Overall, sparkling wine sales remain high.
Over the last decade, sales of sparkling wine, from Champagne to Prosecco and more, have exploded.
Between 2013 and 2023, sparkling wines’ share of total wine sales increased from 5.4% to 7.4%, and during the same period, annual sparkling wine sales in the U.S. increased from 17 million nine-liter cases to over 26.5 million cases. Sales actually declined in 2023 compared to the previous year—they fell 3.4% in 2023 compared to 2022, according to Beverage Information Group’s 2024 Industry Overview. But overall, I’m not worried about the category losing its effervescence. Sparkling wine is still going strong long-term and is an essential ingredient in the spritz, the fastest-growing U.S. cocktail in terms of popularity.
My personal interest in sparkling wine has also grown over the past decade. For many years, I only drank sparkling wine at weddings. I always found champagne expensive and intimidating, so I tended to avoid it and other sparkling varieties except for special occasions. But these days, I find myself more and more drawn to sparkling wines. I’m particularly drawn to rosé sparkling wines, as well as pét-nats, an unfiltered natural wine made by bottle fermentation to produce a high-quality product at a lower price than you can make high-quality champagne. Here are some of my favorite sparkling wines.
Effervescent Rosé, Halter Ranch, California, USA, $50
The 2023 Effervescent Rosé from Halter Ranch is a popular sparkling wine.
Halter Ranch is a 2,700-acre natural estate dedicated to producing high-quality organic wines, and this is reflected in this offering, which is bursting with pleasant aromas of strawberry, raspberry and watermelon – literally thanks to the carbonation. It’s summer in a glass.
Brut Nature Méthode Traditional Rosé, Catalonia, Spain, $28.95
This is perhaps my favorite sparkling wine of all time. The Pét-Nat has a striking copper color. It is produced by Clos Lentiscus – a biodynamic winery in Catalonia famous for its sparkling wine – through spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts. The taste is fruity with a hint of pleasant funk on the finish. It reminds me of a lambic beer in every way.
Simple Pet Nat Orange, Nakkal Wines, Canelones, Uruguay, $25
This sparkling orange wine from Uruguay’s Nakkal Wines has a light golden color and a subtle kick of mild acidity and earthy funk. The result is a sparkling wine with plenty of character that tastes a lot like barrel-aged sour beer. Perfect for those who want to try a different style of sparkling wine.
Rosa Regale Sparkling Wine, Banfi, Piedmont, Italy, $19.99
Rosa Regale Sparkling Rosé, a sparkling wine from Italy.
At just under $20, the Rosa Regale sparkling wine is one of the best deals around. The first thing that impresses is the eye-catching bottle, then comes the delicate pink hue, and finally the sweet but balanced fruit notes and acidity. These flavors are thanks to the Brachetto grape from northern Italy.
XL Ancestral, Partida Creus, Catalonia, Spain, $35
Don’t be fooled by the minimalist bottle design with just “XL” on it, this Pét-Nat is bursting with dried fruit notes and more of the flavors you traditionally associate with Champagne, but its natural wine character comes through the longer you let the bottle breathe. It’s made from Xarello grapes that are hand-harvested and then use spontaneous fermentation.
Crémant de Bordeaux Brut Rosé, France, $21
Made from Cabernet grapes from France, this sparkling wine goes through two fermentations using traditional methods. The result is a sweet and fruity sparkling wine that is pale pink in color and looks as good as it tastes. Perfect if you’re looking for a fun and festive summer drink that’s got plenty of fizz.
More from Forbes
