Eight Must-Try Sparkling Wines That Are Anything But Basic
BY JARED HENDERSON
Life is too short to drink shit wine. Period.
4 NOV - 2026
The best of the best for every budget and taste.
Hey! I’m Jared and I know you probably weren’t expecting a bearded man to pop up here on Chatty Chums. But anyone who knows me knows I nerd out about wine… and literally anything else. I’ve been with Glengarry Wines for a few years now and this has given me the chance to try plenty of different styles and varieties. So let me put my skills to good use and take you on a journey to level up your wine taste this silly season.
Some of my most memorable glasses of sparkling wine have gone hand-in-hand with a good meal and shared stories. With the festive season looming, it’s the perfect time to connect with those closest to you over a new bottle of sparkling wine you’ll want to return to. More and more I’ve been drawn in by the variety of styles and flavours available in this genre of wine.
This is a list of eight sparkling wines I swear by because life is too short to drink the same thing.
8. Hunters Miru Miru Brut NV, 33.99
An approachable classic champagne-alike from Marlborough. A split of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, with a dash of Pinot Meunier. It's got fruit up the front, toasty notes in the middle, and zingy acid which goes the distance. Perfect for the more conservative wine drinkers at the table. If “I don’t like that funky stuff,” sounds familiar to you then this might be the right bottle to take along.
Hunters Miru Miru Brut NV, $33.99
7. 15 Minute Bottles Mild-Nat PetNat, $39
Pet-Nat is trad sparklings' cooler cousin. It's synonymous with a younger crowd, myself included, and this will impress the friends you want it to. 100% Pinot Noir and gently pressed. It has been transformed into a juicy, energetic bottle. Full of stonefruit and ripe red fruit, it’s delightfully fizzy with a touch of sweetness and a beautiful blush colour. It'll turn any Pet Nat naysayer into a superfan in no time.
7. 15 Minute Bottles Mild-Nat PetNat, $39
6. Ackerman Crémant de Loire Brut , $31.99
60% Chardonnay, 30% Chenin Blanc and a graceful touch of 10% of Cabernet Franc. These grapes are graced by the warmth of the Loire Valley, a region known for its minerality and texture. The riper grapes have a softer touch, with a crisp and fresh backbone. The stonefruit and citrus of ripe Chardonnay and Chenin sings in the glass. More inviting for the acid averse, and at a sub-35 price point, it’s a steal. It’s the ideal opening act for a delightful evening.
Ackerman Crémant de Loire Brut , $31.99
5. Alexandre Bonnet Blanc de Noirs , $94.99
Ideal for a sunny summer. Grown in Aube in the south of Champagne, the vines rest on fossilised Kimmeridgian soils, which gives the wine minerality and freshness. This Blanc de Noir bursts with red fruit and is driven by acid, all in an extra brut package, for those watching their waistlines. This bottle is a match made in heaven with salty goat’s cheese and cured meats. It's got the drive to compliment any salty delights that make their way to the table. You may not have heard of them before but the proof is in the glass.
Alexandre Bonnet Blanc de Noirs , $94.99
4. Henri Giraud Esprit Brut Nature NV , $110
This is on my Champagne Mount Rushmore. They’ve got the history, the style, and the skills to make champagne that punches above its weight. It’s interesting, it’s exciting, and it tastes divine. The blend is built from a majority of Pinot Noir, with the balance of Chardonnay. This make-up creates a robust, but approachable red-fruited wine with freshness. As its bottle aged, you’ll taste the typical brioche, nutty notes that Champagne is known for. Esprit has been a mainstay in my Christmas rotation because of its complexity that appeals to wine nerds and its crowd pleasing deliciousness. There is energy running through each sip and it invites you back to take another. Did I mention, this is also available as a magnum. Who doesn’t love being the life of the party?
Henri Giraud Esprit Brut Nature NV , $110
3. Serge Mathieu Extra Brut, $86.99
This is a new one for me. I love extra brut styles of wine due to its lower dosage and more pure expression of the vineyard. I’ve had Serge plenty of times before, but recently I had the chance to try the Extra Brut variation. Extra Brut is a very dry style of Champagne, having under 6g/L of residual sugar, a typical Brut can go up to 12g/L, so it’s something to keep an eye out for if you love a crisp, dry expression of sparkling wine. It was a standout flavour explosion. The flavour of stonefruit dances up front, citrus and green fruit carries back by a taut acid line. Showing an absolute purity of fruit, this is a wine you’ll definitely want to revisit.
Serge Mathieu Extra Brut, $86.99
2. Essess Evolve Brut, $49.99
Going local again, Essess is a new producer on the block, but don’t let that fool you. From a tiny family farmed vineyard in Kaikoura, this is some of the best New Zealand has to offer. It’s a predominantly Chardonnay, with 10% percent of Pinot Noir finishing off the blend. Each bottle spends 4 years aging on the lees gaining flavour and complexity. To put it into perspective, that’s 4 whole Christmases. Close your eyes, take a sip, and you’ll be transported to Champagne.
Essess Evolve Brut, $49.99
1. Bryterlater Swell Sauvignon Pet-Nat
This has got to be one of my favourite wines of the year. I know this isn’t a ranking, but if it were, this would be taking the top spot. When I heard the mere mention of “Sauvignon Blanc pet-nat” on a night out, my curiosity peaked. I had to try it and I’m so glad I did. The mousse of the wine is full of life. Every glass brims with flavours of green apple and citrus. Balance this with a strong backbone of salinity and acid, you get a super refreshing and juicy sip. It is the definition of summer in a glass. The second glass is even better.
She'll be stocked in Glengarrys soon!
Bryterlater Swell Sauvignon Pet-Nat
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