December 29, 2023
Today on CTV Morning Live, CTVs Melissa Lamb and Sommelier Matt Steeves showcased some great wines and spirits for ringing in the New Year.
For life’s most special moments, a fine bottle of sparkling wine is a must. As we celebrate the arrival of 2024, this is the perfect time to toast the past year and ring in the New Year with some bubbly and some Champagne Cocktails.
Sparkling wines are so festive and versatile. There’s nothing like greeting your guests at the door with a glass of sparking wine to give them a warm embrace and welcome to your holiday gathering. Additionally, sparkling wines are super food friendly and versatile when it comes to complementing the various hors d’oeuvres and dishes you’re serving.
Finally, they make great bases for Champagne Cocktails like the Kir Royale with Crème de Cassis or the Classic Champagne Cocktail with a sugar cube and few dashes of bitters.
So let’s get into some different sparkling wine options for your NYE celebrations.
These Sommelier-selected wines offer great value and will be terrific for your New Year’s Eve party celebrations:
There’s no better way to kick off a holiday party than by enjoying a glass of sparkling wine. Sparkling wines are naturally very festive and celebratory making them a great choice to gift as well as serve. Canada and Italy make some of the finest sparkling wines available and I’ve got options today from each.
We’re starting off today with a traditional method sparkling wine from Canada’s wine capital, Oliver BC. In fact this is from the Golden Mile Bench in the south of the Okanagan Valley, Hester Creek Old Vines Brut.
Clean and vibrant, Hester Creek’s 2020 Old Vine Brut expresses aromas of toasty biscuit, dry apple and citrus zest. The lively mousse greets the palate with delicate lemon zest, light almond and a clean minerality. The flavours linger on the finish, mingling with a mildly creamy brioche note. A fantastic traditional method sparkling wine made with 1968 old vine Pinot Blanc from the impressive Golden Mile Bench in Canada’s wine capital, Oliver BC.
Next up, one of my go-to favourites from Niagara. Jackson Triggs Grand Reserve Entourage Brut.
A great way to ring in the New Year and celebrate every occasion this holiday season. This Niagara Sparkling Brut is made in the “Methode Classique” way (just like Champagne) which allows a creamy texture and bright (food friendly) acidity. This versatile bubbly has notes of floral and lemon zest. Pairs well with chevre cranberry tart or tangy shrimp appetizers.
My review of the 2016: Jackson-Triggs’ 2016 Entourage Grand Reserve Brut – A very impressive high quality sparkling wine from this well known Niagara-on-the-Lake winery. At $29.95, Jackson-Triggs’ Entourage Grand Reserve Brut has become a Sommelier favourite with each vintage given its consistent quality yet at a fraction of the price sparkling wines of this caliber often command. The 2016 vintage is the finest I recall tasting – every component of this wine is working in beautiful harmony, from its creamy mousse to the rich stone fruit and marzipan pasty notes, culminating with a long refreshing finish as the endless stream of micro bubbles persists. Enjoy 2020-2025. Tasted June 2020. Highly recommended! 93 points. Matt Steeves – available at LCBO and WineRack
Next up, in Northern Italy they produce exceptionally high quality traditional method sparkling wines high up in the Alps. One of my favourite producers is Ferrari from Trento, Italy.
Ferrari has been producing world-class Methodo Classico sparkling wine since 1902. A pioneer in premium Italian traditional method sparkling wine production, Ferrari, has been loved by many around the world for over a century. Not to be confused with another iconic Italian brand, this Ferrari has relied only on its delicious wines to build its international following. The founder’s focus on creating a luxurious sparkling wine continues today with this third generation family business as Ferrari sparkling wine is enjoyed by many of the world’s celebrities as their celebration wine of choice. Fortunately, this is the most affordable Ferrari, and Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine you can find, making it very accessible to all.
The Ferrari Brut is a non-vintage Blanc de Blancs (Chardonnay only) sparkling wine that was disgorged after over two years on its lees. The colour is a rich straw yellow, with a nose of sweet baked apples and pears, vanilla bean, biscuit, and flint minerality. The delicate mousse has a wonderful palate cleansing rich tree fruit and lemon curd finish. A very attractive and complex wine that sells for under $30, making it an absolute buy-by-the-case wine! Some of the finest bubbles I’ve enjoyed, especially at that price! Tasted annually since 2014, each year a consistent high quality wine. 92 points each tasting. Matt Steeves – www.quercusvino.ca Buy Ferrari Brut at LCBO – $28.95
Now, time for some Champagne Cocktails
Although sparkling wine on its own is terrific, and perfectly suited to celebrating the occasion, a great way to jazz up that sparkling wine is by making sparkling wine cocktails!
With so many options, there’s no limit on what you can create with sparkling wine, so why not try a few of these easy to make cocktails and impress your guests this New Years.
I’m not the first to suggest this either. Champagne Cocktails have been around since the mid-1800s and have been captured on screen in movies such as The Godfather and Casablanca!
Sparkling wine cocktails can be designed to enjoy before, during, or after a meal, and typically they are terrific on their own.
With most sparkling wine cocktails the ingredients are simple and can be easily set-up on your counter or bar. For some, a bit of preparation is required, but the majority can be easily whipped-up in no time, and impress your guests with your sparkling creations.
Here are a few of my favourites that I recommend serving this New Year’s Eve:
- Classic Champagne Cocktail
- The Iced-out Champagne Cocktail
- French 75
- Kir Royale
- Classic Champagne Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1-3 dashes of bitters.
- 1 sugar cube
- 5 ounces chilled Champagne (or your sparkling wine of choice)
- (to up the octane, add 1 ounce of Cognac)
Directions
- Drop bitters onto sugar cube; let soak in. Place sugar cube in a Champagne flute. Add Cognac (if desired), and top with Champagne.
- The Iced-out Champagne Cocktail
I’ve created a delicious sparkling wine cocktail that takes two of Canada’s beautiful style of wines, Inniskillin Icewine and Jackson-Triggs Entourage Grand Reserve traditional method sparkling wine, both from Ontario. These two wines when combined produce a delicious cocktail suited for any special occasion, particularly a Canadian winter NYE celebration.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Inniskillin Icewine (consistently one of the world’s finest Icewine, either the Vidal or Riesling)
- 4 ounces Jackson-Triggs Entourage Grand Reserve (one of Canada’s fine traditional method sparkling wines)
Directions
- Just before serving, pour one ounce of Inniskillin Icewine into each glass. Fill with Sparkling wine, and garnish with a candied lemon twist)
Iconic Canadian winery, Inniskillin, is renowned for their luxurious Icewines as they consistently deliver the most impressive style of sweet, full bodied, richly textured, and incredibly refreshing (dessert) wine that’s sought after in the finest dining establishments around the world.
Inniskillin has been instrumental in establishing the global reputation of this uniquely Canadian product.
Pair Inniskillin Icewine with strong cheeses to the most decadent desserts imaginable. My favourites include blue cheese (like Blue Haze), and crème brûlée with Inniskillin Icewine.
- French 75
Ingredients:
- 1 part Dillon’s Dry Gin
- 4 parts sparkling wine
- ½ parts simple syrup
- 3/4 parts fresh lemon juice
Directions:
- fill up the shaker with ice cubes
- pour lemon juice, simple syrup, and gin into the shaker
- shake well
- strain into the champagne glass
- fill up the glass with sparkling wine
- garnish with candied lemon twist
Note: you can make the mix ahead of time and simply add to flutes as needed and top up with sparkling wine making it a very efficient cocktail to whip up in numbers.
4. Kir Royale – A legendary Champagne Cocktail.
Kir originated in Burgundy, France. It is named after the priest Canon Félix Kir, who was a hero in the French Resistance during the Second World War. We’re taking locally grown and produced Black Currant liqueur from Dillon’s for this iconic Champagne Cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Dillon’s creme de cassis (black currant liqueur)
- 4 ounces Champagne or other sparkling wine
- 1 strip tangerine or orange peel for garnish
Directions
- Just before serving, pour one ounce of creme de cassis into each glass. Fill with Champagne of choice, and garnish with orange peel.
And if you’re not into Champagne Cocktails, but are looking for an absolutely delicious and easy to make Cocktail, I suggest serving the Old Fashioned cocktail this NYE.
- Old Fashioned with Busker Triple Cask Triple Smooth Irish Whiskey
The Old Fashioned is arguably the best-known Whiskey cocktail in the world. It’s also the simplest to craft at your home. Take a little water, a little sugar, a lot of liquor, and a few splashes of bitters then garnish with an orange twist. That’s it! And it’s delicious!
Old Fashioned recipe:
2oz of Busker Triple Cask Triple Smooth Irish Whiskey
1 teaspoon of sugar
3 dashes of Dillon’s bitters
Another easy to make and delicious Canadian cocktail is the Maple Martini… combining Sortilege and Vodka for a delicious super Canadian cocktail.
Quebec’s Sortilege follows a traditional recipe that strikes the perfect balance between the strength of Canadian whisky and the rich, golden flavour of pure maple syrup from Quebec. The result is a fine liqueur that is truly Canadian. Indulgent with maple, toffee and caramel aromas and flavours; medium sweet and perfect served on its own or in your favourite hot beverage, it’s also a great base for some delicious Canadian cocktails, like the Maple Martini.
MAPLE MARTINI
- 3 oz (90 ml) Sortilège Original
- 1 oz (30 ml) Dillon’s vodka
- Ice
- Maple sugar or cinnamon stick (for garnish)
Pour all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice and shake well. Strain and serve in a martini glass. Garnish with maple sugar or cinnamon stick.
And of course, it’s always wise to have some other wines on hand to offer to your guests or to take as a host gift if you’re joining others for NYE.
Here are a few great options to consider from the sub $20 point to a few times that.
Sourcing grapes from the northern region of Sonoma and the southerly reaches of Carneros results in spicy, fruity Pinot Noir. A backbone of bracing acidity adds structure to the notes of ripe red fruit such as raspberry, cranberry, pine nettle and cinnamon. Pair with sweet-and-savoury honey-glazed ham.
Canada produces some of the best Pinot Noir available. Ontario (Prince Edward County) and Niagara, and the Okanagan Valley have such great producers making some of the finest Pinot available. One of my absolute favourites comes from the Naramata Bench in the Okanagan Valley from Martin’s Lane.
2020 Naramata Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir: Textbook expression of premium Naramata Bench Pinot from two vineyard parcels planted with Pommard, 943, 828, & 667. Deep colour, distinctive Naramata character with unique bramble, blueberry, sage, and cherry notes. 65% whole bunch fermentation in concrete, aged for 17 months in a mix of Austrian and French oak, extra tight grain. Nose shows a beautiful perfumed bouquet with expressive cherry and herbs. Fine integrated tannins are supple, showing great structure, this wine is ready to enjoy now and will develop beautifully over the next 10-15 years. Tasted December 2023. 94+ points. Matt Steeves – www.quercusvino.ca
Cabernet Sauvignon continues to be one of the most popular red wines internationally. So you can be pretty confident even if you don’t know what style of red wine someone likes, chances are they’ll enjoy a Cabernet Sauvignon making it a terrific hosting gift and wine to pour at your NYE party.
California has a world-class reputation for great Cabernet Sauvignon, and this rich example shows why. It brims with aromas of toast, nuts, dark fruit and chocolate that lead to flavours of ripe dark fruit and chocolate-covered plums and ends in a smooth finish with a hint of spice. Enjoy with grilled steak or on its own.
If you’re looking for a nice Bordeaux blend red wine, but also something a bit unique, then try this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Carmenere, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc from Chile’s Cachapoal Andes Valley. Sideral, from the Latin word sideralis, meaning ‘constellation’, embodies the perfect harmony of each grape and their flawless combination into a blend of exceptional quality. Blends like this can reach great levels of harmony and complexity providing wonderful value. For under $30 this makes a great hosting gift and would be wonderful this year and over the next five years with grilled and braised beef dishes.
Available at LCBO and SAQ – $29.95
Another great Canadian spirit to have on hand for the holidays is Dillon’s Rye Whisky. Four years of ageing in new Ontario oak, new American oak and first-fill bourbon casks gives this 100% Rye Whisky an oak forward character that complements the spiciness of Rye grain. Aromas of dried fruit, citrus, ginger, vanilla and caramel lead to a palate that is fruity and smooth, with balanced sweet and spice flavours.
Craft delicious cocktails, like the iconic Old Fashioned or Manhattan Cocktail using Dillon’s Rye Whisky, Dillon’s Sweet Red Vermouth, and Dillon’s Bitters. All available at LCBO over the holidays.
Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable New Year’s Eve and a prosperous 2024!
Cheers,
Matt
Matt Steeves – Sommelier, Wine Writer, CFRA and CTV Wine Expert – follow Matt on Instagram @QuercusVino or www.topwines.ca for his top wine picks.
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