Best Bubbles Under $20: 3 Sparkling Wines Worth Buying
Nothing says it is time to gather around a table like the sound of a bottle of bubbly being popped open to enjoy. And no, you do NOT need to spend $50 to $100 to experience a beautiful bottle of sparkling wine.
These are the three bottles I reach for without question - They are delicious, versatile, and most importantly, they make people happy. Because wine is supposed to bring people together, not stress anyone out.
Mionetto Prestige Brut $16
When I’m entertaining during the day, this is the bottle I reach for Every. Single. Time. If spritzes are on the menu, there is truly nothing better.
Mionetto Prestige Brut is effortlessly fresh and lively, packed with bright apple, white peach and citrusy flavors—the kind of bubbles that disappear dangerously quickly when you’re standing around the kitchen with friends. It’s made from Glera in Italy’s Veneto region using the Charmat method, which keeps the wine fresh, fruity and perfect for cocktails.
Hot Tip: If you’re hosting, buy more than you think you need. One bottle for every 3 guests should do the trick.
Segura Viudas Reserva Cava $13
I lived in Spain. I worked in restaurants in Spain. I will never apologize for being opinionated about Spanish wine.
Cava is Spain’s answer to Champagne—and one of the best-kept secrets in the sparkling wine world. Like Champagne, Cava is made using the traditional method, meaning the second fermentation happens in the bottle. That’s what gives it those beautiful bubbles and the toasty, yeasty complexity we associate with Champagne.
Segura Viudas is the bottle I’m always proud to pour. It has the freshness and citrus you want, but also those lovely brioche, mineral and savory notes that make it taste far more expensive than it is.
And when someone asks, “Is this Champagne?” I get to smile and say, “No. It’s Cava. And you’re welcome.”
Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut $20
Before “American sparkling wine” was a thing, American producers actually used the word Champagne on their bottles. But Champagne is a protected place name, and wine-labeling rules changed in the U.S. after the 2006 agreement with the European Union. Today, the safe—and correct—term for these wines is sparkling wine.
But here’s the fun part: changing the name didn’t change the way the wine was made.
Gloria Ferrer was founded by José and Gloria Ferrer, who came from Spain to California with the dream of making traditional-method sparkling wine in Sonoma’s cool Carneros region. Today, their Sonoma Brut is still made with the kind of patience and craftsmanship that makes serious sparkling wine so delicious—Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with time aging on the lees to develop those creamy, toasty flavors.
Basically, America may not be allowed to call it Champagne, but we’re absolutely allowed to make something worth celebrating.
So pop the cork. Invite people over. Make the Spritzes. And remember: the best bottle of bubbles is the one that gets everyone to stay for another glass.