Hosting a holiday party need not be a daunting, stress-packed endeavor. One easy-to-manage approach is to uncork a number of sparkling wines and serve them with pass-around appetizers.
By serving an array of wines and tasty finger food, you’ll satisfy even persnickety palates without the need for a formal, difficult-to-manage, sit-down affair.
There are four basic types of sparkling wine, not counting sweet sparklers such as Asti Spumante or Moscato. Serve all four, pair them with appropriate nibbles, and you have the makings of a festive, memorable holiday celebration.
* Blanc de Noirs — Describes a white wine produced entirely from black grapes. In Champagne, a Blanc de Noirs cuvée can be made from the two black grapes permitted within the appellation, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Here in the United States, most Blanc de Noirs sparkling wines are made solely from Pinot Noir. The color can range from pale straw to pale salmon, depending on how long the juice was left on the skins.
Appetizer suggestion: beef empanadas.
* Blanc de Blancs — Describes a white wine made entirely from white grapes. Nearly all blanc de blancs sparkling wines are made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes, although a handful are made from Pinot Blanc.
Appetizer suggestion: a creamy cheese, such as brie, spread on crackers or crusty bread.
* Brut — Describes a wine made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the two star varieties of France’s Champagne appellation. Since both a white variety and a red variety are involved, Brut has the most complex flavor spectrum of any sparkling wine.
Appetizer suggestion: duck prosciutto.
* Brut Rosé — Describes a cuvee that’s based on Pinot Noir, from which it derives its pink color and most of its flavor.
Appetizer suggestion: stuffed mushrooms.
Knowing what you want to serve your guests is only half the battle. Vinesse offers a number of fantastic sparkling wines and sometimes, the best option is to grab one of our curated collections. If you act fast, you might still be able to get your hands on their latest festive sparkling wine sampler designed to be perfect for end of the year toasts and celebrations on sale.
