Of all the old wives tales of wine, the persistent theory that sparkling wines should only be reserved for New Year’s Eve, or special occasions of similar celebratory stature, ticks me off to no end.
In fact, if my wife wants to push my buttons she’ll just ask me if whatever we’re eating would pair well with a glass of bubbly. She knows the answer is yes, because sparkling wine goes with just about everything. Whether a Spanish Cava or full blown vintage champagne, the clean lines and flowing effervescence of a sparkler can cozy up to the flavour profile of everything from a Big Mac and a large fries all the way to a busy meal like Christmas dinner.
Two Oceans Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc Brut ($11.95 – $12.99) from South Africa is a fine choice to challenge my food-friendly theory. Soft and refreshing, it offers citrus, lemon and subtle vegetal green fruit with nice weight and density.
Italy’s Voga Sparkling Pinot Grigio ($18.20 – $22.99) is light and airy with a crisp, lemon-lime expression wrapped in a package so sexy you’d almost think you should be dabbing some behind your ears in the morning.
Prices reflect the range across the country. Some products may not be available in all provinces. Peter Rockwell is the everyman’s wine writer, working in the liquor industry for more than 25 years and traveling the globe looking for something to fill his glass and put into words.
