Champagne Through a Straw!
The weather forecasters keep saying this summer isn’t too bad, but it feels plenty hot to me, which makes it the perfect time for a cold adult beverage. Now, this will probably shock some readers, but there are people who prefer their bubbly beverages to be made from grapes instead of grains. That’s right, Champagne over beer! Lucky for those of us who like to sip straight from the bottle, a lot of wineries have taken the gauntlet hurled down by Champagne Pommery’s POP, 187-milliliter bottles (one-quarter of a regular bottle) of true Champagne made to be sipped through a straw or straight from the bottle. Delicious stuff, but with a four-pack of the gorgeous bottles going for more than $50, only extravagant drinkers need apply.
The next major brand to go for the drink-through-a-straw crowd was Francis Ford Coppola Winery‘s Sofia Mini ($13/four-pack), which is a sparkling wine in a can. The main benefit of this product is that you can take it to the lake without attracting the attention of the gendarmes. The wine is made from Pinot Blanc, Riesling, and Muscat instead of Champagne’s classic combination of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The taste difference is obvious, with the Sofia Mini being a bit more sweet, soft, and light.
The whole world of sparkling wine is now on the hunt for this Champagne-sipping demographic. Some of the best new versions include the crisp Segura Viudas Brut Reserva ($3.25/small bottle), the concentrated Chandon Rosé ($7), Cristalino Cava Brut ($4), and the surprisingly good Korbel Brut ($13/four-pack). Spec’s and the big Twin Liquors stores have the best supplies, but all of these wines are widely available in wine shops, liquor stores, and grocery stores – and they are a lot of fun.
This article appears in August 6 • 2010.
