12/05/05 Monday`s question - Low cost bubbly

Welcome to Vine to Wine, this is your host Linda Moran, and on today's program we are answering questions from our email. Just recently a listener wrote to ask for a recommendation. Carolyn writes "Linda I am having a big Open House for the Holidays and I want to serve Bubbly as you call it. I can't afford Champaign. Is there something that is good at about $10.00 a bottle?" This is probably the best time of year to search for inexpensive Sparkling wines because most of the makers of these styles of wines will have them on sale. I recommend serving an inexpensive Italian Prosecco. I have talked about it on this show before. It is made by Zardetto, and on sale it runs just about $10 a bottle. Here in Washington and throughout much of the country you can buy a perfectly nice sparkling Brut made by Domaine Ste Michelle. The Domaine Ste Michelle Rose' is also quite good. Most guests will ask if they can bring anything, so if the cost of wine is a big factor, let them bring a bottle of their favorite bubbly to share. You can also make the sparkling wine go farther by making it into a punch or smart cocktail. If you go that route then you can really go for an even less expensive sparkler. On an earlier program, I recommended that you visit the website for Freixenet, where there are some recipes for sparkling wine punches. Whatever you do, enjoy the evening by focusing on having a good time and visiting with your guests. Remember to send your wine questions to Linda at Vine to Wine dot net and thank you for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.