Chateau Moncontour Vouvray Brut

A balanced, ripe wine, packed with pear skins, green apples and cream. It is delicate, with its acidity acting as a fresh, clean blast through the bubbles. Ends with that same freshness.

It’s no secret that I’m in love with sparkling wines — if I were stuck on a desert island, that would be the one thing I’d take with me. But the pricing on the high end bubblies can be prohibitive, and the quality on the value bottles is often inconsistent, so I’m always really excited when I find a terrific bottle at a reasonable price. The Chateau Moncontour sparkling Vouvray is 100% Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley in France. It’s incredibly creamy, with a rich, mouth-coating texture that makes an interesting contrast with the lift of the bubbles. The wine also scores pretty high on the aromatic scale, with lovely floral elements mingling with the ripe stone fruit. A great special occasion sparkler that you can drink everyday as well.