Say Bye-Bye to 2020 with Bubbly

The last month of the year usually means holiday parties and plenty of hugs, kisses, clinking glasses and otherwise non-socially distant activities.

This year’s festivities will likely look different. 

Due to the ongoing global pandemic, we may simply be seeing our loved ones as pixelated faces on a screen, rather than enjoying their company at actual in-person get-togethers. Which may be a good thing if your idea of a “merry” Christmas is avoiding lots of family time altogether.

But regardless of how the season typically unfolds for us, the end of the year almost always means taking a moment for reflection. Maybe the extra time at home was a welcomed reprieve from a busy schedule, or perhaps the year brought learning opportunities, positive professional changes, an opportunity to reconnect with cherished solo hobbies or – sadly – unexpected pain and loss.

One thing though is certain – 2020 was the year of the virtual experience, and that included exploring new wines and wine regions for many wine lovers, and that doesn’t have to stop when the clock strikes midnight.

As we close out this year and look forward to the next (what is next?), let’s raise a glass as we usher 2020 into the past and say “bye-bye” with these bottles of bubbly from downtown Miami’s 305wines.com.

We’ll start our sparkling wine journey by pointing out the obvious: None of these wines are Champagne. Why is that? Arguably the most iconic bubbly in the world can only come from the region of Champagne, France, and none of these bottles are from that region. Though they are all made in the traditional method, or “méthode traditionnelle,” the same way that Champagne is produced, true Champagne can never come from any other place.

With that important sparkling wine fact out of the way, let’s get into one of the best value sparklings, the Casteller Cava Brut NV from Spain. Cava is almost always a sparkling wine category that provides quality wines at great prices, like this bottle for under $20. Fresh and zesty on the nose, with lemon-lime citrus aromas along with a bit of savory almond and light cheesy biscuit, no doubt from some time the wine spent on “lees” – a minimum of nine months is the requirement here. Casteller Brut is delicate and easy drinking with a refreshing citrus fruit finish that is perfect for our warmer winter days here in South Florida. Drink this Cava at your holiday brunch or by the pool. It’s a perfect daytime sparkling wine.

Moving into the nighttime bubbly, check out the Piper Sonoma Blanc de Blancs NV out of Sonoma County. The term “Blanc de Blancs” on a bottle of sparkling means that the wine is a white sparkling wine made from white grapes, usually chardonnay. Whereas the alternative, “Blanc de Noirs” is a white sparkling wine made from black grapes, such as pinot noir. This Blanc de Blancs is made predominately from chardonnay with a bit of pinot blanc in the blend. The bottle is a fully textured bubbly with puckeringly high acidity and brioche-y notes intertwined with lemony-citrus and apple flavors. The finish is long, with a reserved elegance that lingers as long as it’s invited but doesn’t overstay past its prime fruitiness. Not a casual sparkling, Piper Sonoma’s “BdB” is perfect for that pre-dinner aperitif or holiday cocktail party. It’s just enough like a refined Blanc de Blancs out of Champagne that your more discerning guests may not even notice it’s from … (gasp!) California.

When most folks think of sparkling wine from Italy, prosecco is likely to be the number one wine to come to mind. However, the light frivolity of northeastern Italy’s famous bubbly may be too playful for a serious holiday dinner party. Think differently about Italian sparkling wine with a bottle of Franciacorta from the Lombardy region. One perfect example of this wine, also made with the same production method as Champagne, Cava and our above-mentioned California sparkling, is the Ca’del Bosco Franciacorta Cuvée Prestige Extra Brut NV.

Ca’del Bosco’s “Cuvée Prestige” is labeled this way because it is one of the best wines in this producer’s range. On the nose, complex aromas of citrus, pear, marzipan and fresh biscuits dominate. Smooth and creamy like a velvet blanket for your mouth, with bright lemon and ripe green apple that add to the allure of this invigoratingly “extra brut” sparkling wine. To be labeled extra brut, a wine can only have up to six grams of sugar per liter, whereas a brut sparkling wine can have up to 12. This bottle will complement any celebratory dinner party as a tasteful table guest. Serve well chilled and enjoy the remaining moments of this year in style.