The holiday season is a time to sparkle, both in spirit and in the glass. Whether you are gathering with friends, toasting with family, or searching for the perfect gift, a bottle of French sparkling wine always feels right. Champagne and Crémant take center stage this season, from casual celebrations to grand affairs.
Champagne may hold the spotlight and our hearts, but French Crémant, made in the same way as Champagne, but from other regions, also offers charm and elegance, often at a more approachable price. From intimate dinners to festive parties and occasions to impress, there is a French sparkling wine to match every holiday moment.
A GIFT FOR THE BOSS OR IN-LAWS WHO HAVE EVERYTHING
(Champagne Billecart-Salmon)
Bottle Le Sous Bois; oak-aged elegance from a legendary Champagne house known for depth and grace.
Champagne Billecart-Salmon Brut Sous Bois
The ideal gift for someone whose taste you respect. This Champagne offers a sophisticated presentation as a beautifully crafted gift that is impressive and thoughtful.
Billecart-Salmon is a seventh-generation, family-run estate founded in 1818. It is known for Champagnes offering finesse and precision. Brut Sous Bois is completely vinified in oak, which adds depth without losing the house’s hallmark freshness. The three main Champenois grapes are used for this wine: 43% Grand Cru Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs, 29% Meunier from the right and left bank of the Vallée de la Marne, 28% Premier and Grand Cru Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims, Aÿ, and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. Notes of brioche, toasted hazelnut, and citrus give it complexity, while the signature Billecart clarity keeps it invigorating.
MrDWine.com, PlumMarket.com, Total Wine, around $100.
A FESTIVE FRIENDS HOLIDAY PARTY
(Gerard Bertrand)
Heritage, An 825 Cremant de Limoux; an 825 is a southern French bubbly that’s fresh, lively, and perfect for festive gatherings.
Gérard Bertrand Heritage An 825 Crémant de Limoux Brut, 2022
Perfect for a casual holiday party, this wine is vibrant, crowd-pleasing, and at this price point, you can even bring a couple of bottles.
A leading advocate for biodynamic winemaking in southern France, Gérard Bertrand brings the best of the Languedoc to the table. This crémant hails from high-altitude vineyards in the historic region of Limoux, where sparkling wine was first discovered in 1531, predating Champagne. The name pays homage to the year of the first written record of the Abbey of Saint Hilaire, where monks would later discover effervescence while making wine. Bubbly, bright, and balanced, with notes of green apple, white flowers, and lemon zest, An 825 delivers remarkable freshness and value to keep the mood light and the conversation flowing all night.
Plum Market, 305Wines.com, MrDWine.com, around $20.
A COZY HOLIDAY MOVIE NIGHT
(Michel Briday/Vineyard Brands)
Briday rose & Briday Cremant; Briday makes Burgundy bubbles with soft texture and bright fruit charm.
Domaine Michel Briday Crémant de Bourgogne, NV (Brut or Rosé)
Michel Briday makes a graceful wine for cozy nights at home or a holiday movie marathon. It is easy to love and quietly elegant.
This Crémant de Bourgogne comes from a family estate established in 1976 in the Côte Chalonnaise, known for producing expressive, terroir-driven wines. It combines Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Aligoté from limestone soils, creating a sparkling wine with creamy texture, crisp orchard fruit, and fine, delicate bubbles. The rosé (100% Pinot Noir) offers bright red fruit and lush richness; the kind of wine that feels special without trying too hard. For a relaxed evening at home, the Michel Briday Crémant from Burgundy pairs beautifully with popcorn, sushi, or a creative cheeseboard.
Plum Market, Wine.com, around $23-$28.
CHRISTMAS OR HANUKKAH DINNER CELEBRATION
Laurent-Perrier Héritage Brut Champagne
A natural match for holiday dinners, Héritage is versatile enough to pair with everything from appetizers through the main course, impressing even the pickiest of guests.
One of Champagne’s most respected independent houses, Laurent-Perrier has built its reputation on purity and refinement since 1812. Héritage showcases a balanced style, made exclusively with reserve wines, a blend of 55% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Noir, and aged for a minimum of four years. It shows off with bright citrus, brioche, minerality, and great depth and complexity that make it remarkably food-friendly. With crisp acidity and harmony in the palate, Héritage can complement anything from roasted poultry to seafood, as well as traditional side dishes. It is bold and mature, but won’t overpower the meal, making it a perfect centerpiece for a family celebration.
305wines.com, Total Wine, Wine.com, around $120
NEW YEAR’S EVE COUNTDOWN TOAST
(Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte)
Palmes dor brut; a showpiece Champagne with layered flavor and a beaded bottle worthy of the year's top celebration.
Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes d’Or Brut Champagne, 2008
Why it fits the moment: The showstopper for New Year’s Eve, Palmes d’Or 2008 is gracious, luxurious, and absolutely worthy of a toast to all the great things to come in the New Year.
The modern face of cooperative Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte, this is a prestige cuvée of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir, aged extensively for over 10 years on lees for impressive dimension and length, and presented in an unmistakable, beautiful beaded black bottle. When the clock strikes midnight, this is the bubbly to have in hand. Palmes d’Or delivers textural sophistication, fine bubbles, and a long, layered finish that is sure to start your 2026 off in the best way possible: with the finest Champagne.
305wines.com, Plum Market, Total Wine, around $200
10 LOCAL WINE SHOPS TO SUPPORT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
The holidays are a great time to spread cheer, and what better way to do that than to shop and support some of our local wine shops for all your holiday wines online or in person. Here is a list to get you started:
305 Wines
8233 S. Dixie Hwy., Pinecrest
Finding Wine
17501 Biscayne Blvd., Aventura
Flight Wine Lounge & Shop
9711 NE 2 Ave., Miami Shores
Happy Wine Calle Ocho
5792 SW 8 St., West Miami
Happy Wine in the Grove
2833 Bird Ave., Coconut Grove
Sobe Liquors
1609 Alton Rd., Miami Beach
Vinonueva
5145 NE 2 Ave., Little Haiti
Vinoteca
3070 Grand Ave., Coconut Grove
Vinya
3028 Crandon Blvd., Key Biscayne
Wine by the Bay
6942 NE 4 Ave., Little River
Jacqueline Coleman is a wine and travel writer and Star Wine List’s ambassador in Miami. She is a contributor to Luxury Guide USA magazine, a regular guest host on Linda Gassenheimer’s “Food, News & Views” podcast, and founder of BYOBMiami.com.
Jacqueline Coleman