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New Year’s Eve is the most important Champagne sipping night of the year. Do you really want to be toasting to the end of one year and the beginning of another with less than stellar booze? Do you think you’ll earn that midnight kiss if you don’t go top shelf this year? You could go the route of Korbel, but you would be doing yourself a disservice by not drinking real champagne as the clock strikes midnight.
To be considered a Champagne (and not just a sparkling wine), the sparkling wine of note must actually come from the Champagne region of France. But, not all champagnes are created equal. You can’t just slap a “Made in France” sticker on something and assume it’s worth your time.
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There are a handful of brands that are guaranteed to get you that midnight kiss. They include: Dom Perignon, Moët, Armand de Brignac, Cristal, Krug, Vueve Clicquot, Perrier Jouet and a handful of others.
It’s hard to wade through the sea of options. Lucky for you, we are here to help you pick out the best champagnes to ring in the New Year.
Moët & Chandon Gold Diamond Suit
Wouldn’t you like to toast to 2017 with a specially designed bottle of Moet that comes in a thermal “suit” designed to help keep the champagne cool for up to two hours while you drink glass after glass? I know I would. If you’re all dressed up for the big night, your champagne might as well be too. You’ll definitely be the hit of the party if you stroll in rocking this bad boy.
Veuve Clicquot Rich
This is something special, even in the world of champagne. Veuve Clicquot created a truly unique champagne that was inspired by the craft mixology movement. Unlike most champagnes, Rich was created to be served over ice or mixed together with any number of fresh fruits, vegetable or even herbs. It’s the bartenders champagne because it’s supposed to be used as a cocktail ingredient. It’s very popular in the summer, but is perfectly suited for any party or get-together, including New Year’s Eve. The flavor of Rich changes based on what you add to it. Go ahead, try it. Throw in some strawberries and you’ll see the flavor amped up to a new level. Even thought it was designed as a mixer, its perfectly suited to be imbibed chilled, on its own.
Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé
If you want to be “big pimpin” this New Year’s Eve, you’ll want to grab a bottle of Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rose. Just know that this bad boy will set you back a cool $100. You’ll definitely want to share this bottle with someone special. Made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes, this champagne is truly special. It’s not too dry and has a very balanced level of acidity and is perfectly paired with many of the dishes you’re likely to serve in the dinner before the ball drops. If you’re man enough to drink a pink wine, this should be the one.
Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée
We all know that James Bond enjoys his martinis “shaken, not stirred.” But, did you know that 007’s favorite champagne is Bollinger? Since you’re likely to be dapper on New Year’s Eve, you should probably drink like a secret agent. This champagne is a blend of harvest grapes and reserve wines that have been aged in magnums for five to fifteen years.
Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut
This is about as classic as champagne gets. This full-bodied, fruit-filled Brut by Piper-Heidsieck is suited for any and every celebration. It’s made from mostly Pinot Noir grapes and is made-up of over 100 different kinds from Champagne and Pinot Meunier from Grande et Petite Montagne de Reims region.
