question on etiquette and bubbly

After a few disappointing New Years Eves because friends were scattered at different parties, my boyfriend and I are throwing our own party so that we can all celebrate together. My question related to the bubbly served. Most of the people coming are not wine geeks, and a lot of them will not appreciate good champagne (I'm not saying this to be mean...these are the people who still drink Natty Light by choice....four years after we all graduated from college.) My boyfriend thinks we should buy a bunch of really cheap bottles of bubbly (i.e. Asti or Andre) to serve them, and a few good bottles for the people who will know the difference. I'm not so sure about that plan. I would like to serve something that (almost) everyone will appreciate in their own way, and maybe turn some people on to the good stuff. However, we don't have the budget to buy mags of Cristal or anything. Any suggestions? I was thinking along the lines of Prosecco or Cava, but I don't have a ton of experience in those areas. Thanks in advance!

Yeah, good idea..like the Prosecco idea. Also consider Cremant d`Alsace, there are some good ones out there for under $20.
Everyone should be happy with this selection I`d say. But here come the experts!!

I wouldn't buy Andre for anyone I didn't hate. It is s**t.

Without knowing comparative prices where you are its difficult to advise (here in UK Champagne is currently so discounted it is hard for Cava makers to sell their wine cheaper).

If you don't want to serve Champagne, then be open & proud in serving a fizz that doesn't pretend to be Champagne.

I think Prosecco could push all the buttons you want and be enjoyed by those overawed by Champagne,or who just find it too austere.

(on the other hand -- many guests who think they don't like Champagne may never have actually tasted the real thing. And your party may be talked about for years as the one that served 'real French' Champagne with all that implies.

Piling on -- Prosecco is a great choice.

And, for something a little different -- we ate at a top flight steak joint last night, and they offered an interesting cocktail - Prosecco and Ice Wine. The Ice Wine floated on top of the Prosecco, and made a fascinating flavor combination -- sweet, acidic, dry and bubbly.

A very nice conversation piece especially since a low end Ice Wine would work great.

There is a middle road: buy some reasonably priced bubbly for the masses and splurge on one good bottle for yourselves and anyone else who looks like they'd appreciate it. In the $15/bottle range you've got sparkling wines from Chandon, Mumm Cuvée Napa, Gruet and Ch. St. Michelle. There's also François Pinon's NV Vouvray Petillant that is reasonably priced and a crowd pleaser. I'd drink any of those wines without hesitation. If you're pouring into flutes, you can usually get 5 pours per bottle, which works out to $3/person for the above wines (unless you find one on sale). Of course, if you're dealing with PA state stores, all bets are off.

Mark Lipton

Try Spanish Cava such as:
Segura Viudas Aria Brut Cava Estate
Freixenet Cordon Negro Cava Brut

Both of these are given above average ratings and are quite tasty. Segura sells for $6.95 around here.

Since you're in Pennsylvania, see if you can get the Simonnet-Febvre Cremant de Bourgogne NV - looks like the state just got it in again. It's $13.99; the PLCB code is 29615. It's a specialty item, so if you don't have a specialty store in your area (the Chestnut St. store in Philly has it in stock), ask them to get a few bottles for you. With luck they'll get it before New Years.

It's all Chardonnay, and very nice. The bottles from last year are showing very well now - opened one last night, and plan to open one tonight at the local BYO place.

I don't think you can go wrong with Prosecco - in my experience everyone enjoys it. I think Zardetto is pretty widely available at about $10. Not something that will blow anyone away, but it's very drinkable. And assuming you're thinking about serving this when the ball drops, no one will care - they'll all be drunk anyway!

While you have some good advice, I'd recommend a different approach. It has been my experience that most of the folks I run into who say "I don't like Champagne" have never had real Champagne. They've only had the cheap imitation stuff poured as a toast at weddings. This could be an opportunity for you to expose your friends to the true wonders of bubbly. Perhaps even a sampling of different styles, such as Blanc des Noir, Blanc des Blanc and a Cuvee blend. And maybe even Brut vs Demi-Sec.

Dear Lizbeth S.,

My guess is you're right to be suspicious of your boyfriend's plan. Even people who would prefer to drink Andre over real Champagne can tell that others are getting the "special" wine. It's not like you can issue a blind test at the beginning of the night, asking your guests which of two wines they like the taste of.

If you've got friends who will slurp down bottles and bottles of sparkling wine, then I'd recommend the cheaper Cavas and Proseccos. In the $10 range, I think they provide the best drinking experience. You might also look for French sparkling wine (anything with "cremant" on the label), which is often relatively affordable. Pick a bottle for your budget, paste that grin on your face, and congratulate yourself that everyone will have a great time.

Walt

I have a lot of experience of Gruet (no surprise there), and it is certainly adequate for this kind of event. And usually around the holidays it's about $11 a bottle.... at least here close to where it's made. As semi-geeks we can drink it without complaint, and most non-geek people think it's pretty darn good. Definitely solves the Richard Nixon etiquette dilemma.

Ryan, welcome to the Forum! Hope you like it here.

I'm with Cynthia. We like the Gruet Blanc de Noir for about $13 in our area.

I'd agree that life is too short to emulate Tricky Dick. Decide on your budget, and then do the best you can. Some suggestions (many already above):
Cristalino Cava - surprisingly good for $7
Astoria Prosecco - $8
Gruet Brut or BdN, Nino Franco or Zardetto Prosecco- all $10-12
Pinon Brut- $15 (if you can find the rose, even better)

I'd strongly caution against the "special bottle for special people, " unless you really don't treasure the other friends. No wine is worth a friend feeling slighted/snubbed.

What I do at big parties, and at least I find is more acceptable, is when I retrieve a better bottle from the cellar, I:
open
check for corkiness
pour myself a small pour
Pour small pours for a couple of others who I know might care
Happily pour small pours for anyone else who is nearby and wishes to try, life iso too short to rank friends.
What I WON'T do is ever again set down the "serious" bottle, to watch someone who says "so this is supposed to be good?!?!" grab it and pour 6 oz, and then say "hey, I can't see what's so special, I like beer better anyway."
Portion control, it keeps me calm.

2 addenda:
1) a good way is also to buy some cava or prosecco for evening in general,and then something more serious for the midnight toast (for everyone). It doesn't have to be Cristal (which I usually find very bad value in any case), but plenty of nice Champagnes in $30-45 range.
2) Despite all the RMN sniping, and the fact than I'm a pinko, I kind of grudgingly admire his brilliant plan*. If you can come up with a national security or health reason than can convincingly let you drink Taittinger Comtes de Champagne while others drink Bubba's Bubbly, please share!

* was it Palmer or Ch. Margaux- have heard it both ways

Remember that we're talking Pennsylvania here (though Lizbeth is probably within easy driving distance of New Jersey and/or Delaware, and would find better prices/better selection there). Cristalino Cava is currently on sale for $9, which means that it is normally $11. Freixenet Cordon Negro is $12. Zardetto Prosecco is $13 on sale. Gruet is available only by special liquor order (SLO); they want $17 for the Blanc de Noirs. The only Pinon I've ever seen in the state was a vintage of the Cuvée Tradition, a still wine (we do usually get the Foreau NV Brut here at a reasonable price, though).

On the plus side, as you go to higher-priced wines, the relative prices get better. There are a number of Champagnes available here more cheaply than I see elsewhere. And there are occasional bargains: the PLCB recently sold off a bunch of Billiot NV for $27/bottle through their online store, and the Cuvée Laetitia is currently available for $49, though that may be old stock.

Thank you for all the great suggestions! We are going to NJ or DE to buy the alcohol (shhhh... I don't want the PA state police getting involved ), so I'm sure I'll be able to find a lot more selection than in PA.

Lizbeth--
I don't think anybody has suggested this yet, so allow me to: why limit yourself to just one? Like Dale, I don't at all like the good-wine-for-geek-friends / plonk-for-other-friends approach. But with the several good inexpensive reccos above (Gruet, Cristalino, Zardetto, and Cremant--to which I'd add St. Hilaire Blanquette di Limoux), why not buy several and let folks who are inclined do a taste test to learn, perhaps, and determine their own preference? Some stores give discounts only on unmixed cases, so I guess this option could be a little more expensive. Let us know how it goes!

(edited to try to clarify the point about case discounts)

if you go across the ben franklyn, just past the first circle and just off 130 is moore bros. they should have a bunch of stuff - if you want champagne i know they have green label diebolt valois - good stuff. not far away over on rt 38 is canals and they have much more and probably cheaper stuff. not much point talking specific brands until you see what is available. canals and moore bros should have good advice for you.

Lizbeth, we often find ourselves in the same predicament since we usually host NYs at our house every year, and very few of the people we invite are wine geeks. A few years ago, I decided to get everyone involved with the Champagne. Since I don't like to "dole out" any of the cooking responsibilities and everyone always asks what they can bring, I tell everyone to bring a bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine wrapped many times in colored plastic wrap until you can no longer read the label. I then number the bottles with large stick-on numbers that you buy in the office supply store, and plunge them into a huge ice bucket. A card printed with the following text (see below) is placed next to the ice bucket. Everyone really gets into it. Even the beer and martini drinkers walk around asking people which is their favorite, and I love that I don't have to wait until midnight to drink the bubbly.


Champagne Tasting

If you’re game, pour yourself a small taste of each Champagne. (Small so everyone gets a chance to taste them all. Feel free to go back for more of a particular “number” after everyone has tasted it.) Write your comments about each champagne on the paper with the corresponding number.

Is it dry, sweet, toasty, tart, French, domestic, extra-bubbly, kinda’ flat, young, aged, your favorite of the lot, (add your own adjective)? It’s not a contest, just a fun way to learn how we taste and how our tastes run. We’ll unveil the bottles after everyone has tried them all.

Cheers!

[Jenise]

What a great idea, Carrie. It not only solves a hosting problem, it gets your guests talking to each other. Fantastic!

Lizbeth, I agree with the Prosecco, Gruet, etc. recommendations in the 10-14 range, but have another if you can get it. The Mawby winery in Northern Michigan makes a bubbly, I believe a blanc de noir, which costs about the same. The name of the wine: SEX. It is always fun to approach one of the opposite sex, bottle in hand, and offer them some sex. I know Larry exports it to some states. Not sure about either PA or NJ.

OW - larry exports to jersey; but i'm not sure if south jersey gets it. north and south could just as well be two different states.

[David M. Bueker]

Lizbeth,

Go to Canal's Discount Liquors on Rt. 38 in Hainesport, NJ (exit 40 off I-295 - the website also lists direcitons from the Ben Franklin Bridge http://www.canalshp.com ).

They always have a great selection of bubbly & good values as well.

Fair warning - the manager is a dear friend, and has never, ever steered me wrong on any wine purchase.

I'd strongly caution against the "special bottle for special people, " unless you really don't treasure the other friends. No wine is worth a friend feeling slighted/snubbed.

In case my comment was misconstrued, I agree 100% with you, Dale. Any sort of two-tier arrangement smacks of exclusion, never good for friendships. Instead, what we've done in the past to openly declare that we've got another bottle open in the kitchen (or wherever) and that people are free to try it if they like. Alternatively, as you already mentioned, you just have several different bottles in circulation and let people decide what they like. In my experience, most of our friends don't automatically gravitate to the most expensive/prestigious bottle (even if that information was made public) but rather follow their own tastes -- all in all, a most salutary arrangement.

Mark Lipton