Bubbles on a Budget

Not all sparkling wine has to be expensive. Two excellent lower-priced wines are made from traditional Champagne grape varieties, both using the French methode champenoise.

One is Mirabelle, made by Schramsberg Vineyards. Complex and richly flavored, the wine is a great value at about $8. The other, Seaview Brut, comes from the large Australian producer Penfolds. The wine is excellent and can be found at less than $7.

For a non-traditional bubbly, try either Romance, a slightly sweet sparkling wine from Chateau De Baun made from the Symphony grape, or Melange a Deux, from Adler Fels, a fairly dry blend of Gewurztraminer and Riesling. Both sell for about $13.

One of the best values in dessert wines I have tasted is a sparkling wine made in the style of Asti Spumante by E & J Gallo Winery. Ballatorre is the name of the wine and it is a sweet, Muscat-based sparkling wine with lovely balance. The price is just $5.

Gallo makes three other sparkling wines: Andre Brut, Tott’s and Eden Roc. Each retails for about $5 or less (Andre is occasionally seen for less than $3), and all are clean and fresh, though too sweet for most wine lovers.

Slightly drier is Cook’s American Champagne, also about $5.