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Holiday Sparkling Wines

A glass of sparkling wine at The Plaza Bistro. Missvain, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Missvain, CC BY 4.0
/
A glass of sparkling wine at The Plaza Bistro.

It’s the time of year when we all love a cup or two of bubbly, and with that in mind,
Hugh has put together a convenient shopping list to guide you through the world of sparkling wine.

Price key:
$=less than $20
$$= $20-40
$$$=$40-60
$$$$=above $60

Quality key:
* = decent wine
** = very good wine
*** = superb wine
****= elite
VALUE = exceptional quality for the money

Belvive Vino Spumante Extra Dry NV  ** $$VALUE      
100% chardonnay, made slightly sweet, very pleasant mousse

Champagne Renard-Barnier Brut NV     *** $$GOOD VALUE FOR CHAMPAGNE 
Aged for 6 years before release, rich flavors with delicate aroma

WINE OF THE WEEK
Wolfberger Cremant d’Alsace NV  **1/2 $$
Made from pinot blanc and auxerois, great finesse, fine mousse
           
All of these wines can be purchased at Wells Discount Liquors.

Al Spoler, well known to WYPR listeners as the wine-loving co-host of "Cellar Notes" has had a long-standing parallel interest in cooking as well. Al has said, the moment he started getting serious about Sunday night dinners was the same moment he started getting serious about wine. Over the years, he has benefited greatly from being a member of the Cork and Fork Society of Baltimore, a gentlemen's dining club that serves black tie meals cooked by the members themselves who are some of Baltimore's most accomplished amateur cooks.