Prosecco Trumps Champagne

As New Year's Eve approaches and people start thinking about buying bubbly, I wanted to put in my pitch for a Champagne alternative: Prosecco. Hailing from Italy, Prosecco is drier and perhaps a tidge less subtle than champagne, but is always delightful. And reasonably priced. You pay more for Champagne because it's, well, Champagne. Approved and acknowledged by the European Union as the real deal. Ranging from $9-$14 a bottle, Prosecco is a wonderful alternative. Unless you are a champagne connoisseur, you will likely not notice a difference and, in fact, you might like the Prosecco better. I do!

For more about Prosecco and its quest to become more Champagne (l'horreur!), see this article from the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/28/business/worldbusiness/28prosecco.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&th&emc=th

Mucho Monastrell

2006 Castano Monastrell
Yep, I've recommended other Monastrells and this one also makes the cut. Hailing from Yecla, Spain, this bottle delivers alotta wine for the price. Sip with a nice blue cheese on crackers and then ponder a paella.

Veritable Valreas

2007 Valreas "Cuvee Prestige" Cotes du Rhone Villages
It's pretty easy to envision yourself sipping some vin and kicking back in southern France when you sip this wine. A little earthier than the big berry Beaujolais, yet every bit as comforting. A spaghetti carbonera would be happily eaten along with this vino from Vaucluse.