“Explore the modern world of sparkling wine with these stellar recommendations for the holiday.

“When Jules Verne’s Phileas Fogg went ’round the world, he undoubtedly celebrated his return with Champagne. Being a good British gentleman, this would have been his sparkling wine of choice. While there were sparkling wines from the rest of France around — the wines of Limoux have an even more illustrious history — England was the largest market for champagne in the 19th century.

“Champagne may still be the finest sparkling wine in the world, but other regions and countries have narrowed the quality gap. In fact, picking from among these selections will pretty much guarantee you a successful holiday season. Cheers!

“California has had a long and complicated love affair with sparkling wine production.

“Jack and Jamie Davies made the first big move. They took over forgotten Schramsberg Vineyards in Calistoga in 1965 to attempt a Schramsberg Cuvee with the help of neighbor Peter Mondavi. Schramsberg sparkling wine soon found worldwide fame, even making its way into the White House. By 1972, California drew wide interest for its Champagne-styled wines.”