Review: 3 Sparkling Wines for the Holidays 2025

Once upon a time, Champagne was the only well-known sparkling wine. Happily, those days are long past, and most now know that wonderful sparkling wines are being produced throughout the world. Today we are trying three sparklers from very different locations: Chile, Georgia, and France. Two are made in the traditional method of champagne, and one is a Pét-Nat. Details and thoughts follow.

2023 Mtsvane Estate Pét-Nat – This Pét-Nat from Georgia is made with local grapes: Chinuri and Goruli Mtsvane, both grown in the central Kartli region. Intriguing on the nose and palate, with primary notes of lemon and yeast followed by a touch of butter as well as an herbal and a floral note. The wine shows light minerality as well as a rustic, barnyard note that some will really enjoy. Medium acidity along with a creamy mouthfeel make this wine good with food or on its own. B+ / $28

NV Carmen Brut Nature – This Chilean sparkler is enjoyable, but it did not wow me, even though it is made in the méthode champenoise with champagne grapes: 65% Chardonnay grown in the Limarí Valley, 35% Pinot Noir grown in the Leyda Valley, and it spends 30 months on the lees. On the nose, it offers aromas of honeyed brioche and peach. The palate showcases lemon, peach, toast, and SweetTarts. The wine’s bracing acidity demands that it be paired with food, and with its effusive mousse it went very well with brie. B / $35

NV This Life Sparkling Wine – This Crémant de Limoux from France is a blend of 57% Chardonnay, 27% Chenin Blanc, 9% Pinot Noir, and 7% Mauzac. The wine is made by the winery Maison Wessman in collaboration with musician Norah Jones. On the nose and palate are enjoyable notes of lemon and peach along with a touch of butter and granny smith apple. The wine shows medium-high acidity and a steady stream of small bubbles that gives it a nice mouthfeel, but on the palate, there is also a strong chalky character that grows with each sip to become the dominant flavor of the wine. C+ / $25

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