The Best Champagnes and Sparkling Wines for New Year’s Eve - Kevin Gray

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Another year is coming to a close, and that’s an opportunity to reflect on all that was and make resolutions for all that will be. Sure, but it’s also an opportunity to pop some bubbly. Because nothing is quite so festive as flying corks and clinking glasses when the clock strikes midnight. Here are six fine Champagnes and sparkling wines to enjoy on New Year’s Eve, from budget bottles to splurge-worthy sips.

Best Budget Champagne: G.H. Mumm Grand Cordon Brut

Immediately recognizable for its red sash bottle design, G.H. Mumm Grand Cordon Brut is still one of the best values in Champagne. It’s fresh and structured on the palate, with notes of ripe peaches and dried apricots mingling with honey and yeasty pastries. It’s great to sip solo, but given the reasonable price tag, you can also add it to cocktails like the French 75.

Average price: $45

Best Vintage Champagne: Billecart-Salmon, Nicolas François 2008

This excellent cuvée was created in 1964 as a tribute to the house’s founder. The 2008 vintage was released in spring 2023 and shows off the richness and complexity of the high-quality harvest year. It’s refreshingly aromatic, with notes of fresh berries, quince, honey biscuits and limestone minerality.

Average price: $199

Best Splurge-Worthy Bottle: Louis Roederer 2012 Cristal Brut

Sourced completely from Roederer’s own vineyards, this 2012 bottle is 100% biodynamic and 100% delicious. It’s just now coming into form, which makes New Year’s Eve the perfect time to pop the bottle and give it a taste. The Champagne is bright and lively, with aromatic florals and ripe fruits. It’s a thoughtful gift if you’re willing to share, but feel free to open this bottle with someone special and keep it all to yourselves.

Average price: $279

Best Rosé: Laurent Perrier Cuvée Rosé

First debuted in 1968, this top-notch non-vintage rosé Champagne is made from 10 different crus, all pinot noir, and aged for five years. The wine is fresh, with good acid, and it contains intense flavors of red fruits — raspberries and strawberries — as well as black cherries.

Average price: $95

Best Prosecco: Borrasca Prosecco DOCG

Proseccos often get short shrift among sparkling wine aficionados, but this Italian bubbly is easy-drinking and affordable — and there are plenty of high-quality bottles to choose from. Hailing from Veneto, Borrasca is soft and fruit-forward, with notes of green apples, pears and white flowers. You can confidently sip this straight, or mix it into Aperol Spritzes or other festive cocktails.

Average price: $17

Best Cava: Guilera Musivari 2007

Cava is a Spanish sparkling wine made in the traditional method — like Champagne, it undergoes a second fermentation in the same bottle it’s sold in. And across the board, cava is one of the best bang-for-your-buck values in wine. That’s evident with Guilera Musivari 2007, a top-ranked brut nature (no added sugar) that brings delicate aromas and lots of flavor to each sip. Expect notes of citrus, green apple, ripe pear and toasted brioche.

Average price: $25