A Champagne* for Every Occasion

Last Thanksgiving, I was sitting around the table at my parents' house in a post-stuffing torpor when my sister-in-law asked me what my favorite type of wine is. Without hesitation, I answered "Champagne!" She expressed disbelief at this, saying that she hated it. Now it was my turn for disbelief. I asked when she had had a bad experience with Champagne, to which she answered, "I guess just at a few weddings. That's the only time I ever have Champagne."

The heads around the table nodded in agreement. How could this be, I wondered. How could the most delicious, food-friendly and fun member of the wine family be relegated to a few reluctant sips at the most formal of celebrations? It's nothing short of tragic!

If you're like my sister-in-law and believe Champagne is only for the rarest and/or stuffiest occasions, read on! I'm out to prove that Champagne is appropriate any old time. And, this being the Savings.com blog, you know I'll be concentrating on sparklers that give you the most bang for your buck...

Attending an Outdoor Concert - Barefoot Bubbly Extra Dry

Imagine you and your significant other reclining on a picnic blanket, nibbling on cheese and crackers, ready to enjoy some al fresco entertainment. You go to open that special bottle of wine you brought along and...realize you forgot the corkscrew. Or worse, you remembered the corkscrew, proceed to fumble around in the dark and manage to splash red wine all over yourself. As a Hollywood Bowl veteran with some battle scars/stains, trust me on this one- corkscrews have no place on your picnic blanket. However, sparkling wines are a whole other story. Peel off the foil, twist off the cage and pop! You've got yourself a corkscrew and stain-free evening. Plus everyone will look over with jealousy when they hear that unmistakable pop of the cork. And if your sparkler is Barefoot Bubbly, you can afford to bring more than one bottle at $7 per pop!

Sitting on the Couch Eating Microwave Popcorn - Cristalino Brut Cava

Normally I like a nice buttery Chardonnay to go with my equally buttery microwave popcorn. But for those special tv occasions like the return of Gossip Girl or the American Idol finale, why not go all out and pair that popcorn with a zesty sparkling wine? If you doubt that popcorn can go well with bubbles, think of how well popcorn goes with pop, for pity's sake. You can't get much more bubbly than that. Cristalino Brut Cava tastes fabulous with popcorn, mainly due to its nice lemon-lime flavors. Like 7-Up!

Bachelorette Party - Sofia Mini Blanc de Blancs

In a single serving can. A pink can. With its own straw!!! Who cares what it tastes like, this sparkler is adorable! And appropriate for all lady-friendly occasions, including brunches, pool parties, knitting circles and speeding down the 405 in the back of a party bus equipped with a stripper pole. That can makes it very portable, after all. And just for the record, it tastes great, full of honeysuckle and pear flavors and a tasty match for Chinese food.

Bachelor Party

Okay, I may have found the one occasion where Champagne has no place. Men, you have my permission to keep your beer and Scotch-filled bachelor parties completely Champagne-free. In fact, given what I've heard about The Champagne Room, I'd kind of prefer it that way.

Got a favorite Champagne or sparkling wine? Tell us about it below. And be sure to follow me @SavingsHSimas for the latest and greatest in wine deals.

* Yes, all you smarty pantses out there, I'm aware that you are only supposed to use the word Champagne to denote a sparkling wine that come from the actual Champagne region, made in the methode champenoise with secondary fermentation in the bottle. Cut me a break, I'm trying to write a fun little blog post here!