Love it or hate, 2016 is finally coming to a close. So it’s time find your friends and family, watch the ball drop, and sing Auld Lang Syne with a glass of bubbly in hand. Wondering what bubbly to choose? Here are our picks for the Best Wines for New Year’s Eve 2016!
The Best Wines for New Year’s Eve 2016 (90+ / 100)
Cinzano Asti (91) – A sensual mix of honey and peaches is complimented with floral notes and hints of lemon. The sweetness is well balanced with the acidity. Fans of sweet sparklers will find a lot to love.
Chloe Prosecco (90) – Chloe Prosecco’s elegant label looks ready for any sort of fun, be it formal, family, or friends. The lively palate is a great mix of honeyed notes, melon, lemon, and yeast. The crisp acidity makes it refreshing. [Semi-Dry]
Anna De Codorníu Blanc de Blancs (90) – Like their rosé from last year, Anna De Codorníu Blanc de Blancs delivers massive value for the money. Extraordinarily fruity, it ranges from golden apple to ripe stone fruit all while wrapped in bright citrus. Despite the ripe fruitiness, it’s completely dry, and incredibly balanced.
Wonderful Wines to Welcome the New Year (80+)
Segura Viudas Brut Rosé (89) – Like their Brut, Segura Viudas Brut Rosé is well made. Subtle and gentle in its presentation, it features flavors of strawberries, cranberries, and red plum, with a hint of pastry. Smooth bubbles and balanced acidity make it a warm way to welcome the New Year.
Cinzano Prosecco (86) – Fresh and simple, it features green apple and citrus prominently. A nice hint of melon rounds out a straightforward, but refreshing sparkler.
Wagner Sparkling Riesling 2012 (86) – Golden apple and honey play predominately in this riesling sparkler from the Finger Lakes. The subtle sweetness fades fast and gives way to bright lemon, hints of yeast, and pops of flowers.
Col Brioso Extra Dry Prosecco (85) – Heavy on the apple and pear, it features a lot of pome fruit and lemon pith with a subtle sweetness. Notes of stone fruit and minerality add some complexity.
Kirkland Brut Champagne (85) – Lemon and golden apples meet up with yeast and gravel, and then are wrapped in a tight wave of acidity. The price is killer, the taste is average or a touch above.
Pacific Rim White Flowers Sparkling Riesling (83) – Floral aromas and hints of caramel apples hide the honeyed character of this wine. Honey, biscuits, flowers, and beeswax work together with bubbles for a slightly sweet, but fun experience.
They Still Sparkle (70+)
Cassara Extra Dry Prosecco (75*) – As conditional passes go, this one is pretty hard. As near as I can tell, this average sparkler with lots of green apples and lemon seems to be relabeled Moldova wine. It is not Italian. I do NOT recommend you buy this wine.
Flat and Boring (69 or less)
There’s nothing here yet, but were there, you should skip it anyways.
How About A Cocktail Instead?
If you’re not a fan of straight Champagne, how about an Asti Mimosa or a Mint Spritz
Asti Mimosa
Mint Spritz
How To Tell How Sweet Sparkling Wine Is
As a reminder, if you need to figure out how sweet a sparkling wine is, our guide is below:
Wine labeling is confusing, especially when it comes to Sparkling. Brut? Sounds fierce right? Extra Dry, that sounds drier than Brut right? Demi-sec? Well, have no fear, determining sparkling wine sweetness it’s as simple as checking out the chart below:
For Cava or Champagne
| Category | Description | Grams of Sugar per Liter |
| Brut Nature | Essentially Bone Dry | 0 – 3 |
| Extra Brut | Incredibly dry | 0 – 6 |
| Brut | Very dry to dry | < 15 |
| Extra Dry / Seco | Off Dry | 12 – 20 |
| Dry / Seco | A touch sweet | 17 – 35 |
| Demi-Sec / Semiseco | Semi-sweet | 35 – 50 |
| Sweet | Sweet to Cloying | > 50 |