Having something to celebrate, be it an engagement, a birth, or a new job, is the perfect excuse to pull or pop a cork on a bottle of wine or two. But which are the best celebratory wines? In this blog, we’ll recommend some of the best red, white, and sparkling celebration wines, ones that are guaranteed to get you in a celebratory mood.
The best sparkling wines
Champagne. Is there any better celebratory wine? Complex, nuanced, and bursting with bubbles, it’s fine wine made fun. Whether you prefer white or rosé, champagne has never been better or more affordable. OK, some of the big-name wines are pricey. A bottle of Clos d’Ambonnay will set you back around £2,500, so maybe keep that for the lottery win celebrations? But grower and small house champagnes can offer great value and sensational drinking.
Of course, champagne isn’t the world’s only great sparkling wine. You can now charge your glass in celebration with fizz from Italy, South Africa, and England. English sparkling wine is the toast of the trade. The quality is exceptional, they’re locally produced and more sustainable, and buying them supports the UK economy. It’s a win-win-wine!
The best white wines
Celebratory wines don’t have to be fizzy. The world’s great white wines are can also rise to the occasion. What could be finer than a bottle of chilled white Burgundy? Well, two bottles, obviously, but the fact remains that with a celebratory meal, this classic wine will make the perfect centrepiece for a memorable occasion.
If you’re in the mood for something livelier, then the wines of the Loire offer some fantastic options. Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé cannot fail to bring a smile to the lips and are perfect solo sippers.
Australia may have made its name creating ‘fruit bomb’ wines, but it now crafts some of the world’s great whites. From a celebratory wine perspective, Australian white wine – especially its Chardonnays and Semillons - offer a unique combination of upfront fruit and richness that make for a joyous combination.
Californian white wines can be a celebration in themselves. The region has had a fine wine focus since the 1970s and produces a number of world-beaters. Wineries such as Stag’s Leap and Merry Edwards offer unique styles of Sauvignon Blanc, and its Chardonnays are jewels in the Golden State’s crown.
The best red wines
Serious celebrations such as a birth, retirement or a significant anniversary, can call for serious red wines. To welcome a new arrival into the world, godparents used to lay down a case of Port. These days they are as likely to buy a case of red Bordeaux or red Burgundy. These can also age for decades, but unlike vintage Port, they are available in every birth year. When it comes to retirement or an anniversary, wine gifts such as a mature claret or Burgundy that can be enjoyed immediately are the perfect choice. Just make sure you’re around when they open it…
Italy is renowned as the home of ‘la dolce vita’, and great Italian red wine encapsulates the good life. From the warmth and generosity of a Negroamaro from Puglia to the juicy, spicy charms of Chianti and the power of a Brunello di Montalcino, there’s something for every red wine lover to get excited about.
No article on the best celebratory wines would be complete without mentioning Rioja. Home to some of the best value fine wines, Rioja drinks brilliantly young, yet ages magnificently. Its charm lies in its combination of abundant fruit and intriguing, savoury complexity. This makes it at home at a drinks party, a dinner party, or for laying down to age.
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You may also be interested in reading our more in-depth red wine guide, white wine guide and sparkling wine guide.