Champagne Wine Holiday Parties
A Champagne Glass of Seasonal Cheer is a Great Holiday Party Theme
Dec 16, 2008
Champagne, for generations the drink that exemplifies holiday spirit, makes a wonderful basis for a holiday cocktail party. Wine drinkers find it the perfect way to combine holiday entertainment with wine appreciation by organizing their holiday parties around a sparkling wine tasting.
As holiday party ideas go, this one is an instant success. Excitement builds even before the holiday party invitations are in the mail, as hosts choose the wines and begin setting the stage for a festive event built around tasting champagne.
Tasting Champagne
The choices need not be limited to vintage champagne. In fact, fine champagne is often best reserved for more intimate tastings that are more about the wines than about holiday entertaining. Instead, buy champagne that covers the entire field in terms of quality, style, price and value.
Consider including wines from beyond the borders of the Champagne district in France. California sparkling wine, for example, offers a contrast to wines from Champagne proper in terms of flavor profiles, aromatics and mouthfeel. Some of the California producers are actually owned or operated by top-line Champagne houses.
Italian sparkling wine, prosecco rather than Asti, is another good choice for a tasting, as is German sekt. Australia, too, produces some brilliant sparklers that tend to be good values and provide yet another dimension. Other domestic U.S. sparkling wine producers – notably from Oregon, Michigan, Washington and New York – offer bubblies that generally share some of the cool-climate elements of traditional champagnes. Even some organic champagne is available.
Consider spanning the range of dryness in champagnes as well. Most bottlings are in the brut champagne category, which is one step away from the driest level of extra brut. If guests are experienced wine tasters this level of dryness will likely suit their tastes. Less experienced wine drinkers will appreciate less dry sparkling wines. Look for an extra dry to sec bottling, which range from just off-dry to slightly perceptibly sweet. Demi-sec becomes quite sweet, and doux is the sweetest. These may be appropriate to accompany desserts.
Plan to pour the champagnes rather than let guests help themselves. The purpose of this holiday party is tasting, after all, not quaffing. Limit each offering to about two ounces so guests can taste each selection without over-indulging. Expect each champagne bottle to yield no more than 12 samples, so if the guest list includes 20 people buy two bottles of each wine.
Type of Champagne Glass is Important
Use champagne flutes if at all possible. They show off one of the most important elements of sparkling wines – the bubbles. Look for an abundance of fine bubbles – experts agree that smaller is better – and a constant stream that lasts throughout the process of tasting. Flat-bottomed champagne glasses tend to minimize the visual element that flutes emphasize.
Holiday party planning for this type of event should include some appropriately festive food. Think in terms of protein-packed heavy hors d’oeuvre to help slow alcohol absorption as well as showcase the affinity champagne has with a wide range of savory tastes. Nearly any meat, shellfish or cheese is a good basis for nibbles. Avoid appetizers that contain vinegar, which will compete against the wines in discordant ways.
Don’t be surprised if guests come bearing champagne gifts. Any champagne delivery is always welcome, and it may fit well into the tasting.
Above all, enjoy the conviviality of both the season and the special air that champagne lends to any celebration.
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