Kraemer Brut

Can you drink Champagne all the time?

Of course you can.

So what’s stopping you?

The price. Yes, that bottle of Veuve Clicquot is delicious, but at over $80 a pop, well, maybe it’s not your Tuesday night wine.

Exploring the wide world of wine yields great rewards, and Champagne is no different. The champaignoise believe they have a monopoly on great bubbly. They don’t. What they have is a monopoly on the image of great bubbly. But a short hop, skip and jump across France reveals just how tasty “other sparklers” can be. Allow me to introduce you to Kraemer Blanc de Blancs Brut Vin Mousseux.

That's a big name, so let me unpack it a little bit. This sparkling wine (vin mousseux) is made from Chardonnay grapes (blancs) in the driest style (brut). Kraemer pays homage to the German influence in Champagne (Krug, Moet, Mumm...), while also being an affectionate name for a shopkeeper. So this bubbly charmer from the Loire Valley should be on your short list for great summer drinking. Really, this mousseaux makes any occasion feel like a celebration:

Kraemer Blanc de Blancs Brut Vin Mousseux opens with notes of green apples and fresh-baked croissants. Champaignoise will claim that no “mere” sparkler can attain the toasty richness of Champagne, yet here it is! Smelling of freshly toasted pain de campagne spread with sweet butter and honey, Kraemer is sure to please any Champagne lover. The mousse is supple, lending touches of honeysuckle and jasmine to a fresh, lively finish. It’s delightful in every way.

Yes, you can drink great sparkling wine every day. And at this price, you can't afford not to!