Holidays call for celebration, and celebrations call for champagne, sparklies, and bubbly. Whether you’re toasting to the past, a person, the future, or just fun times, I’ve got four great choices for expressing the sentiment.

If you’re looking for a top-choice French champagne that won’t break the bank, Gerard Bertrand Crémant de Limoux 2007 is your ticket. This beautiful bubbly is golden with green lights; the taste is crisp, lively, and elegant. Its nose is rich with aromas of a delicate blend of white flowers and pear. As you taste, the wine develops hints of hazelnut, slowly revealing subtle toasted flavors, making a lively attack on the palate; you’ll linger with long lasting bubbles. Crémant de Limoux is a rich, balanced wine, ideal as an aperitif. I’d serve this with salads, fish, and poultry. You can buy this wine at CataVinos Wine Shoppe in Tucson for less than $15 per bottle.

Jaume Serra Cristalino CAVA is a fine Spanish sparkling wine made using the traditional method in which secondary fermentation producing a sparkling wine’s bubbles occurs in the bottle. Its fresh, toasty nose, beautiful citrus, green apple and mineral flavors, supple, lively mouth-feel, and clean, crisp finish make this the ultimate celebratory wine. Enjoy it on its own and with sushi, seafood, fried foods, and Asian dishes. Cristalino is a blend of 50% Macabeo, 35% Parellada, and 15% Xarel-lo – grapes from the Vineyard Can Suriyol (Alt Penedés), El Padruel, Spain. Suggested retail price is $10.00 per bottle.

Mumm Napa Brut Prestige is a complex collection of primarily Pinot Noir (51%) and Chardonnay (46%), with the balance from Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris grapes. This California Brut opens with gorgeous layered white blossom aromas, followed by creamy vanilla, citrus, stone fruit, and melon notes. With elegant acidity and crisp structure, this medium-bodied sparkling wine displays a rich, lingering finish. Crispness and ample fruit character make this one a superb food wine. The $20 per bottle price makes this a top-shelf choice – maybe a gift for that very special friend?

The Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Brut is 100% Chardonnay. It’s crisp and refreshing, a good choice for mimosas. This Brut California sparkling wine displays green apple, ripe pear, and bright citrus notes with a toasty finish. Robert Mondavi believed that great wine was not just for special occasions, but to celebrate the joy of every day. Priced at less than $10 per bottle, that is indeed possible.

Speaking of mimosas, consider using cranberry or some other juice in place of the traditional orange juice for a refreshing new toast. Salud!

The Wilhelm Family Vineyards in the Sonoita/Elgin wine region will be hosting two wine and cheese socials, featuring the pre-release of three new wines:  Kristian’s Kianti II; Unwind; and Karyl’s Kreation II.  The socials are set for Saturday, October 23, and Saturday, October 30, both 6:00 to 8:00pm.

Fresh goat cheeses will include raspberry chipotle chevre; sun dried tomato and basil queso fresco; bacon cheddar chevre; and green onion and chive queso fresco.

Participants also will enjoy Karyl’s Harvest to Barrel tour, a great opportunity to tour the winery with the owner and see how wine is made. A few small tastes of wine currently barrel-aging might even be in order (the Syrah and Zinfandel?).

Karyl Wilhelm says these socials provide wine lovers the chance is a great way to try and buy the wines before they’re released in the tasting room. Cost is $20 per person; seating is limited, so please make reservations quickly. Wilhelm Family Vineyards is located at 21 Mountain Ranch Drive, Elgin, AZ, phone 520-455-9281.

Arizona vintner makes it to Best of Best list

The Viognier 2009 vintage produced by Sam Pillsbury, Cochise County, Arizona winemaker, was named on the Wine Inquirer’s Best of the Best list. The $36/bottle wine is described as sporting a gorgeous burst of floral essence and hints of tangerine, lime and peaches. It pairs ideally with fish, Asian-style cuisine, and roast pork.

There was a time when Arizona’s surging wine industry was a well kept secret. No more. National acclaim continues to flow as Arizona wines get nod after nod of acceptance.

Get ready for Arizona Wine Week

The Arizona Wine Growers Association will celebrate with the first-ever Arizona Wine Week, beginning Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010.

To kick it all off, AWGA is wrapping up the Great Arizona Grape Stomp 5K in Phoenix on Saturday, October 30. The run starts at Parkway Church (1751 E. Maryland Ave., Phoenix) in North Central Phoenix and runs along the Arizona Canal. Runners will receive a free wine glass that can be used for discounted wine tasting at two after parties – The Duce and the Phoenix Public Market, both in downtown Phoenix. Bring your friends and family for a good time!

The Arizona Wine Week celebration will take place at Arizona vineyards and wineries throughout the state, culminating Saturday, November 6, with The Festival at The Farm, the association’s signature event.

The festival is preceded by the Celebration of the Arizona Growers Reception on Friday, Nov. 5, 2010. Guests can mingle and meet with winemakers from across the state, including Arizona Grower’s Cup and Winemaker’s Medal award winners. There will also be an opportunity to sample top scoring wines from the 2010 competition. The event takes place from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Quiessence Restaurant at The Farm at South Mountain.

Set among the pecan groves of Phoenix’s intimate The Farm at South Mountain in Phoenix, the festival offers wine lovers an opportunity to sample the best from across the state, all in one place. More than 20 local wineries are expected to attend, representing growing regions from northern Arizona’s Verde Valley, southern Arizona’s Sonoita and Elgin, and southeastern Arizona’s Willcox.

The festival will include tastings from more than 20 Arizona wineries, plus a picnic lunch catered by Barbara Catering, live auction for packages that include access to top Arizona chefs and winemakers, live music, and seminars.

Tickets for each event are $65; $120 for both.

Kokopelli Krush koming

Kokopelli Winery, Arizona’s largest and most decorated winery, will be hosting its biggest event in the KRUSH history – the ninth annual Kokopelli Krush, sponsored this year by Mercedes Benz of Chandler. The event has been ranked as one of the top 10 things to do in Phoenix.

Taking place on October 22 through October 24 in historic downtown Chandler, the Kokopelli Grape Krush competition will be held for teams of two to win great prizes, from wine to trips.

Friday’s schedule is from 5:00pm to midnight, featuring two Krush heats at 7:00pm and 11:00pm. On Saturday, there will be three heats at 1:00pm, 7:00pm, and 11:00pm. One heat will be held on Sunday at 1:00pm, and then the finalists from each day will compete for the grand prize at 3pm. Live music will provide the entertainment between heats.

New awards will be presented in two new categories this year — a corporate team division and a children’s division 12 and under.

All the activity will center about the Kokopelli Winery and Bistro at 35 W Boston Street in Chandler.

Ripening grapes at the Wilhelm Family Vineyard in Elgin, AZ

You surely can’t call me a wine expert. I’m not a connoisseur, sommelier, or even a wino.  Rather, I am in the midst of an enthusiastic expedition to learn more about and appreciate the joy that grapes bring to the table.

A few years back, I chose wines by their name, creative label, bottle shape, and/or price. I didn’t know the difference between vintage, varietal or value. This is sort of like betting on a horse because you like the jockey’s name; there was very little sanity or joy in the effort.  I’ll even admit to a stint with 3-Buck-Chuck and Franzia in a box.

My thirst for wine knowledge came to fruition at the tall tasting tables in CataVinos Wine Shoppe & Tasting Room, a fun niche for Tucson wine enthusiasts.  I began attending weekly tastings there shortly after the shop opening in 2007. Since, I’ve learned to savor the unique nose of every varietal, fully appreciate the mouth-feel and complexity of flavors, and linger in the finish. Today, it’s about savoring, sharing, and enjoying every wine experience to its fullest.

Wine is the universal language. Tasting wines has led me to many venues and acquainted me with an unusual cast of characters and experts. My personal palate preference has shifted from Merlot to Old World-style French and Italian wines. I’m certain it will shift again. Blends capture my fancy lately, and there’s nothing like topping off an evening with a good strong Port.

I’ll share my desire to learn even more about wines and beyond in this blog. I’ll focus on Arizona wines and the people who bring them from vine to the table. So pour me some grapes — let’s go wining.