The hour’s golden to be a bubblehead. Every notable restaurant in town has a decent sparkler by the glass, and LCBO shelves are more effervescent than ever. You don’t have to reserve bubblies for special occasions – they’re ideal aperitifs, flexible food pairings and downright delicious wines. So what if it’s a Monday night? Sabre, then savour that shit.
Codorniu Brut Clasico
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Why To say the Codorniu clan know their wine seems like an understatement. Vinifying since the 1500s, the Spanish family produced their country’s first traditional-method sparkling wine in 1872 – quite literally setting the benchmark for cava (which, like champagne, must undergo a secondary fermentation in-bottle). Bright, lemony and food-friendly, a glass of Codorniu can transform any old day into a celebration.
Price 750 ml/$13.95
Availability LCBO 215814
13th Street Rosé
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Why Homegrown bubblies keep getting better and better. Niagara’s 13th Street has received well-deserved accolades for their sparklers, which the winery has been producing since the late 90s. A blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (all un-oaked), this traditional-method rosé pours an expressive flute full of ripe berries and toast. Mmm, breakfast….
Price 750 ml/$24.95
Availability Vintages 147504
Laurent-Perrier Brut Champagne
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Why Having a bad day? There’s nothing champagne and oysters can’t fix – at least until the bottle runs dry and the empty shells pile up. Laurent-Perrier Brut (50 per cent Chardonnay, 35 per cent Pinot Noir, 15 per cent Pinot Meunier) advances the house philosophy of fresh, finessed and balanced wines. Laurent-Perrier describes this champagne as “elegant… with thin and persistent bubbles,” which means it’s super-easy to drink more than one glass.
Price 750 ml/$63.95
Availability Vintages 340679