vineyards across the DOCG zone.

Tasting: Villa visits and wine tourism at the 17th-century Palladian villa in Crocetta del Montello; tours and tastings available.

Signature wines: villa-sandi-il-fresco, villa-sandi-cartizze

Col Vetoraz Spumanti ★ 4.5

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCGGleraFounded 1993Winemaker Col Vetoraz winemaking teamConegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

A family-owned winery situated above Santo Stefano at the edge of the Cartizze grand cru hill. The estate's elevation and south-facing exposure produce complex, mineral Prosecco Superiore DOCG from pure Glera.

Tasting: Tasting visits at the hilltop estate above Santo Stefano di Valdobbiadene; Cartizze and Rive range.

Signature wines: col-vetoraz-cartizze, col-vetoraz-valdobbiadene-brut

Foss Marai ★ 4.4

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCGGleraFounded 1947Foss Marai familyWinemaker Foss Marai winemaking teamConegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore

A DOCG Valdobbiadene estate at Guia di Valdobbiadene producing single-terroir Prosecco Superiore with a focus on freshness and minerality from the steep hillside Rive vineyards.

Tasting: Visits and tastings at the Guia estate by appointment.

Signature wines: foss-marai-valdobbiadene-brut, foss-marai-drusian

Bele Casel ★ 4.4

Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCGGlera, Perera, VerdisoFounded 1968Asolo Prosecco

A producer based in the Asolo hills south of Treviso, Bele Casel makes Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG with a focus on traditional field-blend varieties including Perera and Verdiso alongside the dominant Glera.

Tasting: Tastings at the winery in Caerano di San Marco by appointment; Asolo DOCG and Colli Asolani wines.

Signature wines: bele-casel-asolo-prosecco-extra-dry, bele-casel-costalunga

Case Paolin ★ 4.4

Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCGGlera, Verdiso, PereraFounded 1987Giusto familyWinemaker Giusto familyAsolo Prosecco

A small family estate at the foot of Montello in the Asolo DOCG zone. The Giusto family grows indigenous varieties alongside Glera for complex, lower-dosage Asolo Prosecco Superiore.

Tasting: Tasting visits at the Volpago del Montello estate by appointment.

Signature wines: case-paolin-asolo-prosecco-extra-brut

Serafini and Vidotto ★ 4.6

Montello Rosso DOCGCabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet SauvignonFounded 1986Francesco Serafini and Antonello VidottoWinemaker Antonello VidottoORGANIC CERTIFIEDMontello Rosso

Francesco Serafini and Antonello Vidotto established this Treviso estate in 1986, pioneering quality Bordeaux-variety production on the Montello hills. Il Rosso dell'Abazia is their flagship DOCG red.

Tasting: Visits and tastings at Nervesa della Battaglia by appointment.

Signature wines: serafini-vidotto-il-rosso-dell-abazia, serafini-vidotto-phigaia

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