Whether you’re looking for an affordable bottle of bubbly to simply cheers and get the job done or a top-shelf showstopper to impress your Secret Santa or dinner guests, these robust local bottleshops and wine bars’ retail walls are worth stopping at this holiday season. Pick up a gift that means “unwrapping” the fancy foil off the cork and collerette.
BUBBLY BOTTLES Conundrum Sparkling Rosé, $26, Siesta Key Wine Bar, 5138 Ocean Blvd., Ste. C, Sarasota, siestakeywinebar.com; Vilmart & Cie Coeur de Cuvée Premier Cru Brut Champagne, $124, Sea Grape Wine Co., 4333 South Tamiami Trl., Unit F, Sarasota, sgwineco.com; Belstar Prosecco Brut DOC, $14; 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop, 1445 2nd St., Sarasota, 99bottles.net; Bollinger Special Cuvée Champagne, $60, Grand Cru Wine Bar, 1528 Main St., Sarasota, gcwinebar.com; Dom Pérignon Brut, $170; Venice Fine Wine & Spirits, 421 South Tamiami Trl., Venice, venicewineandspirits.com; Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Brut Rosé Champagne, $69, Fine Wine & Tastings on Main LWR, 8111 Lakewood Main St., Unit J105, Lakewood Ranch, finewineandtastings.com; Vino Loco Brachetto-Italy (Private Label), Vino Loco Wine Bar, Tapas & Bottle Shop, 420 West Dearborn St., Englewood, vinolocowines.com; Collet Champagne Brut Esprit Couture, $100, Magnum Wine and Tastings, 2300 Bee Ridge Rd., Sarasota, magnumwinesrq.com; Champagne Collet Brut ‘Art Deco’ Premier Cru, $49, Rumours Wine Bar, 1807 Englewood Rd., Englewood, rumourswine.com.
Dress to the nines and head out for a night sipping sparkles on a downtown rooftop or intimate lounge. This fleet of flute-filled varietals can be found at local restaurants and bars with an impressive bubbles menu to order either by the glass or popped by the bottle. Raise a toast to the end of a year that has made us especially appreciative of the social sound of clinking glassware.
GLASSES OF NOTE Sea Smoke Sea Spray Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine, Central Coast, CA, $160/btl, Ophelia’s on the Bay, 9105 Midnight Pass Rd., Sarasota, opheliasonthebay.net; Rose d’Or Crémant de Brut Rosé, Bordeaux, FR, $14/gls, $46/btl, Burns Court Bistro and Wine Bar, 401 South Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, theburnscourtcafe.com; Domaine Spiropoulos Ode Panos Brut Certified Organic, Mantinia, GR, $55/btl, Blu Kouzina, 25 North Blvd. of the Presidents, Sarasota, blukouzina.com; Castello di Gabbiano Cavalier d’Oro Brut Prosecco, Veneto, IT, $15/gls, Summer House, 149 Avenida Messina, Siesta Key, summerhousesiestakey.com; Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut NV, Reims, FR, $92/btl, Crow’s Nest Restaurant & Marina, 1968 Tarpon Center Dr., Venice, crowsnest-venice.com; Lucien Albrecht Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rosé, Alsace, IT, $55/btl, GROVE Restaurant, Patio and Ballroom, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch, grovelwr.com; Domaine Carneros Champagne Taittinger, Napa Valley, CA, $54/btl, PIER 22 Restaurant, Patio and Catering, 1200 1st Ave. W, Bradenton, pier22dining.com; Graham Beck Brut Rosé NV, Coastal Region, SA, $14/gls, $48/btl, Michael’s On East, 1212 East Ave. S, Sarasota, bestfood.com; Bellavista Franciacorta Alma Cuvée Brut, Lombardy, IT, $63/btl, Café Baci, 4001 South Tamiami Trl., Sarasota, cafebacisarasota.com; Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut Champagne, Épernay, FR, $20/gls, $80/btl, Clásico Italian Chophouse, 1341 Main St., Sarasota, clasicosrq.com.