What's an affordable champagne for a college student that would go well with dinner?

Question

We're thinking below $50 please.

Answer 1

$50 is a lot for any bottle of wine. Your local wine merchant can probably hook you up with dozens of bottles in that price range.

My favorite everday sparkler is Gloria Ferrar's Blanc de Noirs. It's made from Pinot Noir grapes, so it's very food-friendly. You should be able to find it at most wine shops for around $14.

Answer 2

Vueve Clicquot is an excellent champagne around $35. It has a rich, full bodiness to it that pairs well with foods that have a bit of acid and/or spiciness.

For California, I recommend the Rhoderer Estate at $22. It's a good value and good quality.

Answer 3

My favorite "champagne" is Martini & Rossi's Asti.

It's not technically champagne, it's sparkling wine. However, it tastes and feels like champagne, and it's only about $12 a bottle.

It's rather sweet, good-tasting to most people. If you're not a connoisseur of champagne, you probably won't know the difference between this and a more expensive type.

Answer 4

If you're not familiar enough with real champagne to answer this yourself, you should avoid buying real champagne for this purpose. You probably wouldn't like it. I agree with others, Asti Spumanti is a good substitute for champagne and since it is sweeter, it will "go" with dinner better than the real thing. It is "champagne" for beginners, which you probably are. (Not trying to be insulting, just guessing where you're coming from. We all started somewhere...)

Answer 5

Schramsberg has some of the best bubbly in the country. Their Mirabelle starts at $15 and their Blanc de Noirs is around $30. Really, the BDN is a fabulous deal for the quality you get, and you support US family run companies.

Answer 6

Arbor Mist are allways a good choice, though, I think they are more of a wine than a champagne. Though, for a romantic evening I'm not sure how much that would make a difference.

Answer 7

You could also try Prosecco, which is the Italian version of sparkling wine (like Spumante).

Rebuli Prosecco di Valdobbiadene ($17.99)
This clear, light straw-color wine pours up with a frothy mousse and a lasting bubble stream with the persistence of a real Champagne. A pleasant scent of apples and spice blends with a markedly yeasty aroma of rising bread dough to evoke memories of apple strudel. Carbonation imparts a creamy mouthfeel, with fresh green-apple flavors and just perceptible sweetness well balanced by snappy acidity. US Importer: Kysela Pere et Fils Ltd., Winchester, Va. (Jun 12, 2006)

FOOD MATCH: Like most bubblies, Prosecco makes a versatile companion with just about any food. It was fine with vegetarian dim sum dumplings.

Answer 8

Lanson Blacklabel Brut NV

Answer 9

Any of the domestic/California champagnes, technically they are sparkling wines because only carbonated wine from France's Champagne region can be classified "champagne".

http://www.usmenuguide.com/table34winelist.htm

Answer 10

Anything with a twist off cap. That cork stuff is for people who don't have a clue. For an after dinner sipping wine, I'd recommend MD20/20, vintage 2006. Goes with any meat.