Currently Craving: Bubbles

Champagne is one of my favorite drinks! I love the *POP* when you open the bottle, the effervescence in the first pour and that giddy feeling from your first glass! The Holiday's always promise the consumption of bubbly but for me I love to celebrate with sparkling beverages year round! Why not right?

For those who do not have as much...lets say...experience with champagne or sparkling wine, (It's only truly champagne if it comes from the region of Champagne, France!) it can be a bit intimidating. Here is a simple guide for choosing your bubbly:

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Cava: "The Spanish Champagne" Serve with hors d'oeuvres, particularity cheese and crackers.


Cuvée de Prestige: a proprietary blended wine (usually a Champagne) that is considered to be the top of a producer's range. Serve with Asian cuisine, sushi, etc. 


Rosé: Bubbly with the addition of small amounts of Red wine during blending. Serve with shellfish. 


Prosecco: A dry Italian sparkling wine. Serve with chocolate and strawberries. 

The sweetness of a sparkling wine or Champagne ranges from:

• Extra Brut (Brut Sauvage) - Totally dry
• Brut - Dry
• Extra Dry - Medium dry
• Sec - Slightly sweet
• Demi - Sec: Fairly sweet
• Doux - Sweet
  
  

  

  Illustration by Julia Rothman

  **There is a great post about the Past and Present of Champagne over on Design*Sponge. I saw this illustration by Julia Rothman there and just fell in love with it!**
  
  
  
  
  Another festive way to enjoy your bubbly is a Champagne Cocktail! Here are three of my all time favorites:
  
  

  

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  Black Velvet
  4 parts Champagne or sparkling wine to 1 part Guinness beer... Heavenly!!
  
  
  
  
  
  Cattivo
  (This cocktail comes from one of my favorite water holes in PDX, North 45. I want to incorporate this into my wedding and they were kind enough to send me the recipe!)
  1.0 oz Lemoncello (depending on how sweet the cello you may have to adjust)
  0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
  7.0 oz Prosecco (or bubbles of any sort would probably work)
  Garnish with lemon twist or lemon wheel.
  
  
  
  
  
  The Pink Fizzy
  
  
  (From Skinny Bitch: Ultimate Everyday Cookbook)
  Handful of Pomegranate seeds
  1.0 oz Pomegranate Juice
  1.0 oz Pink Grapefruit Juice
  2.0 oz Champagne or Sparkling Wine

  
  

  Happy New Year!

  Cheers!