These Sparkling Wines Will Be the Hit of Your Next Party

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Is there anything more celebratory than the sound of a cork popping? That’s why we tasted more than 80 bottles to compile the best sparkling wines for when you’re ready to toast on New Year’s Eve or any special occasion. A good bottle of bubbly comes in clutch as a festive aperitif or for serving with holiday party food and New Year’s Eve apps. It happens to pair amazingly well with cheese and charcuterie boards, seafood (Feast of Seven Fishes, anyone?), fried fare and popcorn, to name just a few iconic matches. Sparkling wine is also essential for making mimosas and other champagne cocktails and topping off a refreshing spritz.

Our top picks:

If you do choose to drop a wad of cash on champagne, know that it’s expensive for good reason: It’s laboriously made only in the Champagne region of France from high-quality grapes under strict regulations, then aged for long periods, which creates that unmistakable complexity. However, you can find incredible-value sparkling wines on our list beyond the borders of Champagne that are made using method Champenoise or the “traditional method.” These include cava (from Spain), cremant (from other regions of France), some sparklers from the United States and even one sleeper hit from South Africa.

Whatever the occasion, we’ve chosen the best sparkling wines at every price point for a wide range of taste preferences. A list with something for everyone to love? We’ll drink to that!

Les Quatre Grand Cru Brut

When you taste a champagne as elegant as this one, you start to justify the cost. Biscuity aromas, crisp acidity and exuberant bubbles all come together in this exceptional bottle.

Paul Laurent Brut

Notes of toasty brioche and lemon peel combine with fine, persistent bubbles in this well-priced champagne. Lively acidity makes it a great match for food.

Cremant d'Alsace Extra Brut 2020

Made similarly to the way champagne is, this crémant from the Alsace region of France is a great value. Find aromas of golden apple, white flowers and almond croissant in a dry, elegant sparkler.

Prosecco

Light with a hint of citrus peel, this crowd-pleasing sparkler has a clean and crisp finish. It’s delightful on its own and priced right for topping off mimosas and spritzes.

Brut Yellow Label Champagne

The iconic yellow label bottle, that's a fixture in rap videos and at Fashion Week, actually houses some tasty champagne inside. The predominance of Pinot Noir gives the wine more structure alongside toasty brioche notes and a light, lively finish.

Brut Champagne

Founded in 1757, Abele is a relatively small producer and the artisanal dedication to craft is evident in this bright, elegant champagne. You’ll find alluring aromas of brioche, pear and white flowers balanced with mineral and delicate salinity. This bottle is an incredible value for high-quality champagne.

Brut NV Trentodoc

Most people think of Prosecco when it comes to Italian bubbles but do not sleep on Trentodoc sparkling wines! From Trentino in the Dolomites (part of the Italian Alps), these sparklers are made in the traditional Champagne method.

The result: fine, persistent bubbles and a complexity not found in most Prosecco. This bottling from Rotari shows a little breadiness, hints of lemon and pineapple along with plenty of minerality.

Brut Cava

An absolute steal for the price, this dry, medium-bodied cava draws you in with the scent of almonds and crisp apples. Most bargain bubblies leave you flat on the finish but, here, the concentrated flavors of pretty fruit linger.

Grand Siecle No. 26 Champagne

Warning: Tasting this champagne may ruin you for all other sparkling wines. Made from Laurent-Perrier's three best vintages (2007, 2008 and 2012; including 8 Grand Crus), the No. 26 is a stunning example of the magic that can happen when the cellar master captures lightning in a bottle.

Aromas of apple pie and toasty baguette greet you, leading into a rounded palate with fresh citrus and incredible depth. There are wines with long finishes — this one has a complexity that lingers into the next century. You'll be left wondering how something bottled for so long could show so much vivacity.

The No. 26 is a showstopper champagne that is well worth the price tag. Give it as a gift to someone very special or savor it for yourself on a momentous occasion.

Sparkling Brut Prestige

With roots that can be traced back to G.H. Mumm Champagne, this California sparkling wine from Mumm Napa is as impressive as its pedigree. It opens with notes of toast, vanilla and honey that hint at pastry. If you don't like your sparkling wine too dry, the Brut Prestige has a creamy roundness balanced with mouthwatering acidity and vigorous bubbles. It's a versatile bottle that can seamlessly transition from apps to seafood and poultry.

Brut Reserva Cava

Dry with scintillating bubbles, this great-value cava has notes of golden apple and almonds.

Brut Royal Champagne (375-ml half-bottle)

Widowed in 1860, Madame Louise Pommery took over her late husband's champagne house and would later revolutionize the industry. She made the first ever "brut" champagne with no added sugar for her English clients. Today, the Brut Royal is dry yet smooth with aromas of almond croissant. It's a lively champagne that lingers with mineral and invites you back for another sip. Conveniently available in a half-bottle for when you can't quite finish a full one.

Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Chouilly Brut Champagne

Legras & Haas is a newcomer grower champagne (grown and bottled by the same producer) that was established in 1991 by three brothers. Here, the label provides several clues to the quality of the wine: Grand Cru is the highest classification for champagne that's made from grapes grown in the best vineyards. In this case that's 100% Chardonnay grapes in the village of Chouilly.

The result is a silky wine with hints of orchard fruit and citrus. The mineral and acidity give each glass great verve. This is one to enjoy on its own or as a stellar pairing for seafood.

de Nit Conca del Riu Anoia Rosé 2021

Pale ballet slipper pink in color, this dry, refreshing Spanish sparkler could pass for rosé champagne. Mineral gives it wonderful complexity. The finish lingers with hints of red currants and wild red berries.

(To avoid associations with cheap, low-quality Cava, the producer renamed its designation, Conca del Riu Anoia — a small geographic area in Penedès, the same region as Cava.)

Feuillatte Brut Rosé Champagne

Exuberant and scintillating, this rosé champagne is a one-bottle wonder. Does it work as an aperitif? Check. With starters and the main meal? Check and check. Showing hints of autumn spices, fragrant wild strawberries and luscious cherries, this overachieving champagne can even pair with dessert.

Unshackled White Sparkling Wine 2018

The Prisoner Wine Company, the California producer known for making big, bold reds, also makes a surprisingly bright and tasty sparkler. Made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, Unshackled is aged for 36 months en tirage, resulting in velvety bubbles with tinges of ripe apple, Asian pear and crisp minerality.

Prosecco Cuvee 1821 3-pack of 187-ml bottles

Fun and fruity, these splits of Prosecco let you enjoy an individual serving at a time. The notes of lush pear and lemon peel will appeal to those who prefer their bubbles less dry. The splits are available in either a single or three-pack (187 ml per bottle). The Prosecco also comes in a full-size bottle (750 ml).

Horses Cabernet Franc Rosé Pet-Nat 2022

For those looking for something off the beaten vineyard path: Here's a natural sparkling rosé that's made from Cabernet Franc grapes in the North Fork of Long Island, an area known for this varietal. This particular iteration of it has become a cult fave among those in the know. With notes of cherry, raspberry and crushed herbs, the wine finishes super crisp and pleasantly dry. Enjoy it on its own or with pizza.

Brut Methode Cap Classique

Hailing from the Western Cape of South Africa, this crisp sparkling wine was served at Nelson Mandela's inauguration. With hints of mango, lime and subtle mineral, this not-too-dry bottle overdelivers for the price.

Rose Blanc Grand Cru

If you're looking to splurge, make it count with this beautiful salmon pink rosé Champagne. It's creamy and rich, complex and dry, toasty with notes of berry, brioche and marzipan.

How we chose the best sparkling wines

The selection of sparkling wines available online and in stores can be overwhelming. So to pick the best ones, we tapped our most trusted wine sources — the people who taste a wide variety of bottles, like sommeliers, wine shop owners and wine writers — and asked what they’re loving right now.

From there, we had the very tough job of tasting and rating our favorites. We chose bottles at different price points so there’s something for every budget and occasion. And because there’s a world of sparkling wine beyond Champagne and Prosecco, we sought bottles from every corner of the globe. We’re absolutely certain you’ll find a bubbly to enjoy from among our picks, whether it’s for a splurge-worthy celebration or for a casual night in with pizza.

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