Other Sparkling Wines

We have thousands of wines. Although we carry many national brands, that is not our focus. The following are well made and generally more interesting wines that we are proud to recommend.

Gran Duca Prosecco, NV ($14.49) - Perfect for Mimosas, Aperol, and even sipping by itself. Nothing complicated here, just good bubbly at a good price. Much better than the cheapest Proseccos.

Brilla Prosecco, Extra Dry and Rosé, NV ($15.95) - Just delicious. Beautifully balanced and very clean in flavor. Plus a very attractive package. Perfect for sipping. Too good for mixing, but what the heck!

Canella Granriviera Mimosa ($16.99) - Unless you squeeze fresh oranges, this is the best Mimosa out there. It uses Italian Prosecco, but unlike the peach-flavored Bellini, it uses Sicilian blood oranges and a touch of Calabrian bergamot. It is fabulous! Established in 1947, Canella crafts some of Italy’s best-selling fruit-based cocktails. The family-owned and operated company is IFS-certified. No artificial colorants, preservatives, aromatics, or artificial carbonation.

Dolce Italia Spritz Aperitivo Italiano ($17.99) - This is an Aperol Spritz knockoff. Aperol is a registered name brand, so Dolce Italia can’t use it, but this looks (rosé with an orange tint) and tastes very much like what you would make at home or get at a restaurant using Aperol and Prosecco. Slightly bitter, slightly sweet, perfect for the summer. The Aperitivo Spritz has a rich history in Northern Italy’s culture of aperitivo, a pre-dinner ritual of socializing over light cocktails and snacks dating to the 19th century, when the Habsburgs, who ruled the Veneto region, enjoyed a refreshing wine-based drink before their evening meal, mixing white wine with a splash of sparkling water. Over time, the spritz evolved, incorporating bittersweet amari liqueurs like Aperol or Campari. Today, the Aperitivo Spritz is a symbol of Italian la dolce vita, a moment to unwind, connect with friends, and prepare the palate for the flavors to come.

J.J.Laurens Blanquet di Limoux ($21.49) and Gramenous di Limoux ($25.99) - Limoux in south-west France is the real origin of sparkling wine. Dom Perignon gets the popular credit, but producers were making good sparkling wine in Limoux 100 years before DP was even born. These are EXCELLENT examples and the best sparklers we have until you get to the $30+ price range.

Lambert de Seyssel Grand Cru Regionale Brut Royal, 2015, Savoie-France ($29.99) - Here is a unique, incredibly good sparkling wine made using the Champagne method. It comes from the French Alpine region of Savoy (Savoie), which is located east of the southern part of Burgundy, very close to the Swiss border. Seyssel is little known in the US, but its wines were well-regarded and frequently mentioned in documents dating back to the 11th century. This cool area uses local grapes (in this case, 75% Molette and 25% Altesse) to make very tasty wines. The vines for this wine are 20-50 years of age and sit on clay and limestone soil. They are farmed biodynamically and are certified organic. The base wine is aged for 10 months on its lees before a second fermentation lasting 3-4 years (the legal minimum is only 9 months). This gives it much of the complexity of a true Champagne, but at a much lower price. It has an autolytic character from the lees aging, but none of the oxidative notes found in some Champagnes. This is shockingly fresh and bright for its age, with a hint of ripe fruit sweetness. Quite the value!

The “Royal Seyssel” label (originally “Royal Carte Bleue”) was launched in 1901 by the Varichon and Clerc families. It was the best sparkling Seyssel on the market until a large Burgundian négociant bought the operation and ruined the wine. The winery closed in 2007 until Seysselans Gérard and Catherine Lambert teamed up with Olivier Varichon, great-grandson of the founder, to buy back the label and recreate the light, floral sparkler that was once so renowned.

Roederer Estate Brut, NV ($33.99) - Roederer's Anderson Valley property in Mendocino produces sparklers that rival their French counterparts. Wine Advocate (Erin Brooks): 92 "The NV Estate Brut is scented of sour lemon, almonds, and biscuits with flinty touches. The medium-bodied palate is rounded and creamy with bright, lemony character and a long, mineral-driven finish. Drink 2022-27" We also have their marvelous rosé and the white L'Hermitage.

Roederer Estate Brut Rosé, NV ($37.99) - Roederer's Anderson Valley property in Mendocino produces sparkling wines that rival their French counterparts. This rosé is simply terrific, easily the equal of a French Champagne rosé that sells for $20 more! Wine Spectator: 92 "Graceful yet dynamic, with pretty strawberry and citrus flavors that take on fresh violet, orange peel, and spice accents as this builds vibrancy toward the bright finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay."

Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs, North Coast, 2021 ($43.50) - Consistently one of California's best. Wine Spectator: 92 "Crisp yet luxurious and creamy, with vibrant lemon tart, apple, and toasted almond flavors that glide on a long, plush finish. Drink now. 39,513 cases made." We also carry the rosé.

Roederer Estate l'Hermitage Brut, 2013 ($76.99) - Roederer's Anderson Valley property in Mendocino produces sparklers that rival their French counterparts. This is their best cuvée. It compares very favorably to Roederer's Brut Collection. A recent price increase (see below) makes this an even greater bargain while we still have it! Wine Advocate (Erin Brooks): 93+ "Disgorged in June of 2019. 2013 was the beginning of a long period of drought, and winemaker Arnaud Weyrich feels that it brings this vintage "concentration, phenolics and texture—this wine has body." The nose is open and inviting, golden apples mingling with toast, mushrooms, honey, and crushed stone. The medium-bodied palate, with eight grams per liter dosage, has pure fruits tactfully accented by earthy, toasty notes. It's energetic but rounded, supported by a finely beaded mousse, and it finishes long and layered. Drink 2020-2030"

Roederer Estate l'Hermitage Brut, 2019 ($89.99) - Roederer's Anderson Valley property in Mendocino produces sparklers that rival their French counterparts. This is their best cuvée. It compares very favorably to Roederer's Brut Collection. Wine Spectator: 94 "Dynamic yet elegantly structured, with alluring flavors of Asian pear, baked apple, brioche, clove, and nutmeg that build richness on the graceful finish. Drink now through 2027." It will last much longer than that!