# Can someone suggest a good champagne... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 15, 2007, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399 "2007-02-15T20:24:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![goldenmean1975](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@goldenmean1975](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goldenmean1975)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399/1 "2007-02-15T20:24:58Z")
I want to get a bottle for a friend who just landed a great new job. Can anyone suggest something that is good and moderatly priced? Like in the 50.00 range is there such a thing? I don’t know anything about champagne obviously 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399/2 "2007-02-15T20:38:37Z")
This thread would probably do better in Cafe Society. I’ll ask a mod to move it for you. My recommendation is to find a decent small wine shop (not a huge liquor store or a grocery store) and ask for recommendations there. I like Nicholas Feuillat champagnes, which are in that price range (at least here in CA they are- wine prices do vary with location). There are quite decent sparkling wines that aren’t champagnes. Cava is sparkling wine that comes from Spain. A lot of sparkling wine that comes from California is just called “sparkling wine”. Non-Champagne sparkling wines can be quite good. They can also be quite a bit cheaper for similar quality- French wine prices are high right now because the euro is so high against the dollar ☹ (The euro is $1.31 right now :eek: ) Spain uses the euro, too, but Spanish Cava isn’t as prestigious as French Champagne, so they can’t charge as much for it. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399/3 "2007-02-15T20:41:11Z")
I’ve always been partial to Moët & Chandon. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399/4 "2007-02-15T20:54:01Z")
Try the [Veuve-Clicquot non-vintage Brut Yellow Label](http://www.wine.com/wineshop/product_detail.asp?PProduct_ID=SWS41175_0) ---
**Author:** ![goldenmean1975](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@goldenmean1975](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goldenmean1975)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399/5 "2007-02-15T21:44:21Z")
Thanks for the suggestions! All sound good. I’ll head to the wine shop and see what they have. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399/6 "2007-02-15T22:31:28Z")
I’ll second Moët & Chandon (in a pretty cabinet). ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399/7 "2007-02-15T22:36:04Z")
Moët is _so_ 2002! Seriously though, over here, M&C is the default Mickey-D champagne. [QUOTE=Gangster Octopus] Try the [Veuve-Clicquot non-vintage Brut Yellow Label](http://www.wine.com/wineshop/product_detail.asp?PProduct_ID=SWS41175_0) [/QUOTE] I second this recommendation: I have a bottle of this in the fridge “for a special occasion”. So far it’s escaped Christmas, New Year, and Valentine’s day. It’s very nice indeed, as we shall be reminded when we finally get round to drinking it. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399/8 "2007-02-15T22:51:19Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Moët is _so_ 2002! Seriously though, over here, M&C is the default Mickey-D champagne. [/QUOTE] Well la-di-da, Your Grace! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399/9 "2007-02-15T23:19:29Z")
My parents always got Christian Brothers, but it doesn’t look like it’s made anymore. I’m sure it wasn’t $50 though. The $35 Moet I got for a friend’s birthday went over well. We’re just plebians though. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399/10 "2007-02-15T23:22:18Z")
[QUOTE=Gangster Octopus] Try the [Veuve-Clicquot non-vintage Brut Yellow Label](http://www.wine.com/wineshop/product_detail.asp?PProduct_ID=SWS41175_0) [/QUOTE] This is my favorite champagne at any price. Well, I’ve never had thousand dollar champagne. But I guarantee I won’t like it appreciably more than the above. ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399/11 "2007-02-15T23:25:47Z")
My personal favorite is [Schramsberg](http://www.schramsberg.com/), especially their blanc de noirs – very smooth & yummy. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399/12 "2007-02-15T23:26:11Z")
**jjimm** is right about M&C, but V-C is only a step or two above. I’m particularly fond of the southern Champagnes - Tassin (which I doubt you’ll find in America) and the like - but then I know relatives of vintners who live there. And I recommend the Blanc de Blancs over the Brut: it’s a more complex taste. Not better, mind, more complex. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399/13 "2007-02-15T23:27:47Z")
I was the home of my best friend’s parents, major major pretentious wine snobs and they served me the tastiest champagne ever on New Year’s…it was an almond champagne. They claim they got it from a local winery in Morgan Hills or Gilroy California and that they’re surprised it’s so awesome because it’s pretty cheap. If you google almond champagne, a couple of options pop up. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399/14 "2007-02-15T23:41:59Z")
[QUOTE=anu-la1979] I was the home of my best friend’s parents, major major pretentious wine snobs and they served me the tastiest champagne ever on New Year’s…it was an almond champagne. They claim they got it from a local winery in Morgan Hills or Gilroy California and that they’re surprised it’s so awesome because it’s pretty cheap. [/QUOTE] If you’ve got a Trader Joe’s near you, you should check out their sparkling wine section. They have a decent (not as good as the more expensive stuff, but decent) almond-flavored sparkling wine for something like $5.99. Of course, if you like wine in general, and have access to a Trader Joe’s, you should check out their wine section. They have lots of nice wines at much lower prices than you’ll find the same wines for anywhere else. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399/15 "2007-02-16T00:27:30Z")
Moving this to Cafe Society as it really isn’t what we think of as a General Question. **samclem** GQ moderator ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399/16 "2007-02-16T02:07:36Z")
Gruet Brut (from New Mexico!?) and Domain Ste. Michelle Brut(from Washington) are surprisingly good, and eminently affordable at 10-12 dollars a bottle. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Perro\_Fumando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e9c0ed/32.png) [@El\_Perro\_Fumando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Perro_Fumando)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399/17 "2007-02-16T02:18:26Z")
I know it’s way cheaper than what you’re asking for, but [Ballatore Gran Spumante](http://www.bevmo.com/productinfo.asp?area=home&seref=froogle&pf_id=00000005170) was poured at my wedding to **Only Mostly Dead** and we both like it enough to keep a few bottles on hand at all times for random celebratory moments. Our friends all like it too. ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399/18 "2007-02-16T03:28:21Z")
[QUOTE=Gangster Octopus] Try the [Veuve-Clicquot non-vintage Brut Yellow Label](http://www.wine.com/wineshop/product_detail.asp?PProduct_ID=SWS41175_0) [/QUOTE] Yeah! What he said 😃 VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399/19 "2007-02-16T05:25:00Z")
[QUOTE=bump] Gruet Brut (from New Mexico!?) [/QUOTE] Yes, from New Mexico! I especially like the Blanc de Noirs. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399/20 "2007-02-16T05:48:08Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Moët is _so_ 2002! Seriously though, over here, M&C is the default Mickey-D champagne. [/QUOTE] You’ll note the OP did specify ‘moderately priced’. If you must be ever so so, then aim for the Dom, of course. Hmph. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-suggest-a-good-champagne/392399.md?page=2)