When you’re planning for celebrations & holidays, choosing the right wines can be an essential part of creating the perfect experience. Enjoying sparkling wines and champagne throughout the year is becoming commonplace; however, they still add a pop of something special to extraordinary occasions.

Picking the right bottle of bubbles for your affair can be uncomplicated, and won’t break the bank. There is an abundance of great-tasting options available at highly reasonable price points.

Sparkling wines and Champagne are often confused with being the same thing; there are not; all bubbly is not created equal. Most importantly, Champagne is sparkling wine, but some sparkling wines are not Champagne. Champagne is only titled Champagne if it comes from the Champagne region in northern France.

Choose a few sparklers from the various styles; Blanc de Blancs, Cuvee, Prosecco, Cava, Cremant, Asti (Spumante), and Champagne. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance at your favorite wine shop. Often getting help also gets a bit of free education of the various styles and quality buys. In addition, most wine stores and shops offer sparkling wine samples around the holidays; don’t be afraid to ask for a taste. The only way to know which wines you enjoy is to taste as many as you can.

Recently, I featured a few of my favorite’s on my Instagram page. The wines I chose range in retail price from $25 to $70 per bottle.

Once you have picked out your favorite bottles, follow these tips for serving.

Always serve Champagne and sparkling wine cold; its ideal drinking temperature is 45 to 48 °F.

In conclusion, when there are celebrations & holidays, choosing the right wines will be effortless. Now you are armed with all the information you need to select and sip something sensational and bring your friends and family along for the toast.

Read my full review for Raventos I Blanc Cava De Nit Rosado (pictured in post).