The time for celebration approaches, and no one appreciates the opportunity to pop a good bottle of bubbly like the French. This New Year’s Eve, look beyond the prominent brand names of Champagne and consider trying something a little different. Whether you’re looking for something pink and fruity, dry and toasty, or crisp and salty, these French Champagnes and sparkling wines are well worth adding to your shopping list.
Frenchly’s Champagne Recommendations for New Year’s Eve 2025
Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut & Blason Rosé
When a legacy Champagne house like Perrier-Jouët offers two such gorgeous wines as their Grand Brut and Blason Rosé, it can be impossible to choose—so we recommend buying both. Floral aromas, notes of brioche and vanilla, and a refreshing crispness make the Grand Brut a standout, while the Blason Rosé is defined by touches of red and black fruit to create a fruity yet elegant apéritif.
Champagne Ayala Brut Majeur
The Champagne Ayala Brut Majeur is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier, aged 3 years on the lees. With a floral nose reminiscent of white peach and citrus, and a balanced, complex palate with grapefruit and mineral notes, this Champagne hits its mark with a targeted sophistication. Comprised of over 70 different crus, this crowd pleaser pairs well with a shellfish, from fresh oysters to moules-frites.
Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs
Silky and seductive, the Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs is made with 25% of reserve wines with an average age of five years, and a prolonged aging period between three and four years in 2,000-year-old chalk cellars. Combining the best of old and new Chardonnay grapes, this generous wine is full of candied and fresh citrus notes, and would make an excellent accompaniment to your holiday cheese plate.
De Saint-Gall “Le Tradition” Premier Cru Brut Champagne
Made with a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, De Saint-Gall’s “Le Tradition” is a creamy, yet refreshing cuvée with notes of apple and brioche reminiscent of a slice of Tarte Tatin. A crisp acidity balances out this Champagne’s richness, leading to an elegant finish.
Champagne Billecart-Salmon Brut Réserve & Le Sous Bois
Billecart-Salmon always offers a fascinating and diverse collection of top-notch Champagnes. Their Brut Réserve is one of the more accessible options, and offers amazing value with its aromas of white peach and baked goods, and flavors of orchard fruits, dominated by the subtle, almost floral pear notes, concluding with a mineral finish. For those in the market for a more unique product, Billecart-Salmon’s Champagne Le Sous Bois is entirely vinified in oak, giving it buttery, malted, complex flavors that pair well with umami-rich mushrooms and aged cheeses.
Piper-Heidsieck Brut Rosé
With its aromas of rose and almond, and notes of blood orange, blackberry jam, and wild strawberries, the Piper-Heidsieck Brut Rosé is a decadent meal in and of itself. Vivacious and fruit-forward, this gorgeous expression of Champagne’s terroir is a slightly more playful option for your New Year’s Eve toast.
Pommery Brut Rosé Royal ($75)
The Pommery Brut Rosé Royal is a great choice for pink Champagne lovers, bursting with flavors of red currant and strawberry jam. Lively but refined, with a zesty bite reminiscent of pain d’épices (gingerbread), this refreshing Champagne is best served with berry-forward desserts.
Pommery Apanage Brut Champagne
With a creaminess that calls to mind a thick slice of Isigny Sainte-Mère butter, Pommery Apanage Brut Champagne delivers with notes of dried apricot and hazelnut. Serve this Champagne as an apéritif, with any variety of seafood, or as a meal-closer with a light, citrus-forward dessert.
Barons de Rothschild Blanc de Blancs
With a distinct purity and an elegant effervescence, the Barons de Rothschild Blanc de Blancs is silky, creamy, and altogether dreamy. Notes of citrus and frangipane, with a tantalizing fleur de sel finish, make this perfect for serving alongside lobster sprinkled liberally with lemon juice—or even for saving to drink with your Galette des Rois on Épiphanie.
Champagne Telmont Réserve Brut
Made with a combination of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Noir grapes, the Champagne Telmont Réserve Brut sparkles with honeysuckle and vanilla on the nose, and beautiful notes of mirabelle (France’s favorite plum) and marzipan. With its fresh flavor and mineral finish, it is an excellent pairing for blinis topped with crème fraîche and caviar.
Champagne Telmont Réserve Rosé
The Champagne Telmont Réserve Rosé is a gorgeous blend crafted over the course of four different harvests. With raspberry and brioche on the nose, and lush notes of perfectly ripe sour cherries and blood orange, drinking this Champagne is a bit like biting into a fresh tarte aux framboises or cherry galette. Telmont’s commitment to sustainability and organic farming ensures that this indulgence is one you can feel good about.
Other French Sparkling Wines to Drink This NYE
Perhaps a bottle of Champagne is looking a little out of your budget this season, or you’re simply looking for a few more affordable bottles to pad out your evening before your midnight Champagne toast. Either way, there are a variety of French sparkling wines that offer more bang for your buck. To start, you’d be smart to consider getting a few bottles of crémant, aka sparkling wine made in France outside of Champagne, but using the same methods of production. These wines offer a beautiful expression of terroir, and the ones you might see the most often are Crémants de Loire, Crémants d’Alsace, and Crémants de Bourgogne, though they can come from all over the varied regions of France. Here are a couple of my favorite crémants and French sparkling wines you might find at your local liquor store.
Langlois Crémant de Loire Brut Reserve NV
The Langlois Crémant de Loire Brut Reserve NV, made with predominantly Chenin Blanc and aged for three years, has lovely floral aromas, and flavors of pear, tangerine, and a hint of ginger. Its crisp minerality lends itself well to food pairings, but it would also work well in a sophisticated spritz.
Albert Bichot Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé
This lovely and well-priced crémant out of Burgundy is characterized by notes of blackcurrant and raspberry, with touches of mandarin and tangerine. Perfect for an apéritif, this would be a great option for gifting or sharing among friends.
Domaine Mann Vignoble des 3 Terres Crémant d’Alsace Brut Nature
This Vignoble des 3 Terres Crémant d’Alsace is dry, juicy, and flavorful, with fresh apple notes courtesy of its balanced blend of Auxerrois, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay grapes. The Domaine Mann vineyards, a family affair, are certified both organic and biodynamic, and present an excellent view towards the future of what wines from Alsace can look and taste like.
Catherine Rickman is a writer, professional Francophile, and host of the Expat Horror Stories podcast. She is currently somewhere in Brooklyn with a fork in one hand and a pen in the other, and you can follow her adventures on Instagram @catrickman.
