Champagne drinkers

[Anonymous]

Roederer is a nice one for $20 or so. (This is the California product of the great French producer.)
Schramsberg and Scharffenberger are also nice but not sure their cost. 9:56's list is very helpful; 9:05's too but I wonder if that stuff is going to be easy to find. I also like Gruet. (And Veuve Clicquot, but that's $40.)

I would not give prosecco as a gift. Too many cheapos out there, and even if you can find good ones, it has the image these days of a sort of binge-brunch drink. If you can get to a wine store, ask about cremants -- French sparkling wine from outside the Champagne region. There are some very affordable ones from the Loire valley, and they also make them in Burgundy. Some of those are going to be very nice and half the price of Champagne, but you'd need a good recommendation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Veuve Clicquot runs about $40. I like it better than Tattinger.

Another vote for VC.

[Anonymous]

For under 20$ bottle I vote Gruet (they have a sparkling rose that is nice too) or schramsberg perhaps or good pro secco.

korbell is terrible

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Roederer is a nice one for $20 or so. (This is the California product of the great French producer.)
Schramsberg and Scharffenberger are also nice but not sure their cost. 9:56's list is very helpful; 9:05's too but I wonder if that stuff is going to be easy to find. I also like Gruet. (And Veuve Clicquot, but that's $40.)

I would not give prosecco as a gift. Too many cheapos out there, and even if you can find good ones, it has the image these days of a sort of binge-brunch drink. If you can get to a wine store, ask about cremants -- French sparkling wine from outside the Champagne region. There are some very affordable ones from the Loire valley, and they also make them in Burgundy. Some of those are going to be very nice and half the price of Champagne, but you'd need a good recommendation.

Roederer Anderson Valley is a great choice. I drink a lot of wine and this is one of the best values in the market. Competes very will with a lot of average champagnes from France at double to price.

BTW - Korbel should only be use for mimosas.....so you can't taste it.

[Anonymous]

^^^
Yup. For $20 you're getting a very good American sparkler from the same family that makes Cristal. (It's from Mencodino, the next county north of Napa.)
And it's fairly easy to find, yet surprisingly not that well known.

[Anonymous]

Iron Horse sparkling wine is fantastic - highly recommend, if you can find it in stock somewhere.