It’s been real, 2017. Now it’s time to toast 2018 with some local sparkling wine. • Photo courtesy of Wolffer Estate
The countdown has begun. With New Year’s Eve just days away, the question of what you’ll toast the new year with has arisen. While France has their Champagnes and Italy their proseccos, there is still plenty of bubbly to choose from on the East End. From tiny little bubbles to plenty of foam we’ve got you covered. Here are five East End sparkling wines, of various price ranges, you’ll want to toast the new year.
Channing Daughters Winery 2015 Rosso Petillant Naturel
While “Method Champenoise” is the traditional method of sparkling winemaking, this is when the wine undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle, Bridgehampton’s Channing Daughters Winery uses “Methode Ancestrale,” an older method that bottles the wine before fermentation is finished. This type of wine is called Petillant Naturel and may retain some sediment, because they are not disgorged, like most sparkling wines. Disgorgement involves removal of the sediment (yeast) collected at the neck of the bottle, after the second fermentation. For the holiday go bold with Channing Daughter’s Rosso Petillant Naturel, a dry wine, showcasing a rich red color with aromas and flavors of cherry, raspberry and red plum. 75% Petit Verdot 19% Refosco 4% Merlot 1% Syrah & 1% Cabernet Franc, this wine goes with everything from meats to pizza. Serve very cold before opening to avoid foaming. • $28
Pugliese Vineyards 2010 Blanc de Blanc Brut
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The 2010 Blanc de Blanc Brut is the most popular bubbly at the family-owned and operated Pugliese Vineyards in Cutchogue. It took the gold last year at the Golden Rim Wine Competition and the silver at L.A.’s International Wine Competition, making it a first-rate choice to join your party. Fermented in the bottle from Chardonnay grapes, the taste is light, crisp and complex, with aromas of fresh apple and lemon rind. The hand-painted special edition bottle also makes a nice gift to bring to a party. • $33
Wolffer Estate Vineyard 2013 Noblesse Oblige Brut Sparkling Rosé
If you love Wolffer Estate Vineyard’s classic Summer in a Bottle Rosé, pop open a bottle of their Noblesse Oblige Brut Sparkling Rosé. Back in stock in their Sagaponack tasting room for the holidays, this sunset-hued wine has a vibrant acidity with clean ripe fruit, creamy bubbles and a lush, dry finish. 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, it displays a classic aroma with notes of white chocolate. This wine can hold its own with seafood, cheese and even meat as the main course. It is a lovely way to toast the new year. • $40
In Peconic pick up a bottle of The Lenz Winery’s 2003 Cuvee RD which is 100% Pinot Noir. When one of their sparkling wines sells out, 60 to 70 cases are saved to continue the aging or finishing process. The French call Champagnes made using this late-finishing process Récemment Dégorgé (recently disgorged) or RD. This extended aging process gives the wine an extra richness with a nutty, earthy flavor. • $60
Sparkling Pointe Vineyards & Winery 2007 Brut Seduction
Choosing a sparkling wine at Southold’s Sparkling Pointe Vineyards & Winery, which specializes in sparkling wines only, doesn’t have to be confusing. Go with the prestige cuvee’ of the house, Sparkling Pointe’s Brut Seduction, a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. This gold-colored wine emits an effervescence of tiny bubbles to tickle your palate with aromas of brioche and toasted almonds. Its richness and complexity stands up well to equally rich foods like shellfish, as well as appetizers like foie gras and creamy cheeses. • $72
