What better way to celebrate the New Year than with a delicious sip of indulgent wine? From classy red wines to more luxurious Champagnes, make sure you don’t skimp this holiday season when it comes to the liquid that lines your cups and glasses. Plus, you can’t have a toast without a glass of wine or Champagne to commemorate the occasion!
This ultimate guide to what Champagne to buy for New Year’s Eve will help you start your year right. Discover why we drink Champagne on New Year’s Eve, what Champagne is good for New Year’s Eve and the best New Year’s Eve Champagne cocktail recipes. You’ll also learn how to choose the best type of Champagne for New Year’s and the New Year’s Champagne drink recipes that will get you in the celebratory spirit.
Why Do We Drink Champagne on New Year’s Eve?
The tradition of popping bottles of Champagne to celebrate dates all the way back to the 16th century when European aristocrats would pour glasses of the bubbly beverage at their royal parties. At the time, only the elite could afford to drink Champagne. However, the drink’s popularity at celebratory occasions persisted until Champagne became less expensive and more accessible in the 1800s.
Once the price of Champagne declined, wine sellers began marketing it to lower- and middle-class members who still thought of the beverage as an aspirational drink. Visually, Champagne overflows with bubbles — symbolically, with joy and abundance — making it perfect for a toast. Although many customers still could not afford to drink Champagne regularly, they could afford to buy bottles for special occasions.
As time went on, Champagne became the centerpiece of numerous secular rituals that replaced formerly religious practices. For example, christening a ship with the “holy water” of Champagne became a substitute for having a priest present. This secular ritual, in particular, often involved simply smashing a bottle of Champagne on the bow of the ship for good luck and safe travels.
Eventually, winemakers began to develop the modern-day technology for bottling carbonated wine. Namely, Dom Perignon added two safety features to its Champagne packaging to prevent bottle explosions — a rope snare to keep the cork in place and thicker glass so the bottles could withstand the pressure of holding a carbonated beverage. These improved Champagne bottles proved to be perfect for popping open on special occasions.
Champagne sales continued to boom throughout the Industrial Revolution, quickly becoming a staple of celebrations everywhere. To this day, popping Champagne symbolizes a joyful occasion. In particular, New Year’s Eve is the perfect occasion to pull out all the stops and flourish your aspirations with this bubbly drink. For many people, the sound of a Champagne bottle popping has come to signify the official start of the New Year.
What Is the Best Champagne for New Year’s Eve?
Now that you’re familiar with the backstory of how Champagne rose to become the holiday’s signature drink, it’s time to discuss what a good Champagne for New Year’s Eve is. Many people think that the most expensive bottle must be the highest quality bottle, but that is not always the case. Just like any other commodity, Champagne is typically sold for a price the market is willing to pay.
While prestigious brands do produce excellent bottles of Champagne, their prices are often marked up purely for the luxury and financial prosperity the brands’ labels have come to represent. Many people indulge in Champagne from these brands if they want to drink well and show the world they are living large — much like wearing a top designer’s label. However, you can find plenty of Champagne bottles that carry the same quality wine for a far lower cost.
Another common misconception about choosing good Champagne is that every sparkling wine is Champagne. In reality, Champagne refers solely to sparkling wine from Champagne, a specific region in France famous for growing Champagne grapes. Authentic Champagne from this region tastes a bit more delicious and special because it comes from such a distinctive and unique place, making it difficult for other sparkling wines to rival.
Still, other sparkling wines, like Italian Prosecco and Spanish Cava, can be great values. These types of sparkling wine are usually much less expensive than top-shelf Champagne with a nearly unnoticeable step down in quality. If you are on a tight budget this New Year’s Eve, these variations of sparkling wine can be an excellent way to stock up on wine for your party guests without overspending.
Finally, you typically don’t have to worry about whether or not a bottle is an older vintage when you’re purchasing sparkling wine. In general, sparkling wines are usually non-vintage, meaning reserve wine from previous years is blended with newer wine to produce a consistent house style. Vintage Champagnes are made only a few times per decade because the weather for growing grapes in Champagne can be uncooperative. These wines are held for a few years before being put up for sale, allowing them to develop more complexity, which some wine connoisseurs prefer.
While expensive bottles or older bottles might be more highly touted than other varietals, you don’t have to purchase the most popular Champagne for New Year’s Eve. Choosing a good Champagne for New Year’s Eve should be based entirely on your personal preferences and what you appreciate in a bottle of wine.
From high-quality value buys to classic Champagnes, there’s nothing like enjoying an eclectic bottle of festive fizz. Whether you’re looking for one bottle to splurge on for an intimate, low-key celebration or a wine you can keep pouring all night long, Marketview Liquor has the perfect bottles of Champagne and sparkling wine to start the New Year with a bang.
Best Wines for New Year’s Eve
Looking for a bit more variety than just Champagne when it comes to the best wine to ring in the New Year? Marketview Liquor has you covered. We’ve rounded up a list of our favorite New Year wines to help you celebrate like a true connoisseur:
- Red wine: Made with the juice of dark-skinned grapes, red wine varieties are sure to appeal to those who love a variety of acid types, including malic and tartaric. Whether you’re looking for a red wine grape with hints of coffee and violets, an array of fruity notes or some spice, red wine offers it all. As a true crowd-pleaser, red wine will quickly become your go-to drink when hosting holiday parties or any other type of gathering.
- Fruit wine and sangria: Fruit wines have become all the rage in recent years, especially when it comes to large gatherings and celebrations. With a vast pool of flavor profiles for you to choose from, fruit wines are sure to delight even the most sophisticated palates. When you taste a fruit wine, you are sampling the best fruit a region has to offer, from berries to tropical varieties to citrus fruits.
- Hard cider: If you’re looking for the perfect beverage to accompany your night, it’s time to reach for full-bodied, flavorful ciders. Hard ciders are packed with spices, cranberries and a heaping of New Year’s Eve cheer. You can count on this festive drink to help you and your party guests ring in the New Year with style.
Ultimately, what type of wine you get for New Year’s Eve is completely up to you. Although Champagne is the traditional New Year’s drink of choice, you should purchase whatever variety of wine you and your guests will enjoy the most. In addition to Champagne and sparkling wine, all of the wines listed above will be sure to help you have a happy New Year.
New Year’s Eve Cocktails With Champagne
If you want to ring in the New Year right, you need some New Year’s Eve Champagne recipes that will wow your party guests. In this section, you’ll discover a list of the best Champagne cocktails for New Year’s Eve, along with a few morning Champagne recipes for New Year’s brunch the next day.
1. Classic New Year’s Eve Champagne Cocktails
When it comes to the best New Year’s Champagne cocktails, it can be hard to beat the classics. A simple Champagne cocktail is easy to prepare and often steals the show at celebrations. All you have to do to get your New Year’s Eve party off to a roaring start is drop a sugar cube into a flute of Champagne and marvel at the fountain of bubbles it creates. In addition to making your glass sparkle, this Champagne cocktail will taste delightful.
2. Prosecco Cocktails
Another easy mixed drink to prepare for New Year’s Eve is a Prosecco cocktail. This cocktail is sophisticated and classy, featuring citrus notes and plenty of bubbles. By adding an orange twist to your glass of Prosecco, you can have a fancy cocktail in mere minutes. The fruity flavors underlying the stronger taste of Prosecco make this cocktail taste like a nighttime version of a mimosa.
3. Chambord and Champagne Cocktails
This cocktail recipe couldn’t be easier — just combine Chambord and Champagne. These two drinks are a dynamic duo that play off of each other’s characteristics well. The raspberry taste of Chambord gives the bubbles of Champagne an extra flavor boost, creating a delicious and sophisticated cocktail. You’ll love sipping on this bubbly, sweet and tart drink as you anticipate the New Year.
4. Kir Royale
Making a Kir Royale offers you another opportunity to make an easy cocktail that still feels festive and refined. This renowned French cocktail centers around sparkling wine and black currant liqueur, resulting in the perfect balance of bubbles and berries. The simplicity of a Kir Royale makes the drink’s fruit-filled flavors shine all the more.
5. St. Germain Champaign Cocktails
The St. Germain Champagne cocktail was practically made for New Year’s Eve celebrations. The holidays are the perfect time to uncork your fancy bottle of St. Germain and stir it with some Champagne or sparkling wine. This mixed drink combines floral, tangy, botanical and bubbly notes all at once, making it both sophisticated and refreshing to sip.
6. French 75 Cocktails
A French 75 cocktail might just be the most sophisticated and refreshing Champagne cocktail recipe for New Year’s Eve you could choose. French 57 cocktails are festive, bubbly, tangy and a bit botanical. The best part about this mixed drink is it requires only a few simple ingredients. All you need for your French 75 cocktails is Champagne, gin, lemon juice and sugar.
7. Bellini Cocktails
A bellini is an Italian sparkling cocktail that is full of beautiful fruity flavors. If you want to make a delicious bellini, simply combine Prosecco with peach puree or nectar. The sweetness of the peaches pairs magnificently with the bubbles of the Prosecco, resulting in a mixed drink you won’t be able to get enough of.
8. Mimosas With Prosecco
Of all the Champagne New Year’s drink recipes, the mimosa might be the most iconic. If you plan to have a boozy brunch on New Year’s Day, you need to make this tart, sweet and bubbly cocktail. Give your mimosas a sweeter, more nuanced flavor by mixing Processo instead of Champagne with your orange juice. To make your mimosa a bit bolder, pour a dash of orange liqueur into the glass and stir.
9. Pomegranate Mimosas
Put an extra festive spin on your traditional mimosa by adding a splash of pomegranate juice. Mixing the sweet, tart taste of pomegranate with the citrus notes of orange juice and Champagne’s airy bubbles results in one of the most satisfying holiday cocktails you could make. You might even want to serve this wintertime cocktail at your New Year’s Eve party the night before brunch.
10. Cranberry Mimosas
Another way to make your mimosas more seasonal is to add cranberry juice. While this tart winter berry can make any of your New Year’s Champagne cocktails feel more festive, cranberry goes especially well with the subtly sweet orange juice already in a mimosa. A cranberry mimosa is a brilliant New Year’s brunch drink that is crisp, bubbly and bright red. You will have fun both mixing and drinking this unique cocktail.
If you need to make a bottle of Champagne stretch until midnight, consider making a simple holiday punch by mixing the bubbly with some fruit juices and other fizzy beverages. As long as you have something sweet and carbonated available, your New Year’s Eve party guests will be in good spirits.
When to Drink Champagne on New Year’s Eve
If you plan on preparing Champagne cocktails for New Year’s, you don’t have to wait until midnight to pop the bottles of bubbly. Feel free to serve your New Year’s Champagne cocktails all night long. However, you will want to ensure that you have enough Champagne left to fill everyone’s glass for a midnight toast.
Knowing how much Champagne you need for a New Year’s toast can be tricky. If you are serving dinner at your New Year’s Eve celebration, the general rule of thumb is to assume two glasses of wine per guest. Each guest will need at least one additional glass for the toast, so get enough wine that everyone at your gathering can have at least three glasses.
Typically, you can get about five glasses of wine out of each standard-sized bottle. Given these numbers, you can multiply the number of guests attending your party by three, then divide that number by five to figure out how much Champagne to get for New Year’s Eve. However, keep in mind that these numbers may fluctuate depending on how much your guests enjoy wine.
What to Serve With Champagne on New Year’s Eve
Whether you’re serving Champagne on its own or an array of Champagne mixed drinks for New Year’s Eve, you will want to pair the drinks with foods that complement their flavors. Creating a menu inspired by the Champagne and cocktails you plan on having at your New Year’s Eve gathering will ensure the characteristics of each play well together. Coordinating your drink options and food selection will enhance the overall meal greatly.
If you’re not quite a culinary expert when it comes to food and wine pairings, you will find a few suggestions for each course below to help get you started.
Appetizers
New Year’s Eve was made for small bites and sampling a myriad of dishes. Some New Year’s Eve parties serve appetizers only. Whether you plan on serving multiple courses or not, here’s what you need to know about matches your appetizers to your Champagne:
- Stick with fried foods: Champagne and sparkling wines go extremely well with fried foods because the light, delicate bubbles balance out the heavy richness of the fried food. Prosecco pairs exceptionally well with fried fare. Specifically, try serving fried finger foods like hush puppies or fried ravioli.
- Sprinkle on the salt: Appetizers that lean more toward the saltier side go well with the refreshing tastes of Champagne and sparkling wines. For example, deviled eggs or cured meats are great to serve alongside glasses of bubbly.
- Make mini quiches: This classic handheld party appetizer actually goes quite well with Champagne and sparkling wines. The rich and savory flavors of mini quiches will offset the sweetness of what’s in your flute beautifully.
Entrees
If you are planning on serving an entree at your New Year’s Eve celebration this year, check out these Champagne pairing tips before finalizing your menu:
- Focus on savory flavors: Because Champagne and sparkling wines tend to be rather sugary, you will want the flavors and density of your New Year’s Eve entrees to balance out that airy sweetness. Main courses like a rich short rib, spicy chorizo tacos or a crisp roast duck are perfect examples of potential pairings.
- Serve seafood: Seafood dishes, in particular, go well with Champagne and sparkling wines because they typically contain concentrated flavors of umami, which is an intensely savory taste. Along with being savory, seafood is often salty, which also pairs well with bubbles. While caviar is a classic partner for Champagne, feel free to get creative and serve your Champagne cocktails with shrimp, scallops or even sushi.
- Cook with your wine: If you really want to marry your dinner selections with your drinks, choose a recipe that calls for using a bit of the wine in the dish. Naturally, sipping on that same Champagne or sparkling wine alongside the finished entree will help bring out the dish’s flavors more.
Desserts
Because Champagne and sparkling wines are already naturally sweet, it is important to choose desserts without loads of sugar. Try to find dessert recipes that call for limited added sugar and will not taste overly sweet when served with bubbly. Here are some suggestions for selecting the perfect New Year’s Eve dessert:
- Feature fruits: Fruit-based dessert recipes are key to ensuring your closing course isn’t too sweet because the natural sweetness of fruit eliminates the need to add lots of extra sugar. Citrus desserts are especially delicious with Champagne because their tart undertones temper the sweet, floral flavors of the wine nicely. Consider making a fruity dessert such as a lemon shortcake, a pear custard pie or even something as simple as chocolate-dipped strawberries.
- Incorporate dark chocolate: Dark chocolate is an excellent flavor for pairing with Champagne or sparkling wine because its bitter qualities go perfectly with the wine’s sweetness and bubbles. The culinary trend of sprinkling dark chocolate with sea salt can enhance this dessert pairing even more. Try serving a salted dark chocolate tart or a dark chocolate mousse cake this New Year’s Eve.
- Bake bite-sized sweets: Making your desserts miniature is a surefire way to limit their sweetness. Plus, many people prefer taking smaller samples of multiple desserts at holiday parties. Set out handheld desserts like macarons, tiny pastries or even leftover Christmas cookies to help your New Year’s Eve party guests avoid a sugar rush.
Browse the Champagne and Sparkling Wine From Marketview Liquor and Order Online Today
If you want to have a fun New Year’s Eve celebration, a nice bottle of wine and a gathering of your closest friends and family is all you need. You can find the perfect bottle of Champagne, sparkling wine or any other type of wine you want at Marketview Liquor. The expansive selection of wine at Marketview Liquor includes a wide variety of shades, regions, fragrances, tasting notes and more.
No matter what type of wine you’re looking for this holiday season, we can help you find a bottle you will love. Once you’ve picked your wine, we will ship your order directly to you, so you don’t have to add another errand to your holiday to-do list.
Browse the Champagne and sparkling wine available from Marketview Liquor and place your order online today.