Have A Sparkler for Fourth of July

Tired of the same old Merlot and Chardonnay? Tired of that light beer with a burger?

If you’re going to try something different this summer, then really try something new.

How about a sparkling wine? Sparkling wines aren’t just for New Year’s Eve or weddings. They can be a refreshingly different beverage that is more flexible than you might think. And summer is a great time to try something light, refreshing, with some effervescence.

Sparkling wines can be delightful with fresh fruit. A nice light sparkling wine will surprise you with white chocolate. Sparkling wine with cheese or most appetizers will also work. And after you develop a taste for a sparkler, I wouldn’t hesitate to serve it with some grilled shrimp as an appetizer. Don’t rule out sparkling wine with grilled seafood or lightly seasoned grilled chicken for dinner either.

The tough part of any sparkling wine/food combination is finding a really good wine. Who hasn’t had a taste of the bubbles at a wedding only to find yourself looking for a place to set that glass down and go back to whatever else you were drinking?

I usually don’t spend an entire column on a specific wine but I’m going to write today about two that are widely available and very drinkable.

It starts with Cristalino Rose Brut from Spain. You can find this pinkish sparkler in many wine shops across Indiana. It’s 60 percent Pinot Noir, with just 11.5 percent alcohol, and usually is sold in the $9-$11 range.

The second is California sparkling wine icon Gloria Ferrer’s Sonoma Brut. This traditionally colored sparkling wine is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with just the right amount of bubbles. You can find it from $16-$20 everywhere.

I opened both bottles with a friend of mine and her daughter and wanted to share our impressions. The ladies thought the Rose Brut was too mild in its effervescence. They didn’t think “it had enough bubbles.” They agreed with me that it had a light taste and grew on them as they sipped more from our champagne flutes.

Both suggested this sparkling wine had enough body to hold up to appetizers and light food.

They just loved the Gloria Ferrer Brut. “It’s crisp without being too sharp,” one said. “It’s quite effervescent. It has a soft flavor profile … it doesn’t taste cheap.”

The ladies thought it would be nice with a fruit tray or a mild cheese. They thought it was a visually appealing and tasting glass of wine.

The three of us tasted the sparkling wines while nibbling on fresh strawberries in early June. We felt very continental!

We finished off the Gloria Ferrer but not all of the Cristalino. What else do you need to know? Wine Spectator consistently rates this wine in the upper 80s to 90 points!

Ferrer makes sparkling wines at higher price points. This entry level would be a huge improvement for most I’ve tasted at weddings.

There are other great options in most wine shops as well. Ask your wine shop helper for Spanish Cava or an Italian Prosecco.

Howard Pick:
Gloria Ferrer’s Sonoma Brut. This was by far our pick of the two, though I liked the Rose’ as well. The ladies appreciated the lighter and balanced flavor of the Sonoma wine. You will be surprised how much you’ll enjoy the bubbles with a creamy mid-palate and lighter-than-expected finish.