5 bottles to drink on New Year’s Eve according to a well-known sommelier

The countdown to celebrate the arrival of the new year begins. And like every self-respecting December 31st there is no toast without a glass of sparkling wine to overflow. However, choosing a good bottle of bubbles is not always simple. Thanks to price variations, the difficulty of reading labels and, in some cases, a good dose of indecision, orientation is not immediate, especially below a certain spending threshold. That’s why we asked Louis Turanoa French-American sommelier from New York, to help us select 5 bottles of sparkling wine to uncork with friends and family, focusing on lesser-known and well-known territories. After the New York experiences at Racines and at the two Michelin stars SAGATurano moved to Italy in 2023: he worked as a sommelier at the Ostreria Fratelli Pavesi in Piacenza for two years, before joining the opening team of Flower Milan.

Stephane Tissot – Cremant du Jura Blanc de Noirs

“Stéphane Tissot is one of the Jura’s pioneering winemakers in terms of regenerative agriculture and natural winemaking. Since the 1990s he has been producing reference wines in his small company in Arbois”Turano explains to us. As well as its usual range of still wines, it also produces a few different bottlings of Cremant, the highlight of which is the Blanc de Noir. “This wine is made of 100% Pinot Noir, first aged in wood and then spent 30 months on the lees before being disgorged. It offers a generous palate, with a bold and opulent gastronomic persistence, together with a nose guided by delicate red fruit and a smoky hint”. Prezzo: 35€.

Bodet-Herold Cremant De Loire Brut Nature Les Greffiers 2021

Etienne Bodet is a young and talented winemaker from Saumur. “With a CV that reads like the wine list of a “greatest hits of the Loire”, he is also one of Clos Rougeard’s winemakers. At the same time he has his own project with his vineyards and, in addition to some still wines, he also produces sparkling wines with the intentionality of a Champagne producer”. This Cremant 100% Chenin Blanc is aged in stainless steel before being bottled unmeasured and spending 28 months on the lees. On the nose it is fresh and savory, while on the palate it offers both linear acidity and sufficient consistency to appeal to the palate. “Etienne himself believes that the wine is more similar to a great Champagne than a Cremant,” explains Turano. Price: €35.

Alessandra Divella Blanc de Blancs Zero Dosage

Alessandra Divella is a very talented young self-taught winemaker, based in Gussago. “Although his domaine and his vineyards are located in Franciacorta, to produce unique and singular wines he works outside the denomination”. With just 2 hectares of vineyards, production is limited, but its wines are already sought after by collectors. This wine is 100% Chardonnay, coming from vineyards located at 400 meters above sea level on soil rich in fossils. Two-thirds of the wine comes from a single vintage, while the remainder comes from reserve wine, a perpetual reserve started about 15 years ago. The wines spend 30 months on the lees before being disgorged. Turano explains to us: “An intense wine, characterized by high acidity, a marked minerality and an infinite persistence: the talent of the winemaker, combined with his unique terroir, shines immediately”. Prezzo: 40€.

Peter Lauer Riesling Sekt Reserve Brut 1992

“For several decades, Florian Lauer has contributed to ensuring that the family estate in the German Moselle region stands out as one of the largest producers in the regionIn addition to its customary single-vineyard Rieslings, the estate produces only one Sekt. Fortunately for wine lovers everywhere, the family has held back and is currently marketing old, recently discontinued vintages of Sekt. This Sekt, from the reference vintage of 1992, was disgorged in 2022 after 30 years of aging on the lees. The marriage of typical minerality of slate and the opulence of long aging on the lees gives life to a wine that will amaze the champagne lover who believes he has already seen it all. Price: €120.

Pepe Raventós Ancestral Vinya del Mas 2018

Pepe Raventos represents the 21st generation of one of the most important winemaking families in Catalonia. “This wine was born from his personal project, which focuses on artisanal production, with particular attention to ancestral method sparkling wines“. A 100% Xarel-lo with a lively and brilliant bubble, and an apple nose and a palate that surprises with its depth. Price: €45.