Fizzy wine has undergone a transformation of late. It’s becoming more popular and being made in new ways. Plus, such bottles are more often popped outside the confines of the “celebrations” that traditionally call for sparkling wine (specifically Champagne).
And while we would never write off proper French Champagne (in fact, one of us aged spirits correspondents celebrated a milestone birthday last week with a bottle of Moussé Fils Blanc de Noirs, which has taste and refinement a person can only ever hope to have), another sparkling wine we’ve loved lately was not so formal: a bubbly rosé from Lieb Cellars. Barely blush in color, tasting of stone fruit and mushrooms, it couldn’t have been more different than Champagne. Unexpected, crisp, subtle, and truly special, it would’ve been just as welcome at a celebration dinner as it was to day-drink on a pleasant afternoon.