Six Champagnes Under $100

More Americans are planning to celebrate this new year's eve with a small group of friends at home instead of going out to clubs and restaurants. What better way to enjoy the evening then to share a bottle or two of bubbly by the fireplace.

There's no need to spend a lot of money and feel like you have to have a good time and forcing your better half to dance just because an orchestra is playing. Also, if you order a good bottle of wine at a restaurant, it will cost you twice as much as the one you have at home in the cooler.

Since wine prices have come down in the past couple of months, there are some great bargains out there if you do a little searching. There are some excellent champagnes and sparkling wines under $100.

Perrier Jouet Fleur De Champagne 1998
in the famous flower bottle. Apple and peach flavors with a bit of vanilla and and a trace of citrus. A favorite which can be found for $99. At that price it's a great deal.

Schramsberg 1999 J Schramm
This California sparkling wine in one of my favorites. It's creamy and has the traditional hint of brioche and tropical fruit. Can be found online for $78.

Taittinger Brut La Francaise
Description: A fine, very pure style of Champagne. Has hints of toast and citrus fruits that come together in a style that is almost the essence of Champagne. Crisp, rich and complex. Wine Enthusiast score 92.

Bollinger Special Cuvee Champagne
93 points Wine Spectator: "Complex aromas and flavors of rose, grilled nuts, citrus and a gently oxidative note course through this muscular, full-bodied bubbly. Despite its power, there's a gracefulness. The after tase combines citrus and spice. $47

Louis Roederer NV Brut Premier Reims
WS 90 Pts. - Delicious. Smooth and complex, revealing flavors of yeast, berry, ginger and citrus, allied to a firm structure. Ends with a firm, tactile sensation and an aftertaste of candied citrus. $37

Veuve Clicquot Brut
The famous yellow label. According to Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The NV Brut offers up attractive notes of smoke, tar, rich ripe pears and flowers in a medium to full-bodied style. There is a good measure of persistence..."$ 38

A good bubbly goes well with just about every type of food. It's one of the few wines you can drink from start to finish of a great meal. A dinner of lobster with drawn butter and a glass of champagne is the ultimate treat to start the new year.

Wine Country Holiday Getaway

Napa Valley

December is the best time to visit California wineries. Get your holiday shopping early so you take a break from the crowds at the mall or just do your shopping online. If you have 3 or 4 days to spare, Napa Valley is beautiful at Christmastime. The air is crisp, the holiday decorations are up and the usual crowds on Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail are almost non-existent. The tasting rooms usually only have a few visitors so the people working there have time to chat and answer you questions while they pour. This is a great time to learn about the wines that were harvested in September and are now going through their fermentation process.

Most of the hotels have specials at this time and you can save 50% off the price of a room at your favorite resorts. One of my favorite places to stay is the Silverado Resort. It’s a short drive from the Silverado Trail, which is home to the wineries of the Stags Leap area, known for their world famous cabs.

Two of my favorite wineries are located on the trail. The Steltzner Winery is a small family owned establishment that produces classic Bordeaux varietals. Their Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Select is a delight. Smooth is the word that immediately comes to mind, followed by dark fruit. This wine is in the over $60 category.

The Regusci Winery is one of the few remaining Ghost Wineries left in the Napa Valley. Most of the wineries in the late 1800’s to 1900 were decimated by the phylloxera infestation at that time, which forced most of the wineries out of business.

The tasting room at Regusci is one of my favorites. A large rustic room with big wooden beams and a long wooden bar make it casual and inviting. The winery dogs are always fun to visit with and Regusci dogs, Trixie and Scrappy, are no exception. Of course, the real reason we like to go there is the wine. The zinfandel is a favorite and being a small winery that produces a limited quantity, this big, juicy, California-style wine goes fast. $50 - sells out quickly.

After an afternoon of tasting and sipping, there are several outstanding restaurants that are in the affordable range. It’s almost impossible to find food that isn’t good. Even the old Sizzler serves tasty food!

Depending on how much wine you buy to take home or have shipped, you can have an affordable getaway in Napa Valley. With gas prices below $1.50 a gallon, it makes driving up the coast a treat.