Agrapart Les 7 Crus 1er Cru Blanc de Blanc ($34.99)

Forget for a moment, the Doms, the great ladies and the chandelier bottles of the tetes de cuvee. The true marque of the Champagne connoisseur is the label of a small artisanal grower not a big house with a steady style and heady marketing. Independent growers tend smaller, precise plots of Chardonnay and Pinot, blended and bottled according to their own taste and terroir, not house wishes.

Mind you these are pure Champagne, from the right grapes and the delimited area of the cold chalky north, yet they have personal style, purity and freshness that delivers more excitement for the money than label status. The flavors range from brisk and mineral to creamy and opulent, just like the big boys. Grower prices are great value too:  Even vintage bubbly and old-vine Mesnil can be half the show-off bottles. Production is limited but B-21 has wise buys from favorite growers like Agrapart, Egly-Ouriet and Saint-Chamant.

Ranger Rhett’s warning: “Chill out.”

“Keep it cold, very cold”, B-21’s Rhett Beiletti warns this holiday season. He’s insistent on this, “The bottle should be burn cold to the touch.”

How to get that cold?

1. After 3 hours on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator place in the freezer for another 20 minutes before opening.

2. Take time to make a bucket with 2/3 ice and 1/3 water to keep completely chilled.

“It is an action that will be completely rewarded.  Sante,” Rhett says.

Brrr, and don’t forget to put out the fire before going to bed.

Cristalino Brut Cava

Great bubbly doesn’t always have to come from France!  Its Spanish neighbor offers many great sparkling wines that are affordable bubblies for entertaining during the holidays.  It’s always good to have a bubbly on hand.  If your holidays are anything like mine, you will find your doorbell ringing and a group of unexpected relatives trampling in wiping their shoes on your brand new rug.  (Unless of course you hide your car down the street, making it appear as though you are not home.  Though, I wouldn’t know anything about that of course!)  These types of situations call for a good inexpensive bubbly to pop and ensure that your in-laws have a great time, and you don’t pull your hair out (or theirs)! 

- Summer, B-21′s Spain Advocate

Here are three of my favorites Spanish Sparklers:

Cristalino Brut Cava 91W&S – $7.99 (on for $6.99 this month)
This is a no brainer.  It’s on sale this month for $6.99.  You can’t beat the price and it’s an awesome bubbly.  You can’t find this kind of quality in a California sparkler for less than $10. (90SM)

Me toasting with Maite Esteve of Marques de Gelida.

Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava  90W&S – $7.99 ($7.19 btc)
This is a great bargain from Spain with scents of honey and apple, crisp, floral and creamy. (89SM)