From iconic French champagne to outstanding Greek sparkling wines made from native varieties, effervescent wines have become an essential on holiday tables. Their lively character, versatility, and celebratory aura make them ideal companions for both refined dishes and simple festive gatherings. This guide explores their unique charm, their global and Greek expressions, and the most harmonious food pairings to enjoy at your New Year’s feast.
Translation | Amaryllis Tsegou
Refined flavors pair beautifully with elegant wines, and New Year’s Eve tables offer the ideal opportunity to fill your glass with sparkling wines that add even more brilliance to the celebration.
For wine lovers, it is almost a fetish to fill a glass with sparkling wine and succumb to the charm of the bubbles - to smell and feel them, to let the aromas envelop them, and to sense thousands of tiny explosions in the mouth. The characteristic “pop” from opening a bottle of sparkling wine may not be entirely aligned with modern wine savoir-vivre, yet it always serves as the emblematic soundscape of important and festive moments, visually accompanied by the golden, refined liquid flowing into the glasses. If you choose sparkling wine for your holiday gatherings, you won’t be disappointed; there are excellent Greek sparkling options that will bring their shine without requiring you to spend a fortune.
From the top wine of its category - champagne - and the myth that surrounds it to high-quality sparkling wines produced outside the Champagne region, white, rosé, and red sparkling wines of various sweetness levels - from completely dry to very sweet - are impressing an increasingly large number of consumers. When we talk about Champagne and the premium wine produced there, the varietal rules are very specific. The grapes allowed in the production of champagne are the white Chardonnay, which offers finesse, and the red Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, which contribute richness and body.
Greek production, however, has a tradition of high-quality sparkling wines made from Greek varieties, with excellent efforts geographically located in Northern Greece, Arcadia, Epirus, Rhodes, Crete, and the islands of Santorini and Lemnos.
Ideal food pairings for sparkling wines
One of the key goals in pairing wine and food, as in any good marriage, is achieving harmony. Neither element should overpower the other. A basic rule in pairing is that both the wine and the dish should share similar flavor and aromatic intensity, as well as similar volume.
Refined flavors pair best with elegant wines. Sparkling wines are served according to their style: the dry ones at the beginning and the sweet ones at the end. To accompany a good sparkling wine, choose clean, delicate flavors and avoid heaviness. A fine sparkling wine is ideal as an aperitif, creating a pleasant atmosphere and keeping good company until dinner begins.
Devoted lovers of sparkling wine swear that only subtle flavors - such as boiled crayfish or light cheeses like anthotyro - will maintain its balance. In practice, we can be more flexible.
Start your meal with a sparkling wine, pairing it with raw oysters, mussels, seafood salads, and finger foods. Among appetizers, fresh and delicate cold cuts, lightly cooked vegetables, egg-based dishes, and even sushi are excellent matches. For fish and meats that are grilled or cooked in mild sauces, choose a sparkling wine with fine fruit and floral aromas.
Finally, light desserts pair wonderfully with a semi-sweet sparkling wine. These wines are so delightful that one need not seek the “excuse of formality” to enjoy drinks filled with bubbles.
