With Marcus Hofschuster's nearly 120 sparkling wine recommendations from six growing countries, Christmas and New Year's Eve evenings become something special despite Corona. He has never been as enthusiastic about German sparkling wines as he has been over the course of this year. In these times, it's not glamour that counts, but quality: the fireworks ignite in the glass this time.
If Christmas and New Year's Eve parties unfortunately have to be cancelled this year, perhaps it's time to remember an old rule: It doesn't take a special occasion to drink first-class wine. The wine itself becomes the occasion. This is no less true for the sparkling versions than for still wine, at least when it's really good. And what better way to illuminate a temperate mood than with a decent champagne, the finest spumante, vintner's sparkling wine or cava? This also works in the smallest circle, in an emergency even alone.
Good sparkling wine is more than a popping cork and lots of bubbles in the glass. You can take care of the "more" much better anyway if there is less fuss around it. First-class sparkling wine wants to be explored, it prefers to be the main actor instead of an extra - or at least an equal food companion. Because that is one of its least known qualities: good sparkling wine can often accompany an entire menu perfectly, from the starter to the dessert.
So it's a good thing that the world of high-level sparkling wines has never been as complex as it is today. We did not organise a special sparkling wine tasting this time, but were still able to compile an incredible wealth of recommendations from all the wines evaluated over the course of the year. Because it is not only Champagne that is currently experiencing a true quality revolution. The local sparkling wines are now also available in a quality that one would not even have dared to dream of 20 years ago.
Of the more than 350 sparkling wines that have received a tasting number at wein.plus in recent months, we have selected the best for you here (and also as a PDF) we have selected the best. In the text you will also find links to all the wines tasted and their producers, to our personal favourite wines as well as the finest sparkling wines for little money.
- 92WP 2011 Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Battenfeld-Spanier
- 91WP 2015 Brut Nature "Suez", Reichsrat von Buhl
- 91WP 2013 Riesling Dosage Zero Réserve, Griesel & Compagnie
- 90WP 2013 Pinot Brut Nature "Ultra", Barth
- 90WP 2014 Hattenheim Schützenhaus Riesling VDP.Erste Lage Brut, Barth
- 90WP 2014 Brut Nature "Grande Cuvée", Franz Keller
- 90WP Brut Rosé "Margit", Bassermann-Jordan
- 90WP 2013 Chardonnay Brut Nature "Cuvée S", Chat Sauvage
- 90WP 2008 Brut "Georg Breuer", Breuer
- 90WP 2014 Pinot Brut Nature "Prestige", Braunewell
- 90WP 2016 Pinot Brut Nature "Prestige", Griesel & Compagnie
- 90WP 2015 Dosage Zero "Grande Cuvée", Griesel & Compagnie
- 89WP 2016 Pinot Noir Brut Nature "Melchisedec", Heid
- 89WP 2016 Pinot Extra Brut "Ludwig's", Knoll
- 89WP Brut "Pierre", Bassermann-Jordan
- 89WP 2015 Pinot Brut "B Privé", Wilhelmshof
- 89WP 2017 Riesling Extra Brut, Wilhelmshof
- 89WP 2009 Brut Nature "Decade - I", Bamberger
- 89WP 2013 Blanc de Blancs "Grande Année", Braunewell
- 89WP 2016 Extra Brut Rosé, Griesel & Co.
- 89WP 2016 Chardonnay Brut Nature "Prestige", Griesel & Compagnie
- 89WP 2015 Silvaner Dosage Zero, Werther Windisch
- 88WP 2017 Cremant Brut, Jägle
- 88WP 2015 Retzstadt Langenberg Silvaner Brut, May
- 88WP 2016 Pinot Brut Nature "R", Siegloch
- 88WP 2016 Brut Blanc de Blancs, Franz Keller
- 88WP 2016 Pinot Brut Rosé, Franz Keller
- 88WP 2015 Brut "Rößler", Sinß
- 88WP 2017 Brut Blanc de Noirs, Wilhelmshof
- 88WP 2018 Brut Nature "sickimicki", Peter Vogel
- 88WP Riesling Brut, Becker-Steinhauer
- 88WP 2012 Pinot Brut Nature "Réserve", Bamberger
- 88WP Pinot Blanc Zero Dosage, Thul
- 88WP Zellertal Brut Blanc de Blancs, Schwedhelm
- 88WP 2016 Chardonnay Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs, Braunewell
- 88WP 2017 Brut Blanc de Noirs", Griesel & Compagnie
- 88WP 2014 Pinot & Chardonnay Brut Nature, Gregor & Thomas Schätzle
- 88WP 2014 Bacharach Riesling Brut, Ratzenberger
- 88WP 2016 Brut Nature "Primo", DIVINO
- 88WP 2018 Pinot Noir Brut Risé, DIVINO
- 88WP 2017 Brut Rosé, Reichsrat von Buhl
- 88WP 2012 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs "Lena Marie", Espenhof
- 88WP 2015 Lorch Krone Riesling Brut Nature "Grande Cuvée", Mohr
- 94WP 2008 Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Doyard
- 93WP Champagne "La Commelitte", Serge Mathieu
- 93WP 2008 Grand Cru Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs "Resonance", J.L. Vergnon
- 92WP 2007 Saumur Brut "Ogimus", Bouvet-Ladubay
- 92WP Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut "Vendémiaire", Doyard
- 92WP 2015 Champagne Grand Cru Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs "œil de Perdrix", Doyard
- 92WP 2009 Champagne Grand Cru Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs "Confidence", J.L. Vergnon
- 91WP Champagne Premier Cru Extra Brut "Cuvée Vendémiaire", Doyard
- 91WP 2010 Champagne Grand Cru Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs "O.G", J.L. Vergnon
- 91WP Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs "Eloquence", J.L. Vergnon
- 90WP Champagne Dosage Zero, Bruno Paillard
- 90WP 2010 Champagne Brut "Ancrages", A. Robert
- 89WP 2015 Saumur Brut "Instinct", Bouvet-Ladubay
- 89WP 2016 Saumur Extra Brut "Zéro", Bouvet-Ladubay
- 89WP 2011 Champagne Premier Cru Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs "Terre de Vertus", Larmandier-Bernier
- 89WP Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut "Rosémotion", J.L. Vergnon
- 89WP Champagne Brut "Bonnet Launois", Bonnet Launois
- 89WP Champagne Brut "Alliances n° 16", A. Robert
- 89WP Champagne Extra Brut "Temporis", Eric Collinet
- 89WP Crémant d'Alsace Extra Brut "Absolu", Bott-Geyl
- 89WP Verzenay Grand Cru Brut "Millésime", Jean Lallement et Fils
- 88WP 2018 Crémant d'Alsace Brut Nature, Barmès-Buecher
- 88WP Saumur Brut Rosé "Tresor", Bouvet-Ladubay
- 88WP 2016 Saumur Brut "Tresor", Bouvet-Ladubay
- 88WP 2014 Crémant de Loire Extra Brut "Tirage", Baumard
- 88WP Brut Blanc de Blancs "Ancrages", A. Robert
- 88WP Premier Cru Brut "Ancrages", A. Robert
- 92WP 2012 Trento Riserva Extra Brut "Perlé Nero", Ferrari
- 90WP 2010 Trento Riserva Dosage Zero "Massetto Privé", Endrizzi
- 90WP 2014 Trento Riserva Brut Millesimato Rosé "Piancastello", Endrizzi
- 90WP 2011 Franciacorta Brut "Selezione", Villa Franciacorta
- 90WP 2011 South Tyrol Riserva Brut "Comitissa GOLD", Lorenz Martini
- 90WP 2010 Trento Riserva Extra Brut "Lunelli", Ferrari
- 89WP 2014 South Tyrol Riserve Pas Dosé Blanc de Blancs "600", Kurtatsch Winery
- 89WP 2010 Extra Brut "Millesimato", Tamellini
- 89WP 2013 Alta Langa Brut "Cuvée 36 Mesi", Gancia
- 89WP 2015 Franciacorta Pas Dosé "Diamant", Villa Franciacorta
- 89WP Franciacorta Dosage Zero "A lique", Bredasole
- 89WP Franciacorta Brut "Saten", Bredasole
- 89WP Franciacorta Brut Rosé "Pine", Bredasole
- 89WP 2016 Franciacorta Brut Nature "Victus", Bonfadini
- 89WP South Tyrol Brut Nature "Zero", Arunda
- 89WP South Tyrol Extra Brut "Cuvée Muggi", Arunda
- 89WP South Tyrol Extra Brut "Cuvée Marianna", Arunda
- 89WP Trento Brut "A lique", Ferrari
- 89WP Trento Riserva Brut "Perlé Rosé", Ferrari
- 89WP 2012 Lessini Durello Riserva Pas Dosé, Fongaro
- 89WP 2012 Lessini Durello Riserva Brut, Fongaro
- 89WP 2013 Lessini Durello Riserva Extra Brut "60 Mesi", Giannitessari
- 88WP 2015 Roero Arneis Dosage Zero, "Giovanni Negro", Negro
- 88WP 2015 Trento Riserva Millesimato "Piancastello", Endrizzi
- 88WP 2018 Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene Superiore Brut Nature "Nature", Col Santiago
- 88WP 2019 Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene Superiore Dry "Undici", Col Santiago
- 88WP 2018 Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene Superiore Brut Nature, Bacio della Luna
- 88WP Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene Superiore Extra Brut, Pdc Cartizze
- 88WP Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene Superiore Brut, Pdc Cartizze
- 88WP 2015 Franciacorta Brut "Cuvette", Villa Franciacorta
- 88WP 2015 Franciacorta Extra Brut "Extra Blu", Villa Franciacorta
- 88WP 2015 Franciacorta Rosé "Aurora", Bonfadini
- 88WP Franciacorta Brut "Nobilium", Bonfadini
- 88WP Franciacorta Brut Rosé "Opera", Bonfadini
- 88WP Franciacorta Brut "Quaranta Racconti", Bredasole
- 88WP 2012 Oltrepò Pavese Pinot Nero Brut "Classese", Quaquarini
- 88WP 2014 Oltrepò Pavese Pinot Nero Brut Rosé "Cruasé", Quaquarini
- 88WP 2016 Vallée d'Aoste Extra Brut "X.T.", Cave Du Vin Blanc De Morgex Et De La Salle
- 88WP Brut Rosé "Excellor", Arunda
- 88WP South Tyrol Brut Rosé, Arunda
- 88WP 2016 South Tyrol Riserva Pas Dosé "Comitissa", Lorenz Martini
- 88WP Trento Brut "Altemasi", Cavit
- 88WP 2013 Lessini Durello Non Dosato "60", Fattori
- 88WP 2014 Lessini Durello Riserva Brut, Fongaro
- 88WP 2014 Lessini Durello Riserva Pas Dosé, Fongaro
- 88WP Lugana Brut "Hirundo", Selva Capuzza
- 88WP 2017 Alta Langa Extra Brut "Andrea", Dario Ivaldi