Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Barmes-Buecher's vintage-dated extra-brut Cremant. Long-aged on lees in a Champagne-style Alsace Cremant, biodynamic, often zero-dosage.
Cuvées
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Easygoing
Lucien Albrecht's house Brut Cremant, a Pinot-family blend. Reliable traditional-method Alsace bubbles at the price of a good Champagne entry.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Easygoing
Lucien Albrecht's 100 percent Pinot Noir Cremant Rose. Albrecht claims to have been the first to receive AOC approval for Cremant d Alsace in 1976. Reliable salmon-pink bubbles at a friendly price.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Easygoing
Maison Cattin (Voegtlinshoffen) Cremant Jacques Cattin, an accessible Pinot-family blend with longer lees ageing than the basic tier.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Easygoing
Pierre Sparr's house Reserve Cremant Brut, a multi-grape blend with a touch of Chardonnay (permitted in Cremant d Alsace). Friendly, accessible Alsace sparkling.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Easygoing
Mure's house Cremant brut, a Pinot-family blend with a splash of Riesling for lift. Reliable traditional-method Alsace bubbles at a friendly price.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Valentin Zusslin's biodynamic Cremant Rose, made from 100 percent Pinot Noir. Salmon-pink, long-lees ageing, more serious than a typical Cremant rose.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Easygoing
Wolfberger Eguisheim co-op's blanc-de-noirs Cremant from 100 percent Pinot Noir, traditional method. Reliable affordable Alsace bubbles.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Festive · Easygoing
Duboeuf's Beaujolais Nouveau is the widely-distributed reference for the third-Thursday-November release: carbonic-maceration Gamay bottled and released on the third Thursday of November, with characteristically exuberant fruit and soft structure.
Raisins Gaulois
4.4
Dry · Easygoing · Festive
Dessert · Full-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
Premier Cru Classe Sauternes (1855), with an exceptionally high Semillon content (up to 100% in some vintages) that delivers a concentrated, pure expression of noble rot. Pineapple, candied citrus, honeycomb, and powdered ginger with vivid acidity; the 2013 renaissance under Silvio Denz transformed quality.
Dessert · Full-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
The second sweet wine of Lafaurie-Peyraguey, sharing the estate's Bommes terroir and high Semillon content. White peach, apricot, and lemon cream notes lead a direct, energetic palate with mellow sweetness balanced by lively acidity. More accessible in youth than the grand vin.
Dessert · Full-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
The second sweet wine of Chateau Rieussec, named after the Carmelite monks who founded the estate. Shares the same high-Semillon blend and botrytised character as the grand vin, with apricot, candied ginger, saffron, and orange blossom in a sweeter, more approachable style.
Krug Rose
4.8
Dry · Full-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
A vinous, spice-driven rose with greater colour and texture from a relatively high red-wine proportion, the fruit framed by Krug's signature toast.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Fruity · Festive
A pioneering saignee rose from Pinot Noir alone: fresh red berries, strawberry and raspberry over rose, the palate marked by bright vinous red fruit and a clean finish.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Easygoing
The most widely poured Champagne in the world: a bright, fruit-led brut of green apple and citrus with a brioche edge and an approachable, lively palate.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Easygoing
Mumm's red-sash house brut: citrus and white peach over a touch of caramel, the palate lively and fresh with fine bubbles and a clean finish.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Easygoing · Festive
A crisp, fruit-forward Pinot-led brut: almond and fresh hazelnut accompany subtle pear and apple over a clean, fresh palate.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Fruity · Festive
A delicate, perfumed rose with a bouquet of strawberry, red berries, herbs, blood orange and guava, fresh and lively on the palate.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Fruity
A richly aromatic rose combining cherry, strawberry and raspberry with white pepper, saffron and biscuit, finished by toast, orange peel and gingerbread accents.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Easygoing
The famous yellow-label brut: a soft, youthful, fruity nose of vanilla and red apple with a toasty overtone, the palate fresh, rounded and approachable.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Franciacorta from organic Abrami Elisabetta at Provaglio d'Iseo. Pinot Nero-inflected traditional-method sparkling, matched to soil plot by plot.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Pinot Nero-led Rosé Franciacorta from organic Abrami Elisabetta. The cellar's Pinot Nero focus shows clearly in its rosé.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Franciacorta from family Al Rocol at Ome. Chardonnay-led traditional-method sparkling from the agriturismo estate.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Pinot Nero-led Rosé Franciacorta from family Al Rocol at Ome.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Romantic
Pinot Nero-led Essence Rosé Brut from Antica Fratta. Wild strawberry and rose petal aromatics over a creamy mousse with 30 months on lees.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Romantic
Pinot Nero-led organic Rosé from Barone Pizzini, awarded Gambero Rosso's Tre Bicchieri. Wild strawberry, raspberry and rose petal over a creamy mousse.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing
Bellavista's base cuvée built on a deep reserve-wine library spanning over a decade. Chardonnay-led with a creamy mousse, white peach lift and a fine almond patisserie finish.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Romantic
Pinot Nero-led single-vintage Rosé from Bellavista's Erbusco vineyards. Wild strawberry and rose petal aromatics over a creamy mousse with 48 months on lees.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
The line that commemorates Franciacorta's 1961 birth year at Berlucchi. Chardonnay-led Brut with green apple lift, creamy mousse and a fresh almond finish at an accessible price.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Pinot Nero-led '61 Rosé Brut. Wild strawberry and raspberry aromatics over a creamy mousse, with the same 24 months on lees as the '61 Brut.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
The original Berlucchi traditional-method sparkling, the descendant of Franco Ziliani's 1961 founding cuvée. Now bottled outside DOCG as a VSQ at an everyday price.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Franciacorta from organic Bersi Serlini at Provaglio d'Iseo. Family property since 1886, bottle-fermented Franciacorta since 1970.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Pinot Nero-led Rosé Franciacorta from organic Bersi Serlini at Provaglio d'Iseo.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Franciacorta from organic Biondelli at Bornato. Chardonnay-led traditional-method sparkling from a 10-hectare property below Bornato Castle.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Franciacorta from organic Bredasole at Paratico near the southern end of Lake Iseo.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing
Numbered-edition base cuvée built on the deepest reserve-wine stock in Franciacorta. White peach and pink grapefruit aromatics over a creamy mousse and a saline mineral finish.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Romantic
Pinot Nero-led Rosé Extra Brut with wild strawberry and rose petal aromatics, a creamy mousse and a delicate citrus finish. The numbered base-tier Rosé from Maurizio Zanella's Erbusco cellar.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Franciacorta from organic Camossi at Erbusco. Chardonnay-led Pinot Nero traditional-method sparkling.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Pinot Nero-led Rosé Franciacorta from organic Camossi at Erbusco. Red-berried traditional-method sparkling.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Franciacorta from Castel Faglia at Cazzago San Martino. Chardonnay-led traditional-method sparkling from a 300-metre moraine hill.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Pinot Nero-led Rosé Franciacorta from Castel Faglia at Cazzago San Martino.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Franciacorta from family Castelveder at Monticelli Brusati. Chardonnay-led traditional-method sparkling.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Romantic
Pinot Nero-led Rosé Brut from Contadi Castaldi with 30 months on lees. Wild strawberry and rose petal aromatics over a creamy mousse.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Franciacorta from family Faccoli at Coccaglio. Minimal-intervention Chardonnay-led traditional-method sparkling from the foot of Monte Orfano.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Pinot Nero-led Rosé Franciacorta from family Faccoli at Coccaglio.
Ferghettina Rosé
4.5
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Romantic
100 percent Pinot Nero Rosé from Ferghettina, with the cellar's signature flat-bottle format. Wild strawberry and rose petal aromatics over a creamy mousse.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Franciacorta from organic La Fiòca at Nigoline Bonomelli in the Corte Franca commune near Lake Iseo. Chardonnay-led traditional-method sparkling from a south-facing crescent.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Romantic
Pinot Nero-led Rosé Brut from Lantieri with 30 months on lees. Wild strawberry and rose petal aromatics over a creamy mousse.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Franciacorta from family Le Cantorìe at Gussago. Chardonnay-led traditional-method sparkling from steep south-facing terraces on calcareous-clay-rocky soils.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Romantic
Le Marchesine's Pinot Nero-led Rosé Millesimato Artio. Wild strawberry and rose petal aromatics over a creamy mousse with 30 months on lees.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Franciacorta from family Majolini at Ome. Chardonnay-led traditional-method sparkling from the rock-excavated cellar.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Pinot Nero-led Rosé Franciacorta from organic Majolini at Ome.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Franciacorta from Marchesi Antinori Tenuta Montenisa at Calino. Chardonnay-led traditional-method sparkling from the Tuscan Antinori family's only Lombard property.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Pinot Nero-led Rosé Franciacorta from Marchesi Antinori Tenuta Montenisa at Calino.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Franciacorta from organic Mirabella at Passirano. Chardonnay-Pinot Bianco-Pinot Nero traditional-method sparkling from the converted 1940s cooperative.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Pinot Nero-led Rosé Franciacorta from organic Mirabella at Passirano.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Romantic
Pinot Nero-led Rosé Brut from Monte Rossa. The Flamingo label was redesigned around the eponymous pink bird and is one of the most-poured Rosé Franciacorta in Lombardy on-trade.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Franciacorta from Quadra at Cologne. Chardonnay-led traditional-method sparkling from the southwestern DOCG edge.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Pinot Nero-led Rosé Franciacorta from Quadra at Cologne.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Franciacorta from organic San Cristoforo at Villa Pedergnano in the Erbusco commune. Chardonnay-led traditional-method sparkling.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Pinot Nero-led Rosé Franciacorta from organic San Cristoforo at Villa Pedergnano.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Franciacorta from family Turra at Cologne. Chardonnay-led traditional-method sparkling from the western Monte Orfano slopes.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Franciacorta from family Vezzoli at Erbusco. Chardonnay-led Pinot Nero traditional-method sparkling.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Pinot Nero-led Rosé Franciacorta from family Vezzoli at Erbusco.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Tank-method sparkling Ribolla Gialla from Puiatti. Ribolla Gialla is the historic white grape of Collio and Brda and adapts well to the tank-method sparkling style.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Tank-method sparkling Pinot Grigio from Puiatti at Romans d'Isonzo. Vittorio Puiatti was a pioneer of serious Pinot Grigio in Friuli; the cellar has bottled sparkling Pinot Grigio since the 1980s.
Sweet · Festive · Bold
Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Low acidity · Festive
Classic PX with near-black colour and extreme dried-fruit sweetness; produced from sun-dried Pedro Ximénez grapes in the Sanlúcar bodega.
Sweet · Festive
Sweet · Festive · Bold
Dry Sack Medium
4.3
Off Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Easygoing · Festive
A classic medium sherry, the style that made Williams & Humbert famous. Off-dry with dried apricot, almond toffee and gentle spice from a blend of Amontillado, Oloroso and PX soleras.
Medium Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Festive · Elegant
Lustau's East India Solera evokes the historical 'Manila Galleon' practice of shipping sherry in barrels across the tropics to India, which accelerated ageing. Rich, sweet and complex with raisins, toffee and vanilla.
Sweet · Festive · Bold
Eva Cream
4.1
Medium Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Low acidity · Festive
Cream sherry blending Oloroso base with Pedro Ximénez for a medium-sweet, caramel-toned, approachable style.
Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Low acidity · Festive · Romantic
Rich, concentrated Pedro Ximénez made from sun-dried grapes; intensely sweet with coffee, molasses and dried-fruit complexity.
Mari Pepa Cream
4.0
Medium Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Low acidity · Easygoing · Festive
Cream sherry from the Gutiérrez Colosía riverside bodega under the Mari Pepa label; medium-sweet, caramel-toned and approachable with the Atlantic character of El Puerto.
Sweet · Romantic · Festive
Moscatel Pasas
4.6
Sweet · Festive · Romantic
Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Low acidity · Festive · Bold
Intensely sweet PX from sun-dried Pedro Ximénez grapes. Black as espresso, viscous, with layers of raisins, molasses and warm spice.
Pedro Ximénez
4.2
Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Low acidity · Festive
Classic Pedro Ximénez from the El Puerto riverside bodega: near-black, intensely sweet and concentrated with molasses, dark chocolate and dried-fruit character.
Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Low acidity · Festive
PX from Osborne's 1827 solera: intensely concentrated and syrupy with espresso, dark chocolate and prune character from nearly two centuries of solera refinement.
Sweet · Festive · Bold
Sweet · Festive · Bold
Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Low acidity · Festive
Organic Pedro Ximénez: the same intensely sweet, near-black style as conventional PX but produced without synthetic pesticides or herbicides on the Montilla PX vineyards.
Sweet · Festive
Sweet · Festive
Sweet · Festive · Elegant
Medium Sweet · Festive · Elegant
Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Low acidity · Festive · Bold
Rich, sweet Pedro Ximénez from the Lustau Solera Reserva. Dark amber to black, with concentrated raisins, toffee, dark chocolate and a long warm finish.
Medium Sweet · Festive · Elegant
Medium Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Festive · Bold
Sweet Oloroso from a solera founded in 1847, blended with Pedro Ximénez for sweetness. Raisins, caramel, coffee and warm spice.
Off Dry · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · Low acidity · Bold · Festive
Brandy de Jerez from Osborne's BC 200 solera; rich, dried-fruit and caramel character from extended American oak ageing in the Jerez solera system.
Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Low acidity · Festive · Romantic
Classic PX of extreme concentration and sweetness from sun-dried Pedro Ximénez grapes; near-black in colour with molasses, espresso and dark dried-fruit intensity.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Racy acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Antech's zero-dosage 100% Mauzac Blanquette. Showcase for the heritage Limoux variety with no added sugar at disgorgement.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Racy acidity · Refreshing · Elegant
Brut Nature Crémant from Mouscaillo with no added sugar at disgorgement. Sharp, mineral, made with estate grape must rather than commercial liqueur.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Festive · Refreshing
Antech's signature Crémant cuvée named after Eugénie Limouzy. Chardonnay-led traditional method; 12 months on lees adds toasty complexity.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Antech's premium Legacy Extra Brut Crémant with Pinot Noir adding red-fruit lift. Extended lees ageing builds creamy texture.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Sieur d'Arques' signature Blanquette de Limoux, three-grape blend aged 15 months on laths. The cooperative's reference traditional-method sparkling.
Rose Frizant
4.2
Dry · Light-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Fruity
Pale-pink lightly-sparkling rose from Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah; the rare frizant sparkling rosé from Daumas Gassac, designed as a Languedoc aperitif.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Sieur d'Arques' Toques et Clochers Crémant - meticulous selections at each stage, 30 months on laths for aromatic development and freshness.
Brut Rose
4.3
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Fruity
Langlois's Cabernet Franc-dominant Cremant de Loire rose. Over 60 percent of the blend comes from clay-limestone terroirs of Montreuil-Bellay and Le Puy Notre-Dame, with 18 months on the lees: pale pink with copper notes, red berry and peach aromatics, fresh and easy on the palate.
Dry · Light-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Refreshing
The Bretons' pet-nat Vouvray, made in the ancestral method with no dosage. Saline, citrussy Chenin Blanc with a fine bead and a dry, refreshing finish.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Saigne-method Cabernet Franc Cremant de Loire. Intense pink-salmon hue, wild strawberry and ripe peach aromas, a broad and gently tannic palate with a soft mousse.
Louis Ferdinand
4.4
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
Ackerman's iconic Cremant de Loire, named for the son of founder Jean-Baptiste Ackerman. Chenin, Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc each vinified separately, blended for harmony: ripe white and red fruit, brioche and dried fruit length, with a delicately spiced white-pepper finish.
Royal Brut
4.3
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
Ackerman's Chardonnay-led Cremant de Loire Royal. 36 months on the lees lend tertiary dried-fruit and almond notes, balanced by zesty lemon and a buttery, biscuity Chardonnay character with a long, dry finish.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Méthode ancestrale Chenin Blanc from all three Huet crus. A gently sparkling, soft-fizz Vouvray with chalky drive and notable cellaring capacity.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Nature sparkling Vouvray from organic Chenin Blanc on clay-limestone and clay with silex. Expressive nose with subtle roasted-almond aromas and great freshness.
Dessert · Medium-bodied · Racy acidity · Festive
A rare Eiswein from the Mulheimer Helenenkloster, a site Richter reserves for ice wine: piercing acidity carrying intense concentrated frozen-grape sweetness.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Racy acidity · Elegant · Festive
A long-lees-aged traditional-method prestige Riesling Sekt from Molitor: taut, mineral and finely structured with persistent fine bubbles.
Off Dry · Light-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Refreshing
A traditional-method Riesling sparkling wine: fresh Riesling fruit, fine bubbles and invigorating elegance with citrus and apple notes.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Pioneer Chardonnay-led Cava with delicate tropical and citrus aromatics, soft creamy mousse and a refreshing lemon-cream finish at an everyday price point.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Nature Cava from organic Parato at El Pla del Penedes. Indigenous-trio traditional-method sparkling.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Pinot Noir rose Cava from organic Avinyo. Fresh, red-fruited, fine-bubble Catalan sparkler.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Nature Reserva Cava from organic Bolet. Indigenous-trio traditional-method sparkling from the 1619 family farmhouse.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Long-lees Gran Reserva Cava from organic Bolet. Indigenous-trio plus Chardonnay traditional-method sparkling.
Brut Reserva
4.3
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Indigenous-trio Brut Reserva with the brand's signature trencadis-mosaic label. Crisp apple, pear and apple-crumble register from 15 months on lees; bright zipping citrus finish.
Off Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Festive · Fruity
Indigenous-trio Cava in the Semi-Seco style (37 grams per litre residual sugar), the brand's original launch back to 1941. Ripe pear, melon and quince aromatics with a creamy mousse; the right Cava for spicy food and lighter desserts.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Single-vineyard Cava de Paraje Calificado from organic Vins el Cep at Can Llopart Alzines. Long-lees luxury Cava expression.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Indigenous-trio Cava in the iconic black frosted bottle launched in 1974. Bright green apple and pear aromatics with biscuity lees complexity from 12 to 18 months on lees; the global Cava reference at its price point.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Reserva Cava from organic Cusco Berga in Les Gunyoles. Indigenous-trio traditional-method sparkling.
EOS Brut Nature
4.4
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Biodynamic Brut Nature traditional-method sparkling from Loxarel. Classic Penedes category.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
Chardonnay-led premium Cava blend with Macabeo, Parellada and Pinot Noir. Wild raspberry and citrus aromatics with nutty autolytic depth from extended lees ageing; balanced and round at a fair premium price.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
Chardonnay-indigenous Brut Nature aged 60-plus months on lees; the brand's modern Gran Reserva-tier Corpinnat. White peach, lemon curd and toasted-brioche aromatics with creamy lees and herb finish.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
Chardonnay-Xarel-lo Gran Reserva Brut Nature aged 36 months on lees. White peach, lemon zest and toasted-brioche aromatics over a creamy palate with bright mineral finish.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Corpinnat Brut Nature from the historic Can Feixes estate at the Penedes-Anoia border. Extreme continental climate.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
Indigenous-trio Brut Nature Reserva from the six-pointed-star Rovellats cellar. Fresh apple, citrus and biscuit aromatics over an elegant mouthfeel with balanced structure and 24 months on lees.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
Xarel-lo-Macabeo Gran Reserva Brut aged 50-plus months on lees, the brand's classic since 1951. Candied fruit and blossom on the nose; fine lees, dry nuts and wild herbs on the palate. Demeter-certified biodynamic.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Single-vineyard Cava de Paraje Calificado from organic Sumarroca. Approved in the March 2026 expansion of the category.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Long-lees Gran Reserva Cava from organic Avinyo at Can Fontanals. Indigenous-trio brut nature.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Corpinnat Brut Nature from organic Mas Candi. Indigenous-trio traditional-method sparkling.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Nature Cava from organic Vins el Cep. Indigenous-trio plus Chardonnay traditional-method sparkling.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Brut Nature Cava from Caves Mascaro in Vilafranca del Penedes. Indigenous-trio sparkling from the modernist Casa Galtes building.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Mono-varietal Pinot Noir rose Cava from Caves Mascaro. Fresh red-fruited Catalan sparkler.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
100 percent Chardonnay vintage Brut Nature aged 30 months on lees. White peach, lemon curd and biscuit on a refined Chardonnay frame; one of the early Spanish Blanc de Blancs sparklings.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Long-lees Gran Reserva Cava from organic Sumarroca, named for co-founder Nuria Claverol. Indigenous-trio plus Chardonnay.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Indigenous-trio Brut Reserva from Vallformosa's modern range. White apple, lemon and biscuit on a clean, refreshing palate with fine creamy mousse and 15 months on lees.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Mono-varietal Pinot Noir Cava from organic Parato. Blanc de Noirs style traditional-method sparkling.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Chardonnay-Pinot Noir Cava from Naveran. Burgundy-influenced traditional-method sparkling.
Petit Albet Brut
4.3
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Organic traditional-method sparkling from Albet i Noya under the Classic Penedes category. Fresh, easy, casual Catalan fizz.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
100 percent Pinot Noir Blanc de Noirs Cava with raspberry, redcurrant and wild-strawberry aromatics over a creamy, delicate body and long finish; relaunched in 2010 as the first Cava made entirely from Pinot Noir.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
Macabeo-Parellada Brut Reserva made from nine separate base wines, aged 30 months on lees. Brioche, lemon verbena and honeysuckle aromatics with mid-palate minerality. Iconic pewter-base bottle design.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
Indigenous-trio Gran Reserva Brut Nature aged 36-plus months on lees from organic grapes. Ripe white fruit, Ercolina pear and toasted-bread aromatics; candied citrus, pineapple and honeydew with almond on the finish.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Mono-varietal Garnacha rose Cava from Jane Ventura. Pioneer of Garnacha-based rose Cava in Baix Penedes.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Indigenous-trio Brut Reserva aged 18 months on lees. Crisp green apple, citrus and biscuit on a refreshing palate with fine creamy mousse.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
Indigenous-trio Gran Reserva Brut Nature with 24-plus months on lees. Yellow apple, apricot and acacia flower aromatics; broad and firm on the palate with well-integrated acidity. Pere Ventura's flagship since 1995.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
Chardonnay-Pinot Noir-Xarel-lo Gran Reserva Brut Nature aged 36 months on lees at the Espiells cellar. White peach, lemon curd and toasted-brioche aromatics over a creamy palate.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Long-lees-aged traditional-method Pfalz Riesling Sekt: green apple, citrus, brioche and a bone-dry close from Deidesheim and Ruppertsberg parcels.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive
Traditional-method Riesling Sekt: green apple, citrus and brioche from lees autolysis on Deidesheim grapes.
Brand Pet Nat
4.5
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Funky · Festive
Low-intervention ancestral-method Riesling Pet Nat: apple, citrus, light yeast and a crisp dry close, hand-disgorged from organic-certified Bockenheim parcels.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive
Traditional-method dry Riesling Sekt: green apple, citrus, brioche from lees autolysis and a crisp close.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive
Traditional-method dry Blanc de Noirs Sekt from Spatburgunder: green apple, citrus, brioche from lees autolysis and a crisp dry close.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive
Organic traditional-method Riesling Sekt: green apple, citrus, brioche from lees autolysis and a clean close.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Von Buhl's traditional-method Riesling Sekt, aged a minimum of 40 months on lees: bottle-fermented sparkling with green apple, citrus, brioche and a crisp dry close.
Sweet · Light-bodied · Medium acidity · Festive · Refreshing
A brilliant straw-yellow Moscato d'Asti with floral, peach and apricot aromas, a creamy, fragrant palate, fine bubble and a particularly fresh finish.
Sweet · Light-bodied · Medium acidity · Festive · Refreshing
A bright straw-gold, slightly sparkling Moscato d'Asti with intense peach, apricot, rose petal and ginger, sweet and delicate with modest acidity and good balance.
Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Festive · Romantic
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
Joint-venture Champagne Blanc de Blancs from the Peters-Liebart family of Champagne Pierre Peters with Brad Pitt and the Stoli Group, bottled under the Muse de Miraval label; chalky, ginger-driven and built for cellaring.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Refreshing
Schoenleber's traditional-method single-vineyard Riesling Sekt: bottle-fermented with extended lees ageing, citrus drive and toasty autolysis brioche.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Refreshing
Becker's traditional-method dry Riesling Sekt: bottle-fermented, slate-driven, citrus-bright sparkling with toasty lees autolysis.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Refreshing
Traditional-method dry Riesling Sekt from the Hessian state estate: green apple, citrus and toasty lees autolysis from second-fermentation in bottle.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Refreshing
Barth's EU-organic traditional-method Sekt: bottle-fermented Pinot blend with extended lees ageing, brioche and toasty autolysis over racy acid.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Refreshing
Breuer's traditional-method Riesling Sekt: bottle-fermented bone-dry sparkling with green apple, citrus and toasty lees-autolysis brioche.
Sweet · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Festive
A traditional oxidative-style Rasteau VDN; Grenache mutage produces rich, sweet wine with fig, chocolate, and coffee complexity. Excellent with dark chocolate and blue cheese.
Sweet · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Festive · Romantic
A fresh, floral Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise from Coyeux; delicate apricot and peach blossom with natural sweetness and clean acidity. An ideal dessert aperitif or pairing for fresh fruit.
Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Festive · Elegant
The Reserve Muscat from Coyeux; more concentrated and richer than the standard cuvee, with brief time in old oak adding almond and caramel notes.
Sweet · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Festive · Romantic
One of Beaumes-de-Venise's most traditional producers; the Muscat from Bernardins is floral, perfumed, and delicate with rose water and lychee notes from high-altitude Muscat vines.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Festive · Refreshing
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Mar de Frades' traditional-method sparkling Albariño, brut nature: the producer's espumoso bottling.
Dessert · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Festive · Fruity
Younger-release Vinsanto from Argyros. Bright dried-apricot and honey character with acidity preserving lift through the sweetness.
Dessert · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Festive · Fruity
Cooperative entry-tier PDO Vinsanto. Dried apricot and honey with high acidity preserving lift.
Off Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Low acidity · Rustic · Festive
Rallo's Marsala Superiore is the historic house's standard fortified expression: accessible, caramelised-fruit and gently oxidative from the 1860-founded Marsala cellar.
Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Festive · Romantic
Caravaglio's organic Malvasia delle Lipari Passito captures the pure floral-honeyed character of the grape from the Malfa area on Salina's northern slope, with a distinctive volcanic mineral dimension and slightly more freshness than the Hauner style.
Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Festive · Romantic
Ben Ryé (Arabic for 'son of the wind') is Donnafugata's flagship Passito di Pantelleria DOC: sun-dried Zibibbo from the alberello pantesco vines on the volcanic island, exported widely through Donnafugata's international distribution since the 1990s.
Sweet · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Kabir is Donnafugata's lighter Pantelleria sweet wine: fresher and less concentrated than Ben Rye, from Zibibbo grapes dried for a shorter period, producing a floral, juicy dessert wine of great charm.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · Racy acidity · Festive · Elegant
Gaudensius is Firriato's traditional-method sparkling wine from Nerello Mascalese on the Verzella contrada: fine persistent bubbles, red-cherry vibrancy and volcanic mineral character - a strong contender alongside Murgo's long-established Etna sparkling.
Off Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Low acidity · Festive · Rustic
Florio's accessible everyday Marsala Superiore Semisecco: the classic Marsala for cooking and casual drinking, with soft caramelised-fruit character and gentle oxidative notes.
Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Festive · Romantic
Morsi di Luce (bites of light) is Florio's Passito di Pantelleria: sun-dried Zibibbo grapes from Pantelleria producing a sweet, honeyed wine with apricot and orange blossom aromatics.
Medium Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Festive · Contemplative
The Targa Riserva 1840 is Florio's ambassador wine: a Marsala Superiore Riserva of medium-sweet richness, aged 5-plus years in the historic cellars, balancing caramelised dried-fruit complexity with the freshness of Grillo.
Medium Sweet · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Refreshing · Festive
The Naturale style is a lighter, fresher take on Malvasia delle Lipari: less concentrated than the Passito but showing the grape's characteristic floral-apricot aromatics and the volcanic salinity of the Aeolian Islands in a more immediately approachable register.
Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Festive · Romantic
Hauner's Malvasia delle Lipari Passito is the benchmark for this rare Aeolian appellation: sun-dried Malvasia di Lipari producing a wine of extraordinary floral complexity, apricot sweetness and the distinctive volcanic mineral character of the island of Salina.
Sweet · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Festive · Romantic
Maggio Vini's Moscato di Noto is a delicately sweet fortified-adjacent late-harvest Moscato Bianco from the sun-drenched Noto terroir: peach blossom, orange and apricot with balancing acidity from the variety's natural freshness.
Medium Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Festive
De Bartoli's 10-year Marsala Superiore Riserva is produced with minimal fortification compared to standard Marsala, preserving more natural character from the Grillo grape: the result is lighter in oxidative weight than the Vergine range but more genuinely grape-expressive than industrial Marsala.
Off Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Festive · Easygoing
De Bartoli's Marsala Superiore Riserva Oro is an approachable 5-year expression: lighter oxidative weight than the 10-year Riserva but with the estate's characteristic Grillo purity and a golden-almond character that bridges the aperitivo and dessert register.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · Racy acidity · Festive · Elegant
Sicily's most celebrated traditional-method sparkling wine: pure Nerello Mascalese fermented in bottle and aged 36-plus months on lees, producing fine bubbles, red-berry freshness and volcanic mineral character.
Medium Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Festive
Pellegrino's 10-year Marsala Superiore Riserva is a showcase for the family-owned house's century-long expertise: 10 years of barrel ageing develop extraordinary complexity of dried fruit, coffee and roasted nut character.
Sweet · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Refreshing · Festive
The Moscato di Pantelleria is a lighter, fresher sweet wine style compared to the passito: Zibibbo grapes not fully dried produce a wine of floral freshness, bright apricot character and lower alcohol, ideal as an aperitivo or light dessert wine.
Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Festive · Romantic
Nes (shortened from the Pantelleria dialect 'giardino pantesco', an enclosed garden) is Pellegrino's sun-drenched Passito di Pantelleria: concentrated Zibibbo with apricot-honey character and the characteristic volcanic depth of Pantelleria.
Sweet · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Festive · Romantic
Capofaro's Malvasia delle Lipari Passito is produced at the Salina estate, with terrace vines on the island's north slope facing the active volcano Stromboli across the channel. The Tasca d'Almerita team applies modern winemaking precision to the passito style with clean, precise floral-honeyed concentration and the distinctive volcanic mineral signature of Salina.
Sweet · Elegant · Festive
Dry · Refreshing · Festive
Sweet · Elegant · Festive
Dry · Festive · Elegant
Off Dry · Light-bodied · Medium acidity · Festive · Elegant
Rich and aromatic expression from the 107-ha Cartizze grand cru hill. Bisol's long tenure on the hill and multi-generational vine stock give this off-dry sparkler a layered complexity unusual in Prosecco.
Off Dry · Light-bodied · Medium acidity · Festive · Elegant
Col Vetoraz is uniquely positioned above Santo Stefano at the edge of the Cartizze hill, giving its Cartizze expression exceptional altitude and south-facing exposure. The result is an opulent, aromatic Cartizze with great aromatic intensity and length.
Sweet · Full-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Contemplative
San Zeno is Fasoli Gino's Recioto di Soave DOCG, made from dried organic Garganega grapes. Organic farming preserves the grape's natural concentration and flavour integrity through drying. The result is a rich, golden sweet wine of exceptional aromatic purity.
Sweet · Light-bodied · Medium acidity · Festive · Romantic
Dindarello is Maculan's late-harvest Moscato, a lighter and more delicate counterpart to the intense Torcolato and Acininobili. From small Moscato (Muscat blanc a petits grains) grapes left on the vine to develop extra ripeness, it captures the variety's natural floral sweetness without botrytis intervention.
Sweet · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Miele (honey) is Monte Tondo's Recioto di Soave DOCG, a rare sweet wine from appassimento-dried Garganega grapes. Recioto di Soave predates Soave's dry style and is considered the original historic wine of the Soave hills. Monte Tondo's version captures honey, dried apricot and candied citrus balanced by the grape's naturally high acidity.
Off Dry · Light-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
A single-hill Cartizze grand cru expression from the Stecca parcel, with richer fruit, honeyed florality and greater complexity than the standard Rustico, yet retaining the hallmark lightness of the hill.
Dry · Light-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
The vintage-dated prestige cuvee of Nino Franco named for founder Primo Franco. Brut in style, with greater texture and a longer Charmat contact than Rustico; mineral and elegant.
Dry · Light-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
The benchmark entry-level Prosecco Superiore DOCG from Nino Franco. Pale straw with fine persistent perlage; white stone fruit and floral notes lead to a crisp, dry finish.
Off Dry · Light-bodied · Medium acidity · Festive · Elegant
Ruggeri's Cartizze expression from the storied 107-hectare grand cru hill. Off-dry and aromatic with richer fruit and honey than the standard Valdobbiadene range, showing the concentration that the south-facing Cartizze slopes produce.
Sweet · Full-bodied · Medium tannin · Medium acidity · Romantic · Festive
Tommasi's Recioto Classico is made from the highest-selected Corvina and Corvinone bunches from the family's San Pietro in Cariano vineyards; chocolate-cherry and raisin sweetness balanced by traditional cask structure.
Medium Sweet · Light-bodied · Medium acidity · Festive · Elegant
Villa Sandi's Cartizze Dry is at the sweeter end of the Cartizze spectrum (17-32 g/l residual sugar). The grand cru hill's concentration of sunny exposure and south-facing slopes amplifies fruit ripeness into ripe peach and mango territory.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
The Adega de Monção cooperative's traditional-method Alvarinho sparkling: lime, green apple and lees over a saline close at a co-op price point.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant
Traditional-method Alvarinho sparkling from Anselmo Mendes, zero dosage. Brioche lees over the wet-granite mineral spine of Monção e Melgaço.
Aphros Silenus
4.7
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
Aphros' single-variety Vinhão traditional-method sparkling: red cherry, pomegranate and brioche over a saline lift, Demeter-certified biodynamic. The rare native-red sparkling done seriously.
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Traditional-method Loureiro-Arinto sparkling from Quinta de Gomariz: green apple, lemon zest and white flowers over a saline close.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Traditional-method sparkling with fine bubbles, notes of dried fruit and slight citrus. Extended lees ageing gives the brioche autolysis character.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Traditional-method sparkling blending Avesso body with Arinto acidity. Fine mousse and grapefruit-citrus drive from the granite mountain terroir.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Arinto-based traditional-method sparkling from a producer with multi-generational sparkling and old-spirits know-how. Fine mousse, citrus drive.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Traditional-method sparkling from estate Alvarinho. Fine mousse, citrus drive, autolytic brioche from extended lees ageing.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
Traditional-method 100 percent Alvarinho sparkling, zero dosage. Brioche lees over the saline Melgaço mineral spine; a serious aperitif and Atlantic-seafood bubbly.
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Soalheiro's traditional-method rosé sparkling: Pinot Noir-Alvarinho blend with wild strawberry and rose petal over a saline lift and creamy mousse.
Dry · Light-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Refreshing
Traditional-method sparkling from the Vercoope cooperative footprint. Citrus and yeast-driven, fine mousse at an approachable price.
Dry · Festive · Refreshing