Cheers To A Sparkling New Year With Bubbles And Champagne
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
When the clock strikes 12 on New Years Eve (and even before) corks will be popping all over Southwest Florida. There is something about the sound of a Champagne cork firing off that makes me squeal almost every time I hear it. It signifies a celebration is underway regardless of the time of year or even time of the day. You don’t have to wait for a special occassion to pop corks. Every day we are above ground is worth of a celebration. However, I have to admit welcoming in a new year is pretty special. Raise your glass and cheers to a sparkling New Year with bubbles and Champagne.
Quick guide to bubbles and Champagne for Wine Wednesday
Champagne is often used as generic term for anything that has bubbles. However, only wines from the Champagne region of France are Champagne. The bubbles are achieved through a double fermentation process. The first one occurs in the barrel, the second in the bottle.
The same process is called Methode Champenoise in wines made outside of Champagne. It’s called Cava in Spain, Cap Classique in South Africa and Sparkling Wine around the world. In Itlay, Prosecco is finished in pressurized steel tanks. The process is quicker and generally makes the wine more affordabile.
Important terms for bubbles and Champagne
From sweetest to driest, this is what to look for:
- doux
- demi sec
- dry or sec
- extra dry
- brut
- extra brut
- brut nature (driest)
The countdown to New Years is on and if you find yourself in a grocery store looking for something quick to grab, here are three ideas to cover all tastes and price points.
Fun Holiday Games For Adults AND Kids
Here are some fun holiday games for adults AND kids. It’s TikTok Tuesday and the social media site full of all kinds of holiday videos. I know the site has come under fire recently, however, it still remains one of the most popular social media and entertainment platforms. For anyone worried about watching these videos at work, you do not have to log on to the site, or even have an account. You just simply click and watch.
You can come up with all kinds of versions of beer pong. Whether you are in a bathing suite or a snowsuit, it’s always a fun holiday game.
Fun holiday games
Many of us will be spending time with friends and family over the holidays. Sometimes you need a break from talking. Perhaps you need something to break tensions. Playing games can do it. In addition, some of these games might just help with bonding as well. They are all but sure to generate a few laughs. The videos posted here involve games that mostly take little effort to create. You’ve put enough effort into cooking, decorating, shopping, and in some cases, just getting to your destination.
Remember you do not have to subscribe to TikTok, or have a TikTok account of your own to view any of these videos. I’ve gone down the black hole of Christmas videos for you. Simply scroll down and hit play. Hopefully these will give some great ideas for family time. At the very least, they should give you a good laugh or two. There are so many holiday videos out there, but I picked the top six that appeared in my feed this morning.
Here are some fun holiday games for adults AND kids.
Gina Birch brings the sunshine to Sunny 106.3 every weekday morning from 6-10. She has worked in radio, television and print in Southwest Florida for nearly 30 years. During that time, she has become an advocate for numerous charities including those that support animals, children, women and wellness. In addition, she has written for numerous local, regional and national publications about food, wine and travel. Those are her longtime passions...along with shoes.