‘Tis the season. And though this year is different than any other, lacking the usual rush of parties and other gatherings, in my mind there’s always a reason to break out the bubbly. And even if (like me) Champagne is your first love, sometimes the occasion calls for a tasty sparkling wine that doesn’t break the bank.

Fortunately there are many examples of high quality, great value bubblies from all across the globe. And there’s no doubt that you’ll have fun discovering your favorites.

A few fun facts to get you started. Did you know…?

The pressure in a bottle of bubbly is three times the amount of pressure in an average car tire.
When popped, the cork can reach speeds of 40 mph and can travel more than 160 feet. Be careful!
Bubbly contains less calories than many other drinks – a gin and tonic has seven times more.
You can gauge the quality of sparkling wine by the size of the bubbles – a rough guide is that the smaller the bubbles, the higher the quality.
Studies show that drinking a glass of sparkling wine is good for the heart, the skin and the gut. The polyphenols found in red grapes (sparkling is usually produced with at least some red grapes) promote the growth of good bacteria — so cheers to bubbles and good health!

From Austria to the USA (with a stop in Brazil along the way), here are fourteen tasty ones, including three sparkling rosés. Lets ring in the New Year with a glass of bubbly in our hands, and hope in our hearts for brighter days ahead. Cheers!

Argentina

Domaine Bousquet Brut Rosé ($11). This organic bubbly is light, bright, simple and refreshing, like a plate of fresh raspberries on a hot summer day. Tiny bubbles, lively acidity and a lingering finish make this a great food pairing wine. Try it with cheeses and seafood. You won’t find anything better at this price point.

Austria

Loimer Brut Rosé Reserve ($26). Fred Loimer, a pioneer of biodynamic farming in Austria, has been ranked amongst the best wine producers in the country. Wow yourself with this gorgeous salmony pink-colored sparkling wine. With slightly yeasty aromas and delicate wild red berry and citrus notes, this is a winner at the table. Goes perfectly with whole baked fish in a salt crust and roasted winter vegetables.

Brazil

Geisse “Cave Geisse” Brut 2016. ($27) Familia Geisse is a boutique Brazilian producer whose grapes are grown in the volcanic soils close to the Serra Gaucha mountains. “Geisse is as good as it gets from there,” says Michael Schachner, Wine Enthusiast contributing editor for South American wines. This stunning 2016 Brut, a 70/30 blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, has intriguing aromas of pears and citrus with a tangy yeastiness. On the palate, its bright, lemony acidity and fine, tiny bubbles were a delight with honey-drizzled herb-flecked goat cheese on raisin rosemary crackers.

France

Pierre Brut Nature Mauzac 2016 ($20). Keep your eye out for this deliciously dry, Brut Nature bubbly made in Limoux, in the south of France, from Mauzac grapes, with a touch of Chenin Blanc. Reminiscent of a fine apple cider with lots of earthy notes and big complex flavors, this wine is all wrapped up with zingy acidity and tiny, persistent bubbles. Pair with bold dishes, like rosemary-infused roast pork with caramelized onions (see photo), crispy fried chicken or black bean soup. Really fantastic!

Henri Champliau Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Authentique ($24). This elegant sparkling from Burgundy, a blend of 85% Pinot Noir and 15% Chardonnay, charms with its tiny, persistent bubbles. Graceful, with fragrant notes of pear, lemon, and a hint of brioche, pair with any holiday dish like shrimp scampi.

Italy

Barone Pizzini Franciacorta Rosé 2014 ($42). A pioneer of organic farming methods in Franciacorta, Barone Pizzini is a top producer in this northern Italian region where high-quality sparkling wines are made in the image of Champagne. This is a rosé meant for food; try with everything from a meat and cheese plate to salads, fresh seafood and roasted chicken or pork.

Coppo Moscato d’Asti Moncalvina 2019 ($16). This lightly sparkling (frizzante, in Italian), slightly sweet, low in alcohol (about 5% abc) wine has haunting aromas of flowers, white peaches, apricots, citrus fruits and sage. In short, a colorful fruit salad sprinkled with flowers and herbs, fragrant and delicious. A great accompaniment to cheeses, cakes and cookies — heck, I would even sip this with a plate of fresh seafood!

Val d’Oca Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Rive di San Pietro di Barbozza Brut 2018 ($29). This exceptional Prosecco comes from incredibly steep vineyards of the renowned Valdobbiadene area.This is an elegant Prosecco, with a pale straw color, fine bubbles and notes of flint, green apple and citrus fruits, that you won’t want to mix with orange juice! Dry and crisp, serve as an aperitif with cheeses, shellfish or chicken topped with tomatoes and basil.

Enrico Serafino Alta Langa Oudeis Brut ($28). Alta Langa, a Piedmont wine region specializing in sparkling white wines, is getting hotter by the minute (and I’m not talking about the weather). And for good reason: it is the OG for metodo classico sparkling wine in Italy, created in the early 1800s. Today, Enrico Serafino’s Oudeis Brut is one its finest and most complex examples, with 42 months aging on its lees — longer than many champagnes! Crisp, balanced and bright, this bubbly bursts with notes of lime, apples, flowers and stone fruit, along with an appealing hint of biscuit.

New Zealand

Peregrine Methode Traditionelle ($45) You may not be able to easily find this one, but I’m including it here as an example of the beautifully complex, yet delicate, sparkling wines being made in the Central Otago region of New Zealand. Peregrine is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that offers tons of bright apple, lemon and lime notes, with a touch of yeastiness. Delicious!

Spain

Bodegas Chozas Carrascal 'Roxanne' Brut Cava 2017 ($17). A steal for the price, this golden-hued sparkler will charm you with notes of fresh lemon meringue and biscuits. Bright and zippy, with fine bubbles and earthy mineral notes of flint and chalk, it pairs well with cheese, fish and pork with a mushroom sauce.

Dasca Vives Ancestral 2019 ($26). Think savory, more than fruity, with this delicious sparkling wine that hails from the Catalonia region of Spain. Biodynamic, the winery follows ancient winemaking methods — “ancestral” being the oldest known way of making sparkling wine. Light straw yellow in color, with a subtle cloudiness, the fine bubbles deliver notes of yeast, pears and herbs like thyme and sage. Awesome alongside lentil soup and butternut squash ravioli.

USA

Lamoreaux Landing Blanc de Blanc ($33).Coming to you from New York’s beautiful Finger Lakes wine region, this super crisp 100% Chardonnay is all about its mouth-puckering Granny Smith apple and lemon juice notes. Made in the traditional method, and loaded with mineral-like slate notes, it pairs well with steamed clams.

North River Blanc de Blancs ($29). This fine sparkling wine is made in the traditional method from Chardonnay grapes grown in New York’s Hudson Valley. Bright, vivacious, and super dry, it offers hints of brioche and makes a fine pairing with a plate of oysters. Hard to find, but this one is definitely worth keeping on your radar.