Hungry in Berlin

The kids at HIB have been hibernating following the holiday snack fest (My house made chicken-shrimp gumbo; I’m gonna bet we were the only ones in Berlin-Brandenburg, however…what did you cook? Tell us below…) but figured it would be wise to wake up enough for a glass of Sekt or two to celebrate Silvester and the New Year. Whether you’re a bubbly newbie or a seasoned Champagne lover, here’s a quick cheat-sheet for local sparkling wine options to celebrate 2008.

Rotkäppchen: The so-called communist Champagne, this “little red Riding Hood” of German sparkling wine is familiar to any Berliner used to stepping over bottle shards on Saturday mornings on the way to the farmer’s market. Less than 3 Euros for a 750ml bottle, Rotkäppchen is easily identified by its red foil top and its slightly sweeter but very budget bubbly taste. For ostalgie and large gatherings of friends who don’t know any better, it’s acceptable. Better as a mimosa mixer; also comes conveniently in mini-sizes to fit in multiple pockets. Berlin chic, however, is a large bottle in hand.

Prosecco: Bargain bottles of Italy’s version of sparkling wine are easily found in your local Aldi, Extra or Kaiser’s, while fancier versions (think 8-10 Euros or more) appear in upmarket wine stores. But you don’t need to pay more than 5 Euros for this pleasant, light sparkler that often has less effervescence than most champagne-styled wines, but is still mostly dry (low sugar content). Prosecco is made from the prosecco grape, grown in northeastern Italy — it’s also a protected name, like Port and Champagne. A decent Prosecco smells like dried flowers, has a nice citrus bite, and is very easy to drink as the alcohol content is never very high, usually around 10-11 percent. Good for a long night of imbibing. (But under no circumstances purchase Paris Hilton’s prosecco in a can. Please.)

Cava: Spanish sparkling wine, made mostly in the region surrounding Barcelona. It’s crafted from a blend of white grapes, and comes in dry, semi-dry and sweet styles. Admittedly I haven’t tried dozens of cava wines, but in general they’re a good, and very affordable, bubbly option. I’ve seen bottles at Mitte Meer from 3 Euros on up.

There is of course French Champagne, which hails from the region of Champagne just northeast of Paris. Made from either Chardonnay grapes or Pinot Noir grapes (or a combination of the two, and sometimes, Pinot Meunier), the better non-vintage versions will be 25-30 Euros, or considerably more, depending on the label. You’re not going to find good stuff at the supermarket, period. Best thing to do if you’re planning an intimate night is to ask your local wine merchant what she/he enjoys in a price range you can stomach. But then again, it’s the holidays. If you don’t splurge now, when?

And on that note, zum Wohl and a very happy 2008 to everyone in the hauptstadt.

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