“The holidays are high time for raising a glass of Champagne … and often. From office parties and family get-togethers to ringing in the new year with your best girlfriends, the champs runneth over. But, all that toasting can get expensive.

“‘Champagne is like the perfect apartment in the West Village in Manhattan, the Gold Coast in Chicago, or the Pacific Heights in San Francisco,’ says Belinda Chang, James Beard Award-winning Wine Director of Maple & Ash in Chicago. ‘Because Champagne can only be made in the Champagne region of France and the real estate there is truly blue chip, the resulting delicious wines ain’t cheap!’

“But if Champagne stands as an integral part of your holiday lifestyle (and it should!) there are plenty of options made in other parts of the world.

“‘These wineries often use the same grapes and many use the same methode champenoise and so the results make it possible for us all to have a full wardrobe of sparkling wine options,’ says Chang.

“Keep reading for her favorite five bubblies for $25 or less to pop bottles all season long…

SCHRAMSBERG MIRABELLE BRUT
“‘The Davies family has been stewarding this beautiful winery in California for two generations and their methode champenoise is my daily quaff. California sunshine in every glass along with the toasty flavors of a true methode champenoise.’”

Read the full article on InStyle.