Ten Bottles of Bubbly to Ring in the New Year

New Year’s Eve typically isn’t a one-glass occasion. For many of us, it’s a long night that moves from early aperitifs to midnight toasts and late-night bites. As with still wines, sparkling wines come in a wide range of styles, from light and racy to fuller and more structured. One way to plan the night is to think in stages, opening different bottles as the evening unfolds.

The following lineup brings together bottles for every moment: wines to get the party started, those that shine alongside food, and finally, something unexpected to keep the celebration going after midnight.

Most of the wines featured here were sent to me as samples. And since New Year’s Eve shopping can be unpredictable, if you can’t find a specific bottle, look for a sparkling wine from the same region or made in a similar way with the same grapes. I find that regional cues are often the best way to select a good substitute.

Cheers to 2026!

First Pour: Bright and Welcoming

This Life Sparkling Wine by Robert Wessman ($25)

While celebrity wines often don’t live up to the hype, this collaboration between Maison Wessman and 10-time Grammy winner Norah Jones keeps the focus where it belongs: on place and drinkability. A Crémant de Limoux (Limoux is considered by many to be the birthplace of sparkling wine), it’s made in the traditional method in the cool foothills of the Pyrenees. Fine bubbles, white flowers, peach, and bright citrus lead to a gently nutty finish, making it a tasty way to start the night.

Trénel Crémant de Bourgogne ($32)

Founded in 1928, Maison Trénel is one of the oldest and best-known houses in the southern reaches of Burgundy. This Crémant de Bourgogne is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Aligoté, and Gamay. Lively and beautifully balanced, with fine bubbles and bright acidity, it makes a perfect start to any evening.

Mid-Evening: Depth and Conversation

Domaine Pichot Vouvray Clos Saint Mathurin Sparkling Méthode Traditionnelle ($25)

The Pichot family is among the oldest in the Loire Valley’s Vouvray appellation, with origins dating back to 1739, and its vineyard sites are considered among the very best. Their Clos Saint Mathurin is made from 100% Chenin Blanc, a grape that delivers freshness, texture, and lively acidity. This one has a fine, lively mousse and textbook Chenin Blanc flavor, including yellow apple, pear, and chamomile, with notes of honey and ginger. It can be served as an aperitif or throughout the meal with both lighter and richer courses.

Langlois Crémant de Loire Brut Réserve ($25)

When a storied Champagne house like Bollinger turns its attention to the Loire, the result is a Crémant de Loire that punches well above its price. A blend of 60% Chenin Blanc, 20% Chardonnay, and 20% Cabernet Franc, this wine is aged over 24 months on the lees, delivering Champagne-like depth with fine bubbles. It’s an ideal apéritif and a great fit as the evening settles in.

Cleto Chiarli Rosé de Noire Brut ($19)

This Rosé de Noir Brut from the historic Lambrusco producer Cleto Chiarli, located in Emilia-Romagna, pays homage to an old Modena tradition of workers cooling off with light, fizzy wines made from freshly pressed grapes. Made of 85% Lambrusco Grasparossa with 15% Pinot Nero, it gets its vibrant color from brief skin contact and delivers aromas of strawberries and roses. Crisp, fruity, and floral, it’s a joyful, crowd-pleasing sparkler. I even opened it just before my daughter walked down the aisle, and it held its own alongside Champagne.

Yarden Galilee Rosé 2018 ($51)

Yarden is the flagship label of Golan Heights Winery, sourced from the region’s best high-elevation vineyards in the cool northern Galilee. Made in the traditional method from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and aged five years on the lees, this vintage rosé shows pale strawberry, pink grapefruit, lemon, and subtle brioche, with a clean mineral edge. Refined and refreshing now, it also has the structure to age gracefully for years to come.

The Final Toast: Champagne Moments

Champagne Aubry Brut Premier Cru ($52)

From a family-run house in the Petite Montagne de Reims, this Premier Cru Champagne offers a beautiful balance of freshness and depth. With bright citrus and orchard-fruit aromas and fine, persistent bubbles, it brings both energy and elegance to the table. I loved it enough to serve it as the toast at my daughter’s wedding, then reach for it again on Christmas Eve this year.

Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Réserve Exclusive Rosé ($69.99)

Nicolas Feuillatte is the number-one-selling brand in France. The Réserve Rosé offers flavors of red currant, blueberry, and raspberry, mingled with a hint of wild strawberry. It’s a perfect accompaniment at the table and a reliable crowd-pleaser for midnight.

Champagne Fleur de Miraval ER2 ($330-$350)

This is a serious splurge and not a category I typically seek out (celebrity wines). Fleur de Miraval is a collaboration between Brad Pitt, the Perrin family of the Rhône Valley, and Champagne grower Rodolphe Péters of Pierre Péters—one of my favorite grower Champagnes. What drew me in wasn’t the celebrity name, but how these three forces came together to create a rosé-only Champagne house, blending star power with Rhône depth and Champagne precision.

Fleur de Miraval ER2 is made in small quantities in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, the most famous Grand Cru Champagne village in the Côte des Blancs. The wine is an elegant, energetic blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir aged for years on the lees. The nose is floral, reminiscent of perfume with scents of rose and lavender. The mineral-driven palate starts with juicy notes of red cherry, raspberry, and pink grapefruit, followed by almond, white pepper, and that classic creamy toastiness you only find in fine Champagne.

After Midnight: One Last Surprise

Iovine Gragnano Frizzante Red Wine ($20)

Sparkling Gragnano is a distinctive style of sparkling wine from the Campania region of southern Italy, produced in the area around the town of Gragnano, near Naples. This wine is semi-sparkling (frizzante in Italian), meaning that the effervescence is gentle yet persistent. Low in alcohol and best served chilled, it features vibrant acidity, fragrant floral and herbal notes, and a fruity sour-cherry and red-berry profile, making it perfect for late-night bites.