Now that school is back and summer holidays are over, we know that the holiday season will be coming up soon. Whether it is Thanksgiving in October or Christmas in December, sparkling wine has a place. I attended the latest IVSA trade wine, beer, and spirits event this week, and decided to spend most of my time sampling sparkling wines. Here are the sparkling wines I enjoyed the most. They cover different regions in Europe and different price points so there should be a wine(s) to fit your budget. You may want to buy several to enjoy with family and friends.
My Sparkling Wine Picks
Tribaut Schloesser – 8 Terroirs Origine Brut – blends 50% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay, and 20% Pinot Noir, with reserve wines aged in oak. It has a nice citrus, apple and toasty nose. Dry, medium-minus sized bubble. Crisp apple flavour and light toastiness. Medium-plus length. 
Champagne Marc Chauvet – Brut Millesime 2015 – 50% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir, and 5% Pinot Meunier, sourced from the Premier Cru village of Rilly-la-Montagne. Medium lemon colour in the glass. Stronger, woody aroma plus roasted apple. Dry, light body, with really creamy small bubbles. Crisp apple flavour.
Canella LIDO Prosecco Rosé 2023 – light strawberry aromas. Off-dry with medium-plus body and smaller, creamy bubbles. Rhubarb and sweet red fruit flavours. Fun. 
Anna Spinato Prosecco DOC Organic – light citrus nose. Light body and slightly off-dry. Light bubble. Light floral and lime flavours. Elegant.
Champagne Gardet Brut Tradition – light stone fruit and apple aromas. Dry, medium-plus body with higher acidity. Medium-sized bubbles. Stone fruit and apples on the palate. Bright acidity. –
Canevel Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra Dry – Light, sweet stone fruit nose. Off-dry with a medium-minus body. Lighter bubble. Light, fresh stone fruit flavour. Understated.
Pere Ventura Tresor Cuvée Barrique Gran Reserva Brut – Spanish Cava, made from Xarel·lo and Chardonnay grapes. It has a bruised apple aroma which continues to the palate. Medium body. Medium-plus acidity. Small bubble. Apple, some nuttiness, tartness, and bitterness.
Masottina Collezione 96 Rosé Brut Prosecco – a light strawberry nose. Slightly off-dry. Medium-minus body and light acidity. Soft strawberry flavour, plus a touch of bitter leaf. Light bubbles. –
Champagne Esterlin Brut Eclat NV – blended with 70% of 2018 wine and 30% of reserve wine from their Soléra. It has nice aromas of crisp and bruised apples with more on the palate. Reminds me of crab apples, but not as tart. Dry, medium body, with smaller, crisp bubbles.
Beau Joie Champagne Brut – blend consists of 40% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay, and 10% Pinot Meunier. Aging on lees for at least 4 years. Bruised apple nose with more on the palate. Dry, medium body with a soft mouthfeel. Smaller, biting bubbles. Touch of nuttiness as well on the palate. Tart finish. –
Planeta Carricante Brut Metodo Classico, Sicilia DOC – this Italian sparkling wine is made with the indigenous Carricante grape. It has medium intensity toasty nose plus honeysuckle. Dry, medium body, with higher acidity. Medium-sized biting bubble. Light stone fruit and apple flavours.
Ceci Antico Bruscone Guiseppe Verdi, NV – my only red sparkling wine. This one is a drier Lambrusco. It is medium garnet in colour. Light raspberry and black berry nose. Dryish, light body, with a lean, soft mouthfeel. Light berry fruit flavours and light acidity.
