New Years’ bubbly drinks checklist

Moet Dom Perignon

Whether you’re a rapper or just have a general predilection for ballin’, nothing says extravagance like a $200 bottle of Dom P. You can sip it reflectively or, for the ultimate fuck-you to poor people, spray it around like you’ve just won the Tour de France.

Piper-Heidsieck

Recession got you down? Piper-Heidsieck is the perfect compromise for people who want the prestige or quality of champagne, but can’t get over the exorbitant price tag. At just under $60 a bottle, you get authentic French champagne without having to take out a second student loan.

Zonin Prosecco Special Cuvee

Prosecco is the Italian equivalent to champagne, and at only $18, a good bottle costs significantly less. Its crisp, refreshing taste is sure to make even your snobbiest friends forgive you for not shilling out the extra money. If not, you can impress them with your worldliness by simply adding some pureed peach to create a Bellini, one of Italy’s most popular cocktails.

Tideview Sparkling Apple Cider

You’ll have to go to the Farmers’ Market or Premier Wines (1535 Dresden Row) to get it, but this exceptional sparkling cider—made from fermented Annapolis valley apples—is worth the extra effort. The sweet champagne-like Festive Sparkler is best suited for New Year’s, but you really can’t go wrong with any of Tideview’s selections, from dry to semi-dry. At $12 a bottle ($17 for sparkling ice wine) this cider gives you the most bubble for your buck, freeing up some extra cash for those inevitable New Year’s Eve cab rides.

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This article appears in Dec 31, 2009 – Jan 6, 2010.