Thank you Gloria Ferrer for sponsoring this post. Elevate your everyday entertaining this season with Gloria Ferrer wines!
We all have days where we need to indulge ourselves a little. Whether that is a bath and a book or kicking back with some bubbly while you binge watch some Netflix–it’s good to destress and treat yourself once in awhile!
And while we’re talking about treating ourselves, sparkling alcoholic beverages are often saved just for mimosas or big celebrations but they shouldn’t be! YOU are worth popping a cork once in awhile without a huge reason! Gloria Ferrer especially has a great line of sparkling wines that are highly affordable and perfect for popping on a day that ends in Y.
Just a little bit about Gloria Ferrer in case you were wondering why they are worthy of mention. Gloria Ferrer is California’s most awarded sparkling wine house and has received over 500 gold medals and 50 90+ ratings in the last 5 years. When I’m unsure of what bottle to pick at the store, I always start with the rated bottles first–it usually means they are really good!
wait–this isn’t champagne?
Not every wine that bubbles is champagne–did you know that? Champagne actually refers to sparkling wines that come out of the region of Champagne, France and are only made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes. Everyone else in the world that makes bubbly gets to call it “sparkling wine.” They are basically the same thing, the champagne part is just about where the grapes are grown. California makes some really excellent sparkling wine along with all the other wines you see coming out of that area.
Which kind of sparkling wine is best to drink?
Personally, I’m a big proponent of finding what you like to drink and not worrying too much about the details. I am sure some wine enthusiasts would cringe to hear me say that, but I can honestly say that no matter what, if I don’t love it, it’s staying in the glass. Part of the fun, too, is figuring out what you do like.
There are all kinds of sparkling wines out there to be had, and Gloria Ferrer has a really great selection. Here are a few they make–there’s something in here for every palette. If you’re new to wines and sparkling wines, start with something on the sweet side then work your way around to the drier varieties.
- Brut – these tend to be very dry and not so sweet. They can be a great accompaniment to anything savory, especially meats and cheeses.
- Demi-Sec – these are on the sweet side. Great with fruits, nuts and creamy cheeses and CHOCOLATE. And amazingly, spicy foods go great with them, too!
- Blanc de Noirs – The French term meaning “white wine from red grapes.” The skins give this sparkling wine a very pretty color. The finish is fruitier.
everyday sipping. and snacking.
Tuesday nights about once a month I have the rare privileged of being in the house by myself. I’d be a liar if I said that I buckled down then and really got some work done. Nope. I pamper myself for a bit.
And nothing feels quite as luxurious as opening a bottle of Gloria Ferrer and putting together a little cheese plate for myself. Looks fancy, right? It’s totally not. It’s easy, and the Gloria Ferrer sparkling wine is something that is drinkable on a Tuesday.
Nicer grocery stores have started to sell cheese slices in the 2-3 ounce size so you can get one or two for fairly inexpensively. Put those on a small plate first. I have a wine soaked cheese and some goat cheese on this plate.
Add in the crackers (my current favorite is this one) and a bit of prosciutto. Fill in the rest of the space on your plate with raspberries, dried cranberries (or apricots) and whole almonds. If you’re feeling super luxurious, throw in a sprig of rosemary to garnish. You can scale this up to a large plate really easily with the same ingredients if you decide to share.
As a rule, to make bubbly night decadent, you have to have a few fun napkins.
how to open your sparkling wine
If you start treating yourself on a Tuesday, you’re going to have to learn to open your bottles properly. I always cringe when I see corks flying through the air (usually because of the wasted sparkly pouring out of the bottle onto the floor) and you just don’t have to do that. Unless someone is performing a saber service with the bottle, in which case that is just cool and they can waste away
In illustrated order, to open your bottle:
- Remove the foil.
- Untwist the wire on the basket and remove.
- Take a clean napkin or towel and place it over the cork.
- Twist and pull gently until the cork comes out.
If you do happen to have a bit of spillage, your towel will be handy to help with any clean up!
What if i can’t finish the whole bottle?
If the concept of leftover alcohol is not foreign to you, you might be feeling like it’s not a great idea to open the bottle of bubbly to have just one glass. I understand the hesitancy, but there’s a nifty little gadget to help and you can pop that cork without any guilt. There are tons of products to keep your sparkling wine from going flat, and this is the one I use. It’ll keep it fresh for a few days so you never have to feel bad about opening your favorite bottle for just a sip.
So go ahead–treat yourself to a Gloria Ferrer sparkling wine any time! You deserve it!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
