Champagne may be “a luxury, a token of celebration or prosperity,” said Lettie Teague in Food & Wine. Yet a bottle is often just the thing for the kind of consolation—call it courage—they might need “in these uncertain economic times.” My most memorable dinners or parties have involved a bottle of Champagne. Many excellent non-vintage Champagnes are available for as little as $35, but the wines I usually drink on special occasions are têtes de cuvée.
Also known as prestige cuvées, these are “the top wines produced by a Champagne house or grower.” Made from the best grapes picked from the best years, these wines are often beautifully packaged, in bottles that look as if they belonged “on a shelf of perfumes.” Here is a sampling of five vintage prestige cuvées, and five considerably more-affordable Champagnes, both perfect for “emotionally challenging times (like the holidays).”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
