What Champagne or Wine Is Best For New Year’s Eve? Choosing Wines for Party Hosts

Varan says you’ll find a better-quality wine and spend less by talking to your local wine professional, whether at Tim’s Wine Market or another independent retailer.

“When buyers step away from the name brands and experiment with small producer examples they get a much more artisan, complex product and generally do not spend any more money,” says Varan, who recommends these fun hostess gift options:

Raventos i Blanc Nit Conca—A bestselling sparkling rosé that’s visually striking and goes toe-to-toe with an entry level rosé Champagne that’s twice the price. ($28)

Castell de Sant Pau Cava Brut Nature—The bargain value for a hostess gift in sparkling wines is also Spanish. “Most Cava have an odd taste of ‘tire store,’ but this bottling does not,” Varan says. “It is actually produced in the Penedès, the ancestral home of Cava. Thanks to extended aging before shipping, it has a rich flavor reminiscent of Champagne but at one-third the price. We sell a lot of this to Champagne fans who want to have a ‘daily’ drinker.” ($17)

Luzador MMXXL Tinto Navarra—You’ll love this wine for its colorful label and origin.

“It’s a wine produced by our good friend John House, who began his career in wine at the Whole Foods in Winter Park and now lives in Portland, Oregon,” Varan says. House makes wines with his wife under the Ovum label, and imports Spanish and Portuguese wines as half of the La Luz partnership.

“Their wines have been getting regular recognition from Eric Asimov in the New York Times for their authenticity and good value. Luzador is one of the wines made for them in Navarra. It’s big and juicy with soft tannins and a great nose of fresh berries and dried herbs. John is really big on packaging, so his labels are designed to jump off the rack. While not a common category for gift giving, Spanish wines are red hot right now thanks to their amazing value. The allure of Spain for many is that they offer a New World sense of fruit but an Old-World style of dryness and structure.” ($22)

Paul Laurent Champagne—For the host you really must impress. “Produced by the Gruet family, this top-selling Champagne offers a really nice, rounded texture for less than the average good Champagnes,” Varan says. ($50).

Tim Varan, owner of Tim’s Wine Market in Orlando.

“It always helps to know your guest and what they like but, when in doubt, go bubbles! Those who prefer a red or white and receive the opposite will put the unwanted bottles away in a cabinet and likely forget about them. But everyone wants a bottle of bubbly for New Year’s, so they tend to pull them out and drink them sooner than later—you can feel confident the wine will be enjoyed.”