HUNGARIA GRANDE CUVÉE BRUT
$11.95 | Hungary | 86 points
An unknown sparkling wine producer, Hungary offers good value and keeps prices low. This bubbly is quite complex and generous, with dried fruit, toast, white cheddar and bitter almond on the nose. It’s fairly full-bodied, loose and frothy, with good lemony acidity and a mineral finish. Good length. LCBO 619288

SEAVIEW BRUT
$11.95 | Southeastern Australia | 85 points
Deep gold colour and a ripe, sweet cantaloupe, honey, tobacco and biscuit nose are as you might expect from Australian bubbly. It is slightly sweet, with a glycerine texture, yet there is just enough acidity to maintain some grip and freshness. One of the most flavourful if not elegant bubblies around. Very good length. LCBO 216333

JACOB’S CREEK CHARDONNAY PINOT NOIR BRUT
$13.95 | Southeastern Australia | 86 points
This is a firm, dry, medium-bodied bubbly that’s drier and less tropical than you might expect from Australia. Bouquet is lightly toasty and biscuity, with apple-pear, lemon fruit and minerality. Good length. LCBO 562991

BOTTEGA PETALO IL VINO DELL’ AMORE
$14.30 | Italy | 86 points
A sweet, low-alcohol (6.5 per cent) fizzy moscato d’asti–style sparkler. Fragrant lavender, banana and ginger aromas. Good acidity balances sweetness. Frothy, with a squirt of lime on the finish. LCBO 588780

FRESITA SPARKLING WINE
$14.50 | Chile | 85 points
Something completely different and very tasty: a sparkling wine infused with strawberries grown in the deep, cool south of Patagonia. Pure, unconfected strawberry on the nose and palate, set in a lightly sparkling, off-dry style. Some icing sugar sweetness. Very good length. LCBO 56697

JACKSON-TRIGGS 2006 MÉTHODE CUVE CLOSE
$14.95| Ontario | 84 points
This blend of chardonnay (70 per cent), pinot noir and riesling undergoes second bubble-inducing fermentation in a closed tank (cuve close) as opposed to in the bottle. It’s a soft, slightly sweet bubbly with simple peach and apple flavours from the chardonnay. Lively, fresh effervescence with a texture on the finish that’s reminiscent of icing sugar. Chill well. LCBO 563213

SEGURA VIUDAS BRUT RESERVA
$14.95 | Penedès, Spain | 87 points
Though it switched to a non-vintage-dated bottling, this pick remains one of the best cavas (traditional Spanish sparklers) available at the LCBO for under $20. Not very complex, but has typical cava white almond, pear, avocado and flinty character, as well as slim, tight, well-balanced texture. Light bodied, refreshing, crisp, dry and clean. LCBO 158493

BOTTEGA IL VINO DEI POETI PROSECCO
$15.50 | Venetia | 85 points
Light, mild prosecco (a grape as well as a wine style from northeast Italy) is enjoying great popularity as the ideal, low-key, budget-minded lunch bubbly or evening opener. This is a bright, fresh example showing simple, correct white or green melon on the nose, and a touch of earthiness. A gentle sweetness rounds out the palate, but the effervescence and good acidity dry the short finish. LCBO 897702

NAVARRO CORREAS EXTRA BRUT
$15.95 | Mendoza, Argentina | 86 points
New listing. A blend of 60 per cent chardonnay and 40 per cent pinot noir, this bubbly is produced according to the traditional method. It is a tidy, fairly substantial, dry sparkler with well-integrated, toasty, nutty and straw notes. A bit heavy-handed, lacking cool-climate finesse, but well made. LCBO 66563

WOLF BLASS YELLOW LABEL SPARKLING BRUT
$17.95 | Australia | 86 points
Another Aussie sparkler that aims for the dryness and leanness of a Euro sparkler. Mild, clean aromas of apple, with biscuit and lemony notes. Medium weight, soft and lively, with crisp grapefruit acidity. Good length. LCBO 649996

More from our New Year’s Guide:
• Adults: Amazing parties around town
• Dine: Special menus for the New Year
• Listen: Live performances for all tastes
• Family: Kid-friendly events
• Nosh: T.O.’s best late-night eats