Sam's Sparkling Wine Guide 2025
- Samantha Capaldi
- Dec 30, 2025
- 6 min read
So here is the scenario. It's 12/31. You're at your local grocery store. You are trying to pick out the perfect bubbly to ring in the new year. You want a bottle that is special and different yet not hundreds of dollars, right? You also want to be sure you get "Champagne" because it's NYE and you feel that is the thing to do. But is it? No... I am here to tell you your sparkling wine does not need to be a Champagne to celebrate the end of 2025 right. The next question you may be asking yourself is, what makes a wine Champagne? The smooth and short answer is that sparkling wine can only be called Champagne if it comes from the region of Champagne, France. Champagne can only be made using the grape varietals Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. To recap, all Champagne is sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is Champagne. We really should think of Champagne in terms of a geographical place as opposed to a winemaking style. Long story short, I don't discriminate between sparkling wines, and I do very much enjoy Champagnes. Therefore, I'll share with you some of both and you pick what sounds good to you!
Here is how to read a sparkling wines sweetness level, I know I still get stuck sometimes...
BRUT NATURE/BRUT NATURE/NATURHERB: 0 – 3 GRAMS/LITER = Bone Dry
EXTRA BRUT/EXTRA BRUT/EXTRA HERB: 0 – 6 GRAMS/LITER =
Slightly (but only slightly) less dry than brut nature.
EXTRA DRY/EXTRA SEC/EXTRA SECO/EXTRA TROCKEN: 12 – 17 GRAMS/LITER =
Not intensely sweet, but you might get some nice, more pronounced fruit character.
DRY/SEC/SECO/TROCKEN: 17 – 32 GRAMS/LITER =
Literally means “dry dry dry,” which in the backward world of sparkling sweetness levels actually means “sweeter, sweeter, sweeter. Not as sweet as it sounds.
DEMI-SEC/SEMI SECO/HALBTROCKEN: 32 – 50 GRAMS/LITER =
A medium-sweet wine, though the term—which translates literally to half-dry.
DOUX/DOLCE/MILD: 50 GRAMS+/LITER =
This is as dessert as a sparkling gets, sweetest of the levels.
Tips on shopping for sparkling wine/champagne, knowing the differences
Look for words like méthode Champenoise, méthode traditionnelle, méthode classique or “fermented in this bottle” on the label. And if the grapes used are some combination of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, most likely your sparkling wine from California, Washington or Australia, etc. is emulating Champagne. A wine can only technically be called Champagne if the wine was made in the region of Champagne, but there are a lot of quality sparkling wines that are just as tasty.
Know your budget
Sparkling wines can vary in price, so it is important to know how much you want to spend.
You don't always have to shell out a lot to get a delicious wine.
I don't really believe the price is an indicator of quality. There are really good sparkling wines, and equally bad ones, in every price range.
How to serve sparkling wine
Loudly popping the bottle and sending the cork flying might be the most exciting way to open your bubbly but it's not always the safest way.
For the best tasting sparkling wine, I recommend refrigerating the bottle for about two hours. OR, the paper towel trick. Wrap your bottle in a damp paper towel and put in the freezer for 20 min SET A TIMER!
If the bottle is too cold, the cork will get stuck making the bottle very hard to open. Trust me, I've learned this the hard way...
When the bottle is chilled correctly, twist the bottle, not the cork, keeping your thumb on the cork at all times. Now, who wants to learn how to saber? My preferred way to open ;)
My recommendations
Cava is the best bubbly when you're balling on a budget. You can get such great quality canvases for a fraction of the price of Champagne. This one can be found widely throughout grocery stores and Total Wine, too, yay! $10.49
Had to include my own bubbly baby, she truly is iconic! If you were not able to get her delivered before NYE, highly recommend treating yourself to this bubbly in 2026! I haven't met a single person who doesn't like this wine! $30
One of my all-time favorite sparklings from Trader Joe's, and it's $12 and drinks like it's way more $$! I LOVE Cremants because they are truly always such a steal.
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Trader Joe's
My favorite Prosecco from TJ's since 2018!!! Love it in a spritz or on its own! Sorry, I don't have a direct link but message me if you need help finding! $9.99
Affordable, light, domestic sparkling that reminds me so much of a classic Champagne. If you remember, I called this a good "Veuve Dupe" and some did not like that LOL $28
Okay, if you did want to ball out on Champagne, Champagne this would be it! I love this LP, and I got to visit them in France in 2019 and can verify it's iconic. $114
De Margerie Grand Cru Brut Champagne A delish more budget-friendly Champagne that I have loved for years! Can be found at Total Wine, large wine retailers, and some grocery stores! $49
Look at this bottle!!! So festive and such a yummy Cava. Find at large wine retailers and even most grocery stores! $28.99
Chandon Brut Perfect bubbly to toast to 2025 with! Can be found almost anywhere! $13.99
Gruet Brut Amazing Champagne-style bubbly from New Mexico can be found almost anywhere!! $14.99
100% CHARD Harmonious and well-balanced. Mostly found online but I have seen it in large retailers like Total Wine. The ultimate Italian sparkling wine ( that is not Prosecco). My claim to fame is I was hosted by the family of this winery in the Trentino alps a few years ago!!! $25-30
Honestly, an excellent NA Prosecco!! I've seen it at the grocery store too, yay! $18
We've featured this amazing winery at the SSWC, and Debra's iconic Brut Rosé is still one of my all-time favorites. Available online! If you're local to Sonoma/Napa, I am sure you can find it in-store.
Another fave Cremant that I recommend ALL THE TIME. Found at Total Wine and large wine retailers! $20.99
Maker Canned Brut / Just Enough Canned Brut + Alc Removed Brut
We just featured both of these woman-owned wine brands in the SSWC, and if ya'll have any leftover, I hope you can crack them open! Watch the recording too, so fun :) Let me know if you need help navigating where they are.
I've been a fan of this winery forever, super classic and crowd-friendly! Found at larger wine retailers like Total Wine. $41.99
Truly, any of TJ's brand bubblys are great on a budget in my eyes! Does not need to be this exact one.
Aldi is killing it with this deal, and such a cute bottle! Around $12 WOW!
Ya'll know our besties at High Camp <3 They have some new bubblys coming out soon too!!! If you were at our SSWC anni party in Paso, ya'll have to try them! Can't wait!!! $55
Can you tell I love Cremants by now? Lol. Another great budget-friendly crowd pleaser found at large wine retailers like Total Wine! $25.99
Okay, yes, this one is a touch sweet, but SO GOOD with desserts on NYE. It's also from Brazil, WOAH, and only $9.99!!! Please don't sit on it.
A hidden gem sparkling from Napa, I recently got addicted. I hope to feature them in SSWC in 2026!! $32
Truly such a couch crusher. Hopefully you can find one near you! Check out their wine locator via their website.
One of my favorite proseccos, and it is sister-owned! Another amazing hidden gem we plan to feature at SSWC in 2026! <3 $20
Ya'll know this barely scratches the surface of all the beautiful bubblys out there, but hopefully this puts you in the right direction of a few of my favorites you can easily grab for NYE!! Counting the days until our first wine club tasting BTW!!! ❤
Xo
Sam