10 Last Minute Wines for New Years Eve

Maybe you depleted your stash of bubbly over the holidays, were out of town until today or you’re just plain running behind schedule (hey, who isn’t) there is still plenty of time to run out and grab some bubbly for tonight. Here are ten, fantastic sparkling wines that are all worth every dime you’ll pay for them. We tried to keep the average price under $25 because, well, it’s not like 2009 was a gold rush or anything. All of these wines come from our 2010 Annual Wine Guide available for $2 online or select Boston wine shops. Happy New Year from The Second Glass!

Cheap and Delicious: NV Poema Brut Cava Spain | $11 Meant as “everyday Champagne,” this Cava is absolutely delicious. Creamy with flavors of lemon and citrus round out this bubbly that’s cheap enough to drink three times a week.
The Old Stand By: NV Mionetto “IL” Prosecco Veneto, Italy | $12 Yep, that’s right:  they use a bottle cap instead of a cork that provides easy access to maximized partying. This is a great Prosecco for the money.
The Party Trick: NV Gruet Blanc de Noirs New Mexico, USA | $15 Yes, they make wine in New Mexico and yes, it’s really frickin’ good. The winery was founded in 1987 by Gilbert Gruet, who had been making wine in Champagne, France since the 1950s. After a trip to the Southwest, he decided to take a stab at an American sparkler. The family follows the very strict Méthode Champenoise guidelines to create some truly impressive wines. The Blanc de Noir, made mostly from Pinot Noir grapes, is creamy with a bright acidity. One of the best bottles of bubbles for the money.
The Mathematician: 1+1=3 Cava Penedes, Spain | $16 Cava is Spain’s everyday Champagne. This means it’s cheap yet crazy delicious. This is a somewhat expensive bottle but your money is well spent. To start with, it’s got a kitschy label, always a “plus” at parties. The flavors are well-developed and it has plenty of bubbles, so it won’t go flat. Grab a few bottles for New Years Eve, drink before dinner or just keep a bottle in the fridge to celebrate the little victories in life.
Classiness in a Bottle: NV Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco Veneto, Italy | $18 Champagne ain’t cheap, so why shell out the big bucks if you don’t have to? Prosecco, on the otherhand, is made and priced at everyday drinking levels but often lacks the extra flavor and pizazz that New Years Eve, Valentine’s Day or even wedding wines require. That’s where the Nino Franco comes in. Flavors of mineral, citrus, apples and pears come out of this sufficiently bubbly wine.  Drink liberally with shrimp, sushi or directly out of the bottle, rockstar style.
The Californian: 2005 Domaine Carneros Brut Cuvee Carneros, California | $25 Owned and operated by the same folks as Tattinger (of Champagne fame), this bubbly is made the exact same way as Champagne. Bready and yeasty, it’s a great alternative to the French stuff.
The Local Hero: 2003 Westport Rivers Brut Cuvee RJR Westport, Massachusetts | $26 If we didn’t know any better, we’d think this wine came from France. But in fact, 100% estate grown Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Massachusetts go into this amazingly good East Coast sparkler.
The Savvy Shopper: NV Duval-Leroy Champagne, France | $35 This Champagne is the real deal, a smooth and creamy bubbly with apple and pear flavors. Always keep a bottle in the fridge because you never know who might be spending the night.
The Real Deal: NV Jean Lallement et Fil Reserve Brut Champagne, France | $70 If you’re going to splurge, splurge on this. The maker of this “grower” Champagne paid exceptional attention to detail. Flavors of apple, hops, and brown butter.
Ballerness in a Bottle: 1997 Salon Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Champagne, France | $350 Don’t get your wine tips from rappers. Salon is what the REAL ballers drink! If you can afford it, drink this with a special someone and your socks (along with other articles of clothing) will be knocked right off!