Celebratory Bubbles

A rare sparkling wine from the high hills of the Rhône Valley, the Ambel is a wine that wears its personality on its sleeve. The Muscats à Petits Grain here contributes the wine's undeniably fruity and floral nose that veers between ripe citrus, yellow flowers, and even a touch of rose, while the palate maintains these lovely effusive notes, while introducing some substantial acidity, and fine bubbles - a truly unique bottle of bubbly.

Because of its bubbles, and its unique floral character, the Ambel is a lovely pairing partner, and a lot of fun to pair with. Try with flavorful Thai curries with lots of fresh herbs, szechuan-style fried chicken, or something simpler like a classic frisée salad with a dijon-spiked vinaigrette.

A 50/50 blend of Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir, this bubbly from the Rheinhessen has a touch of the Champenoise to it. Its nose is pure caramelized sugar and fresh bread, and the palate is ripe, cooked apple along with a gorgeous mineral streak and vibrant acidity. It's a classy sparkling wine from an up-and-comer that clearly has a bright future.

Sparkling wine always makes a great aperitif to help tease the palate, but this weightier bubbly from Germany is a bit more versatile. Enjoy with light proteins such as a poached white fish with cream sauce, a chicken breast with béarnaise and roasted potatoes, or even some duck confit.

Opening with precise notes of golden apple, lemon curd, and just a bit of crème brulée, the Daurat presents immediately as a classic reserve cava. On the palate, the wine is lively, welcoming, and expressive, with a touch of weight, and lively, tiny bubbles.

A perfect aperitif, the Daurat will be quite nice beside richer seafood dishes like Shrimp scampi, oysters kilpatrick, or as a veggie option, marinated leeks with mayo and hazelnuts.