The festive season is upon us, and nothing sets the tone for celebration quite like champagne and sparkling wine.
Whether you’re hosting a Christmas Day feast, organising your work Christmas party or ringing in the New Year with friends, you’ll find a special wine to elevate every celebratory moment of the 2024 festive season.
Champagne Goddess (centre) Susan Le Roux
Why Trust My Champagne & Sparkling Wine Recommendations?
As the “Champagne Goddess,” my life revolves around the effervescent world of Champagne and Sparkling wine.
From hosting educational Masterclasses sharing the rich history of Champagne Maisons, offering lessons in the Art of Sabrage, to personally guiding clients on intimate Tasting Tours of sparkling Wine Destinations, I adore sharing this incredible wine with others.
My passion extends equally to Australian sparkling wines, which I believe deserve their moment in the spotlight alongside their French counterparts.
So, let’s dive into this year’s must-try bottles for Christmas and New Year’s Eve!
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Christmas Day selections: Start the day with elegance
As most of us will likely be starting the Christmas celebrations around breakfast or brunch, and you’ll just be waking up your palate for the day; you won’t want a sparkling that is too austere or with a bracing acidity – so I suggest commencing your Christmas morning with bubbles that awaken the palate without overwhelming it.
My personal go-to will be the Bellebonne Bis Non Vintage Rosé ‘Made by Tasmania’ (and Natalie Fryar). It is perfectly balanced, with tiny, soft bubbles and a lingering palate of fresh strawberries, and subtle rhubarb and custard tones… it will ease you into a perfect day.
Alternatively, if you’re looking to impress, the absolute Christmas classic: Bollinger Special Cuvée NV is known for its rounded, elegant style, containing one of the highest additions of reserve wines in a non-vintage offering. It’s a perfect match for opening presents while breakfasting and brunching!
Below, I’ve written up a few more of my favourite bottles of bubbles to complement your breakfast, brunch, lunch and/or dinner plans!
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🦐 SEAFOOD BRUNCH: Pairing bubbles with the ocean’s bounty 🦐
For a seafood-focused brunch, crisp, chardonnay-based sparkling (Blanc de Blancs) wines are the way to go.
These wines bring a refreshing zing that complements prawns, oysters, smoked salmon, and creamy dips.
Here are my top picks for every budget and mood:
🍾 Bellebonne Bis Blanc de Blanc (Tasmania): A stunning release by winemaker Natalie Fryar, offering brightness and finesse. Make sure to order early!
🍾 Champagne Pol Roger Brut Réserve NV (France): A timeless classic for a luxurious touch from this French House
🍾 Deviation Road Blanc de Blancs (Tasmania): A sophisticated choice to elevate your seafood spread with this 100% Chardonnay sparkling
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🍽️ THE CHRISTMAS ROAST: Perfect for Turkey and Pudding 🍽️
To match the richness of roast turkey and the decadence of Christmas pudding, choose sparkling wines with layers of flavour and a story to tell.
🍾 Frerejean Frères Premier Cru NV Brut (France) : This Champagne boasts a fuller mouthfeel, is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir aged for a minimum of five years and has a fascinating Napoleonic heritage.
🍾 Delamere Rosé NV (Tasmania): A vibrant option that pairs beautifully with both white meats and desserts, with ..”an added layer of complexity from the bottle-aged reserve in this delicious 2022 blend”
🍾 House of Arras Grand Vintage 2019 (Tasmania): A Tasmanian gem offering elegance and depth. Showcasing remarkable depth of flavours from seven years on lees. Awarded Gold at several international and Australian Wine Shows in 2024, including Decanter’s World Wine Awards, Sydney Royal Wine Show and Australian Sparkling Wine Shows.
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🎄 WORK CHRISTMAS PARTY: Affordable Yet Impressive 🎄
When catering for a crowd, you need versatile, budget-friendly sparkling wines that still deliver on flavour.
Here are my recommendations for festive work parties:
🍾 Redbank Emily Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut NV (South Australia): Fresh, easy-drinking, and perfect for large groups (with chardonnay from King Valley)
🍾 House of Arras “A” (Tasmania): With 36 months on lees, this wine delivers a delightful ‘umami’ character- at an accessible price point.
🍾 Veuve Amiot Crémant de Loire Brut (France): Crémant is a category of French sparkling wines that are produced using the same traditional method as Champagne, yet from other regions.
This wine is a blend of chenin blanc, chardonnay and cabernet franc varieties
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✨ NEW YEARS EVE: Sparkle Into 2025 ✨
It has been a tricky year for us all with plenty of ups and downs, so its time for you, your friends and family to celebrate and indulge, you deserve it!
Whether you’re hosting with a small group of friends or planning a larger soirée, splash out on one or two special bottles that you can savour, while toasting the arrival of 2025; for you this could mean a Grand Marque Champagne, a bottle of Grower Champagne or a special bottle of Australian Sparkling Wine.
Here are some of my quintessential favourites which equate to a refreshingly wonderful way to bring in the New Year:
🍾 Croser Vintage 2020 (Adelaide Hills): I just can’t go past this brilliant price-point and elegant mouth feel. One of Ed Carr’s classic creations under the Accolade brand, before he moved to Handpicked Wines with House of Arras. Balanced, complex and brimming with brioche and lemon meringue flavours, this sparkling wine is a delightful way to set the mood.
🍾 Black Label Champagne Lanson Brut Magnum 1.5L : If you’re hosting a group, serve this elegant Champagne in a magnum – perfect for sharing! Lanson, with a pedigree and history that rivals any Champagne house, the magnum price-point is easily one of the best value non vintage Champagnes around. It has a fine and elegant palate and a soft and pure texture to set the evening off to a great start.
(At the time of writing this, the price was $164.99 OR if you are a Dan Murphy’s Member, there is a $145 Member offer for a Magnum)
🍾 DAOSA Blanc de Blancs 2019 (Adelaide Hills): A light yet layered sparkling wine that’s guaranteed to impress. The Bizot vineyard is located in the heart of Piccadilly Valley sub-region in the Adelaide Hills and is one of the highest vineyards in the valley at 550m altitude.(It was planted by Petaluma in 1995/1996 for DAOSA with Chardonnay)
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Final Thoughts
The beauty of champagne and sparkling wine is their versatility. Whether you’re savouring them with loved ones at brunch, serving them alongside a Christmas feast, or toasting to a fresh start on New Year’s Eve, the right bottle can elevate every moment.
Download the PDF version of this Post to take shopping with you!
Note: If you’re wanting some more Champagne recommendations and tasting notes, read my article from my International Champagne Day tasting Masterclass here.
There is a 3 Step Tasting Guide on that Post, so you can then fully experience the best of what each bottle you may choose has to offer!
🥂 À votre santé… Let’s make this festive season truly memorable – one sip at a time. Cheers to you and yours for all that has been in 2024 ….and all there is to come in 2025! 🥂