Whether you’re looking for the perfect bubbly to ring in the new year or toast a special occasion, these sparkling wines are top picks.
Champagne is well and good (ok, it’s great), but there’s nothing like celebrating with a stellar glass of Hudson Valley-made wine. So, whether it’s for holiday celebrations, the new year, a birthday party, an anniversary, or any other special occasion, skip the standard bubbly and pour a local glass of sparkling wine instead. How’s that for sweet sipping?
2013 The Loic
Tousey Winery, Germantown
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Tousey Winery treats sparkling wine lovers to a beauty of a bottle made from 100-percent estate-grown chardonnay grapes. Crafted using the méthode champenoise, this wine remained on lees for more than three years prior to disgorgement. The care and attention delivered to this vintage result in a flavor profile that delights with notes of apple, brioche, and honeydew melon.
2022 Brut Proprietor’s Special Reserve
Millbrook Vineyards & Winery, Millbrook
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Millbrook Vineyards & Winery produces vinos that run the gamut from reds to whites (and more!). However, when you’re in the mood for something special, pop open the 2022 Brut Proprietor’s Special Reserve. As the name hints, the wine is made using the méthode champenoise. Flavor notes include lime, apricot, fresh herbs, orange candy, and ginger. To finish, undertones of sourdough and minerals make this a particularly wonderful libation.
2023 Proceedo White
Milea Estate Vineyard, Staatsburg
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Made from hand-harvested pinot noir grapes, this vino is the result of Milea’s winemaking team gently pressing the whole-cluster grapes to extract the juice rapidly from the skins, leaving the final product with minimal color. The 2023 Proceedo White was fermented in stainless steel tanks to help craft a vintage that’s balanced without being too bold. The aromas of pear, quince, and slight hints of bread are complemented by just the right amount of acidity on the palate.
Carpe Diem
Brotherhood Winery, Washingtonville
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For sparkling wine lovers in the Hudson Valley, Brotherhood is a real treat. While the Washingtonville winery produces a number of sparkling vinos, our pick for special occasions is Carpe Diem, a.k.a. Seize the Day. An Asti Spumante, this Italian-style wine is made from Moscato grapes to produce a wine that is naturally fruity and perfectly sweet. If you love champagne but want something sweeter, this is a top pick.
P.S. If you’re in the mood for something on the truly luxe side, splurge on a bottle of Grand Monarque. Crafted from a combination of pinot noir and chardonnay grapes, this vino features a slow release of bubbles that dance on the tongue, with flavors of lemon, fresh biscuits, and toasted bread.
Cuvée
Whitecliff Vineyard & Winery, Gardiner/Hudson
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Whitecliff bottles a stunner in this Cuvée, which was awarded 92 points by Wine Enthusiast. The vino is the result of méthode champenoise production using New York State chardonnay grapes. The production time is lengthy for this one, with a second fermentation occurring in bottle. In all, the wine stays on the lees for five years. The resulting pour is unsurprisingly delightful, so you may just want to pick up a second bottle ahead of time so you’re ready to go the next time a celebratory occasion strikes.
Related: These Peppermint Treats Make Winter Sweet in the Hudson Valley
