The Top Bottles of Bubbly to Pop this New Year’s Eve
A sommelier's guide to the best bottles of bubbly to pop
Sparkling wine is not just for the holidays, but there is no doubt it’s become the official beverage to ring in the New Year! To help us comb through the clutter of which bottles to pop, we tapped Kat Hawkins, Wine Director of Miru and Tre Dita at The St. Regis Chicago, to share her favorites. From value-driven options to a unique pick from Champagne, here are Kat’s picks for bottles of bubbly perfect for any occasion.
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Best Value Sparkling: English Bubbles
Kat’s Recommendation: England, Ridgeview, Blanc de Blancs, Brut 2019: $34.99, plus tax (Miru)
Ridgeview’s “Blanc de Blancs” is a classically elegant English sparkling wine. On the nose and palate it offers citrus blossom, orchard fruit and honeyed-apricot aromas, shifting toward brioche and subtle toasted notes with age. Why turn to England for value in the sparkling category? Most of Sussex, Kent, and Hampshire sits on the same geological chalk seam as Champagne. These mineral-rich, free-draining soils enhance finesse, structure, and purity. Also, Southern England’s climate is now very similar to Champagne’s historically; cool enough to preserve acidity, yet warm enough for full ripening. This produces grapes with the freshness and precision ideal for producing benchmark sparkling wines.
Fun and Unique Offering for the Holidays: DIY Dégorgement
Kat’s Recommendation: Brda, Movia, “Puro”: $39.99 plus tax (Tre Dita)
Movia Puro is one of the world’s most distinctive sparkling wines. An organically grown, fully natural, pétillant-naturel style wine from the iconic Movia estate (Brda region), it’s bottled un-disgorged, with the lees (sediment left behind after fermentation) still inside, which gives the wine depth, texture, and a rustic brioche-meets-stone-fruit complexity. “Puro” is typically a blend of Ribolla Gialla and Pinot Noir, fermented with native yeasts and without dosage, filtration, or added sulfites. The result is a vibrant, slightly wild sparkling wine with mineral drive, orchard fruit, and a savory, earthy core.
The Famous Underwater Opening Ritual
Movia Puro’s signature experience is its unorthodox (and fun) submerged disgorgement:
1. Chill the bottle very well. Ice-cold temperature keeps the lees compact and prevents gushing.
2. Submerge the bottle upside-down. Place the neck downward into a bucket of water. This keeps pressure stable and ensures the lees stay in the neck.
3. Remove the crown cap underwater. Use a bottle opener while the neck is submerged. The built-up pressure forces the lees out into the water, not your glass.
4. Lift, dry, and serve. Bring the bottle upright, wipe it clean, and pour a clear, bright sparkling wine—elegant, and cloudy no more.
Why this method?
Because the wine is bottled sur lie (on its lees), traditional disgorgement isn’t done at the winery. The underwater release is a natural and theatrical way to clear the wine of its lees just before drinking. It also respects Movia’s philosophy of minimal intervention and gentle handling.
A Classic Champagne That Won’t Break the Bank
Kat’s Recommendation: Brut Champagne, J. Lassalle, “Imperial Preference”, NV: $52.99, plus tax (Miru)
J. Lassalle is considered one of the leading “grower-champagne” producers: a small, estate-owning operation, rather than a large négociant house. It was among the early independent producers to export to the U.S. (already beginning in the 1970s) helping broaden awareness of grower Champagnes beyond Champagne’s big names. J. Lassalle remains proudly artisanal, as the grapes are hand-picked, with plot-by-plot pressing done on the same wooden basket press first installed by Jules Lassalle in the 1940s.
Classic Champagne: Baller Status
Kat’s Recommendation: Louis Roederer, Brut, “Cristal”, 2013: $299.99, plus tax (Tre Dita)
Crafted from the finest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this vintage embodies elegance with its radiant golden hue, delicate bubbles, and extraordinary depth. The top end of all production at Louis Roederer is worth all of the hype. Year after year, Cristal delivers a superior drinking experience of the highest quality and complexity. Cristal 2013 is not just a Champagne but a statement of sophistication—ideal for life’s greatest celebrations!
These holiday apps pair perfectly with any bottle of bubbly.
