A Guide To Buying New Year's Champagne

$11.99 Mionetto Prosecco Brut
Rye Brook Wines, Rye Brook

If you’re celebrating the holidays on a shoestring budget, this super-affordable bottle can infuse a little sparkle into your celebrations. “[For] what you get for the price, if you compare it to Champagne (especially for a novice palette), you’re getting an excellent value,” says co-owner AJ Hoffman.

$19.99 Bruno Verdi Sangue di Giuda
Tarry Wine Merchants, Port Chester

While Lambrusco is a festive (and delicious) choice for the holidays, it’s not the only Italian sparkling red wine. Try Sangue di Giuda (literally, “Blood of Judas”), a dry, red sparkling wine from Lombardy with a hint of fruitiness. “We have a huge positive response [from customers],” says general manager Morgan Pruitt, who suggests pairing it with salumi or a comforting stew. “The bubbles are great for cutting rich, fatty meats.”

$24.99 Raventos I Blanc De Nit 2013
Zachys, Scarsdale

“Pepe Raventos and his family are re-defining how people view Spanish Cava,” says vice president Andrew McMurray, who promises that the family’s love of winemaking really comes through in the glass. It’s McMurray’s go-to bottle for blind taste tests. “I have yet to find someone who is not blown away by the quality.”

$27.99 Parigot Cremant de Bourgogne Blanc de Blancs NV
Wine Geeks, Armonk

“We love Champagne but the real estate is not cheap,” say owners Derek and Carol Todd. “This alternative is from Burgundy and if you close your eyes it’s easy to think you’re drinking the expensive stuff.” Bonus: it’s also organic.

$39.99 Piper Heidsieck Brut NV Ltd. Edition Lightbox
Zachys, Scarsdale

Sure, it’s got perfect-for-gifting packaging, but this bottle could stand alone on what’s inside (it ranked in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 of 2012). One of Zachys’ best-selling brands, McMurray says “the price/quality ratio is unrivalled” for Champagne.

$41.99 Chartogne-Taillet Brut Cuvée St. Anne

Rye Brook Wines, Rye Brook

Grower Champagnes—made by the same people who grow the grapes—are a great choice for the holidays. “Most major brands are buying fruit from someone and making it into Champagne. They don’t own the estates,” says Hoffman, who recommends this Chartogne-Taillet bottle. “It’s cheaper than Veuve Clicquot and I think you’re getting a much better wine.”

$44.99 Ridgeview Estate England Bloomsbury Brut 2013

Tarry Wine Merchants, Port Chester

Tarry Wine might stock a large selection of Italian wines, but Pruitt says he’d put this English bottle “against any champagne in its category.” In fact, England sparkling wine industry is growing in both size and prestige. “It’s really bready and yeasty like good champagne can be,” says Pruitt.

$69.97 Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé

Rye Brook Wines, Rye Brook

This pink-tinted Champagne is “one of our absolute favorite bottles,” says Hoffman. “It’s phenomenal juice and I think it really over delivers for its price.”

$111.19 Charles Heidsieck Millesime 2005

Zachys, Scarsdale

Looking to make an impression this holiday? This vintage Champagne received a 95 from Wine Enthusiast in 2014. The Champagne house (the same as Piper Heidsieck) maintains “the integrity of the product” but doesn’t overblow the price to appeal to a wider spectrum of consumers, says McMurray.

$169.99 Dom Perignon 2006

Zachys, Scarsdale

“Besides being an iconic brand that gets significant ‘wow factor’ if gift giving, this 2006 goes way beyond a simple toast,” says McMurray. It’s a special, yet sturdy bottle that McMurray says “will pair with almost any meal and be the highlight of the evening.”

$324.99 Krug Brut Champagne 1998

Wine Geeks, Armonk

This is a luxurious bottle to be sure, but well worth it if you’re looking to splurge. “You only live once and, for us, this is as good at it gets when you’re talking bubbly,” say Derek and Carol Todd. “This bottle deserves caviar and someone special to share it with.”

If you go…

Rye Brook Wine & Spirit Shop
259 South Ridge St, Rye Brook
(914) 305-4082
www.ryebrookwines.com

Tarry Wine Merchants
175 N Main St, Port Chester
(914) 939-7234
www.tarrywine.com

Zachys Wine & Liquor
16 East Pkwy, Scarsdale
(914) 874-8000
www.zachys.com

Wine Geeks
559 Main St, Armonk
(914) 273-9463
www.winegeeksarmonk.com