Bring On The Bubbly!

'Tis the season for celebrations! And little else makes a fete more festive than spritzy sparkling wine.

Unfortunately, most people only imbibe bubbly during celebratory events -- holidays, graduations and weddings come to mind. That's a shame, because even the most mundane of days can benefit from a glass of champagne or sparkling wine (it's the same stuff, but the term Champagne is reserved exclusively for the product made in the Champagne region of France).

Because sparkling wine is so sparsely appreciated the rest of the year, even some oenophiles (that's fancy-talk for "wine lovers") become a bit bamboozled by bubbly. Add to the equation that one often is choosing champagne for a special occasion, and you've got the perfect scenario for a case of Wine Angst.

But have no fear! Choosing champagne that is sure to wow your guests is actually as simple as four easy steps:

Marque: Unlike most wines that are named after vineyards, champagnes are named for the houses that produce them, which then produce different marques (that's fancy-talk for "brands"). Thankfully, the list of famous champagne marques is short. If you want to impress, you can seldom go wrong picking one of these: Bollinger, Charles Heidsieck, Krug, Moet et Chandon, G.H. Mumm, Joseph Perrier, Ruinart, Taittinger, Veuve, and Cliquot-Ponsardin. Of course, you'll probably also shell out a bit more money. If you're looking for something more affordable, choose sparkling wines. Some good ones come from Northern California and Oregon. Argyle Winery, of Dundee, Ore., consistently produces sparkling wines that get high ratings from the likes of Wine Spectator, often for about $20 or so a bottle.

Vintage: Like any wine, the quality of a sparkling wine varies from year to year, depending on a number of factors, including the quality of the grapes and the weather of the growing and harvesting seasons. Champagne often is made, however, from a blend of several years. It also is typically held by the producer for a few years, so when it's released for purchase, it should be consumed within two years.

Bottle size: Because sparkling wine should be consumed when it is opened, size matters. Champagne comes in "splits" -- perfect for one or two -- all the way to the enormous Nebuchadnezzar (all 508 fluid ounces). Of course, you'll probably usually require a bottle or two, but if you're buying a lot, the showy magnums (nearly 51 ounces, or two bottles) Jeroboams (4 bottles) or even a Balthazar (16 bottles) might save you money while impressing your guests. Plus those huge empty bottles make great souvenirs. They really aren't just for show in wine stores!

Dryness or sweetness: Here's the tricky part. And it just takes a little tasting, which is the fun part, to figure out your preferences. Dry is the opposite of sweet in wine talk, so a dry sparkling wine will have less sweetness as it is sipped. This gets more confusing, though, when the proper terms are thrown in. Here is a list of the common names you will find on Champagne labels, from driest to sweetest:

• Extra Brut, Brut Sauvage, Ultra Brut, Brut Integral, Brut Zero
• Brut
• Extra Dry, Extra Sec
• Sec
• Demi-Sec
• Doux

Brut is the most popular style, and often, the best grapes are reserved for Bruts. Remember, all it takes is a little applied studying to determine which style suits you. Homework never tasted so good!

So, you've chosen the right bottle of bubbly. Now you've got to open it. Here's how to uncork that bottlelike a pro.

A new Liquid Solutions can be found on this Web site every other Thursday. Send questions, comments or fabulous samplers of tasty beverages to Lisa Morrison. Cheers!