While many of us enjoy sparkling wine year round, there is no doubt that the holidays bring an extra special reason to open a bottle of your favorite bubbly, toast with friends, and drink the stars. The choices are many, from traditional wines made in the Methode Champenoise, to lighter offerings and fizzy sippers. If you like Champagne, and wines made in the same method, then you can find versions from around the world. The method involves two fermentations, the second of which occurs in the bottle. Only the wines of the Champagne region in France can legally call themselves Champagne, but you’ll find Cremants, Cavas, Sekts (good versions), Franciacorta,and many labeled as just sparkling wine. You can even get a good bottle from New Mexico in the U.S. of all places (look up Gruet). They all have something to offer, and while it is hard to beat a great bottle of the real thing, the pricetag can be daunting. Thankfully there are many reasonable options. Here are two from an area you might not think of when you look for traditionally made sparkling wine.
Domaine Bousquet produces a wide range of wines in the Tupangato Region of the Uco Valley, located in the wine mecca of Mendoza, Argentina. Today they make wine from a modern facility, surrounded by 667 acres planted under vine. All organic, they range from entry level to premium, still to sparkling, white to red and everything in between. The family’s roots are in France, so it is no surprise they put their minds and hearts toward a traditional method sparkling wine.
Wine: Domaine Bousquet NV Sparkling Traditionnelle Brut
Winery Location: Tupungate, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
Tasted By: Neil Date: Nov 2023
Tasting Notes: It’s from Bousquet, so it is organic. The two wnies here are also made in the traditional method, where the second fermentation occurs in the individual bottles, just as it is done in Champagne. The color is a light gold, with a solid fountain of small bubbles. They’re not super fine, but small and persistent. On the nose you get a lot of fruit, with apple, tropical notes and definitely citrus. For me grapefruit was the star of the citrus elements. On the palate the wine is smooth, fresh and surprisingly long. There is a little creamy smoothness from the time on the lees. Overall this is a very enjoyable sparkler, well made and delicious. It will be a crowd pleaser, and is perfect for the holidays.
Price Point – $18
Would We Buy It? – yes, this is a great option if you want to serve something different than your average prosecco. It has the fruitiness while also the quality of a traditionally made sparkling wine. This is a very good value.
And the second:
Wine: Domaine Bousquet NV Sparkling Traditionnelle Rose
Winery Location: Tupungate, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina
Tasted By: Neil Date: Nov 2023
Tasting Notes: Also orgainc, of course, this wine is really a pale orange color, with a touch of salmony pink. It also has small and abundant bubbles. The nose brings some cherry fruit, some orange and some toast. This has a hint of a more traditional champagne on the nose than the Brut, but it combines with the orange and cherry to be something diferent etirely. The orange comes through on the palate, and the wine is fun, refreshing and delicious. It is also not bone dry, with a touch of sweetness that works beautifully. Actually the sugar level is identical in both wines but I sense it a bit more here. I really like this.
Price Point – $18
Would We Buy It? – absolutely. Different and fun, this is a great choice for your holiday gatherings, at a stellar price. Excellent value here.
Both of these wines deserve a place on your holiday table. You’ll get lots of compliments, and everyone will be taking a picture of the bottle so they can find it later. These are delicious, different and are definitely on my list for house sparkling wines.
A votre santé!
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