Champagne Kisses

Sparkling wines that suit every budget

Under $30

Hungaria Grande Cuvée Brut, Hungary, $11.15
Best value bubbly at the LCBO. Forward dried pear, toast, white cheddar and bitter almond on the nose. It’s fairly full bodied, loose and frothy, with firm, lemony acidity and a mineral finish. Good length. LCBO 619288

Yellowglen Yellow Sparkling Wine, Australia, $13.15
Popular brand down under from Fosters Wine Estates debuts in Ontario, offering very good value. No great complexity or depth, but squeaky clean, light, bright, fresh and balanced. Fairly generous peach-apple fruit, lemon, exotic ginger and a touch of dusty cement mindful of Spanish cava. Moderate length. LCBO 15859

Jacob’s Creek NV Chardonnay Pinot Noir, Southeastern Australia, $13.95
This is the best non-champagne available, but like champagne it is a pinot noir–chardonnay blend. It is not as tropical, soft or sweet as is expected from Australia. Bouquet is lightly toasty and biscuity, with apple-pear, lemon fruit and chalk dust minerality. This wine is mid-weight, firm and dry, with tart, refreshing acidity. Very good length. LCBO 562991

Hillebrand Trius Brut, Ontario, $25.15
Consistently one of the best from Ontario, if pricy. Fresh, slightly flinty nose, with yellow plum and baked bread notes. Light to medium bodied; good acidity and effervescence. Some icing sugar sweetness on the finish. Good length. LCBO 451641

Originally published December 2007

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