Best Bubbles for under $20

Reginato Blanc de Blanc & Reginato Sparkling Rose of Malbec for New Years Eve!

The Reginato Sparkling Argentine Wines are new to the American market this year, wow have we all been missing out! The Reginato Family in Mendoza has been making these beautiful bubbles for over 20 years for the South American market. Here are some facts:

Robert Parker Jr.'s "The Wine Advocate", December 2007
"These two value-priced sparkling wines are made by Jose Joaquin Reginato and his son, Jose Alberto. Everything involved in the production of these sparkling wines is done in-house, including the grape-growing."

Reginato Blanc de Blancs Sparkling 2006 - $15

Vintage: 2006 Varietal Composition: 70% Chardonnay, 30% Chenin Blanc

Secondary Fermentation: Charmat Harvest Method: Hand-harvested

Press Handling: No press wine Sur lies bottle aging: 3 months Alcohol: 12.8%

Total Case Production: 1,000 cases

Tasting Notes: When you think of a partying wine, you want something bubbly, light, refreshing, but certainly not boring or tiresome. The Reginatos feel the same way, so they pack lots of fresh fruit flavor onto a crisp, refreshing frame.

Reginato "Celestina" Sparkling Rose of Malbec 2006 - $19.99

Vintage: 2006 Varietal Composition: 100% Malbec

Secondary Fermentation: Metodo Tradicional Harvest Method: Hand-harvested

Press Handling: No press wine Sur lies bottle aging: 14 months

Alcohol: 12.8% Total Case Production: 500 cases

Tasting Notes: As soon as it hits the glass, you can see with your own eyes that this is no “salmon-hued” sparkler. It has a vibrant, rich, red color that suggests something heavy, but pop it in your mouth, and you will feel the crisp, dry and refreshing mouth-feel that you want with your meal. It has some light berry flavors, just a hint of tannin structure, and an amazing elegance. It speaks of the rich Malbec grape, but never loses its light, refreshing nature. It will also give you a good reason to drink sparkling wine with your main course.

About the Winemaker
“CJR” are the initials of Celestina and Jose Reginato, the matriarch and patriarch of the highly regarded Reginato winemaking family. Jose and his son, Pepe Reginato, have been making sparkling wines since 1986. They produce both Charmat and “Metodo Tradicional” (bottle-fermented) sparkling wines and they are known to craft some of Mendoza's most sought-after limited-production, boutique bubbly.

The Philosophy
Unlike many other “factory” sparkling wine producers in Mendoza , the Reginatos personally manage the whole process themselves, from grape to bottle. They manage the vineyards, select the grapes, harvest at the optimal time, make the base wine, and then do secondary fermentation at their own winery. They produce both Charmat and “Metodo Tradicional” (bottle-fermented) sparkling wines, and if you ever get a chance to meet Pepe, you'll see what kind of hand muscles you can develop after years of hand-riddling bottles to remove the yeast from sparkling wines.

Ask for them both at your favorite wine shop! Cheers and Happy New Year! Ali