The big guide to New Year's bubbles 2025
Soon 2025 will become 2026, and it's time to celebrate! After almost a year of war and inflation and storm surges, there's a very good reason to welcome a new and hopefully more normal year, and true to tradition, it should be done with lots of delicious bubbles.
"Many people want New Year's Eve to be very special, and bubbles can do just that. Just opening a bottle of sparkling wine is an experience in itself," says Jesper Rahbek, sommelier at Copenhagen Cava.
Bubbles all evening
According to Jesper Rahbek, you don't have to wait until midnight to pop the corks; you can start with the bubbles early in the evening.
"Personally, I would start with some dry cava for the Queen's New Year's speech and then serve some salty snacks or oysters. There are also plenty of bubbles that go really well with food. Cava or champagne, for example, goes wonderfully with dishes with fish and shellfish, root vegetable soups, risotto or lighter meat dishes such as veal, lamb or game birds. For dessert, the bubbles should be sweeter, such as Cava semi-sec. And then, of course, bubbles should be drunk at midnight."
Which type you choose is up to taste, priorities and budget.
»At Copenhagen Cava we recommend cava because we think you find the best balance between quality and price here, and cava is a fantastically versatile wine when it comes to pairing with food.« When you buy champagne you pay a lot for the “brand”, while with Prosecco and Asti you have to look further for good quality.
Both champagne and cava are made in the same way with a second fermentation in the bottle, while the starting point in relation to grapes and climate is different. Where Champagne is produced in the cool and sun-poor Northern France and primarily from the Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir grapes, cava comes from Catalonia on the Mediterranean with a long and warm growing season. Cava is typically made from the Xarello, Macabeo and Parellada grapes but also allows a number of other grapes, which creates greater scope for variation.
In terms of taste profile, Champagne is generally more acidic and mineral than Prosecco, Cremant and Cava. Cava, on the other hand, has more fruit in its taste and is typically rounder than Champagne. In terms of price, a cheap Champagne can easily cost 275kr per bottle, while a good Cava can be found for between 90-200kr.
Below you will find Jesper Rahbek's suggestion for bubbles for New Year's Eve.
Dry bubbles
Miquel Pons Reserva Brut
Here you get a really tasty organic cava made from the classic grapes Macabeu (45%), Xarello (45%) and Parellada (10%) and aged for 24 months.
The wine has beautiful golden hues and elegant bubble release. In the nose you find spicy aromas of ripe tropical fruit, intense and persistent. In the mouth a mild taste of aging, accompanied by a creamy and well-integrated bubble. This cava is easy to drink on its own, but also goes great with slightly salty snacks or oysters.
Price per bottle: DKK 99 when purchasing 6 bottles.
Forns Raventós Ortus Gran Reserva Brut Nature
Lovely and full-bodied and elegant Blanc de Noir, is made exclusively from Pinot noir grapes and aged for 30 months in the bottle. Blanc de Noirs are fantastic food-friendly sparkling wines that appeal to those looking for a more intense and structured taste experience, where the intensity and complexity of the red grapes are lifted by the delicious mousse. Will go perfectly with e.g. smoked salmon, sushi, shellfish, lobster bisque, grilled fish or aged cheeses.
Price per bottle: DKK 166 when purchasing 6 bottles.
Can Feixes Corpinnat Brut Classic
A premium sparkling wine with a long maturation period (84 months) under the strict rules of the "Corpinnat" label. The wine is made from Macabeu (26%), Parellada (50%) and Pinot Noir (24%) and is distinguished by its exceptional finesse, subtlety and elegance. It was a regular on the wine list of the world's best restaurant "El Bulli" until it closed. A perfect match for e.g. Ceviche, sushi, grilled fish, shellfish, risotto, game, aged cheeses, dark chocolate (max. 70% cocoa)
Price per bottle: DKK 196 when purchasing 6 bottles.
Forns Raventós Brut Nature Rosé
Incredibly beautiful rosé cava with a light rhubarb red color made from 100% pinot noir. Aromas of red fruits with roasted notes from the aging. On the palate it is extremely elegant, balanced and tasty with an acidity that gives a long finish full of nuances. Very fine, soft and persistent bubbles. Will go perfectly with e.g. Ceviche, sushi, salads, mushroom risotto, smoked fish, lamb and, fresh or. lightly aged goat's or. cow's milk cheeses and white chocolate or chocolate mousse
Price per bottle: DKK 143 when purchasing 6 bottles.
Semi-dry bubbles
Miquel Pons Reserva Semi-Sec
A good example of how good bubbles don't have to cost a fortune. The bubbles are sparkling and creamy and the taste is immediately light and sweet with notes of pear and apple and a touch of toast. This is the cava everyone will like for a party dessert, with a wreath cake or to toast the New Year with. Made from Macabeu (40%), Xarello (55%) and Parellada (5%) and aged 15 months in the bottle.
