9 Sparkling Wines under $30 rated 90+
Let's celebrate the end of crazy 2020 and the beginning of a new, fresh, beautiful year! I’ve got 9 Sparkling Wines under $30 that are rated 90+! They are the perfect way to ring in the New Year. This line-up includes sparklings from Italy, France, Spain, and the US.
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FYI: Currently, Wine.com has many of these marked down from the prices listed here. Just click through to see the sale prices.
9 Sparkling Wines under $30
Valdobbiadene, Prosecco, Italy Wine Enthusiast: 94 rating
This sparkling is rated #1 in the Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Wines of 2019. The Prosecco Superior designation is the highest-quality rating for Prosecco.
Winemaker Notes: Light-bodied, elegant, fresh, lively fruit, notes of bread dough, citrus, and persistent effervescence.
Pair With: Charcuterie, vegetables, seafood, risotto, delicate pasta dishes.
Anderson Valley, Mendocino, California Wine Spectator: 92
Another great sparkling for a value. This one was rated #27 on the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2018. Wilfred Wong (wine critic from Wine.com) says this is his “go-to bubbly from anywhere in the world and often in place of higher-priced bubblies from France and Italy.”
Wine Spectator Notes: Sleek, luxurious, with expressive Asian pear, strawberry blossom, and roasted hazelnut flavors that build richness on an opulent finish.
Pair With: lobster, crab legs, scallops, oysters, spicy dishes, and creamy deserts.
Napa Valley, California Wine Enthusiast: 92
This is a solid sparkling out of Napa Valley. The term “Brut” means it’s a dry Sparkling which is the most popular among consumers.
Winemaker Notes: Opens with gorgeous layered white blossom aromas, followed by creamy vanilla, citrus, stone fruit, and melon. Refreshing acidity and fruit character make this an excellent food wine.
Pair With: crab cakes, flatbread
Non-Vintage, Penedes, Spain Tasting Panel: 94
Winemaker Notes: The Segura Viudas Reserva Heredad Cava Brut has lightly smoky opening aromas with touches of biscuit and hints of honey and flower petals. The palate is excellent, fruity, and full of flavor, delivering a delightful sense of abundance.
Pair With: vegetable tempura, ceviche, marinated olives, mixed nuts, potato chips
California Decanter: 90
Chandon is produced by the winery Domain Chandon located in Napa Valley, California. This winery is owned by the French Moët & Chandon known for its world-class Champagne.
Winemaker Notes: Look for nutty flavors with hints of brioche that build to a refreshingly dry finish. Complex apple and pear characteristics accented by citrus spice over notes of almond and caramel in the bouquet. Great with anything salty, creamy, or nutty.
Pair With: Pairs well with shellfish, crab, oysters, fried chicken, and Ceasar salad.
Penedes, Spain Wine Spectator: 90
When a sparkling label states "Blanc de Blanc," it means it's made only with Chardonnay.
Winemaker Notes: A sparkling wine marked by the typicity of its place of origin, the Vinya del Llac, a vineyard over 40 years’ old, which allows for a structured, fresh and complex sparkling wine.
Pair With: cured meats, fresh oysters, camembert
Non-Vintage, Prosecco Italy James Suckling: 91
Winemaker Notes: Brilliant straw yellow color; bubbles extremely fine and lively. Intense and fresh nose of citrus fruits and saline sensations. Fruit-forward, refreshing sip.
Pair With: shrimp tempura, fried chicken, hush puppies
Sparkling Wine from France Tasting Panel: 92
Blanc de Blanc means white of whites which means this Brut is produced using 100% Chardonnay grapes. The grapes are sourced from top regions in France including Burgundy, Beaujolais, and the Loire Valley.
Winemaker Notes: A delicate balance of dryness and acidity lingers with a bit of Meyer lemon, honeydew, and soft floral notes.
Pair With: savory hors d’oeuvres, buttered popcorn, creamy pasta dishes, fried chicken, spicy Asian dishes, seafood, fruit-based desserts, or semi-soft cheese.
Cocktail Mixing Options: Mix with elderflower or fruit liqueurs, or fresh juice and quality spirits for a light, refreshing sparkling cocktail.
Non-Vintage, Champagne, France Decanter: 95
Okay, you may have noticed this one is more than the $30 I promised. But, hear me out. This year has been crappy...so why not treat yourself to a highly rated French Champagne. Yes, actual French Champagne rated 95 for only $37!! What a great value! Don't you deserve it?! :) (I think we all deserve it at this point.)
Winemaker Notes: Pale yellow with tints of white gold and a stream of fine bubbles. Aromas of fresh pear, fig and almond, with hints of orange blossom. A light swirl of the glass brings out richer notes of honey and freshly baked bread. Fresh and supple. Full, with a long fruity finish.
Pair With: Serve as an aperitif or with fish or cheese.
Sparkling Wine Tasting Notes
You may have noticed many of the tasting notes mention bread, brioche, bread dough, etc. This is typical of Sparkling wine because it goes through a secondary fermentation process that still wine does not go through. That extra contact with the yeast adds a type of bread taste to the sparkling wine.
To find out more about the typical types of Sparkling Wine, terminology for sweet to dry, and how to open Sparkling wine without causing mayhem then check out the Sparkling Wine Guide: Sparklings From Around The World.
Wrap up: 9 Sparkling Wines under $30
Enjoy your celebrations as you ring in the New Year! Let us know what sparklers you celebrate with and what you thought of them. Here's to a happy, family-filled, friend-filled, and prosperous 2021!
