Happy almost end of 2018!
I hope you had an amazing Christmas/Kwanza/Hanukkah and holiday season in general! The past few weeks have been crazy in the best way possible, so pardon my absence.
To kick off my birthday festivities, Doug and I went to Disneyland in Anaheim for the weekend (it was our first time!). A few days after we got back from the magical land, Doug and my best friend Katie surprised me by flying her out here from Virginia to stay with us for the weekend! I about had a heart attack when she first walked through the door, but we had the best time touristing around the city and reconnecting (we went to Fa La Land, too!).
Then a few days after she left, my mom, dad, and two brothers flew out to Los Angeles to visit me and Doug for the holidays for one week. From going to a Lakers game to doing a DIY winery tour (more on this coming soon) to exploring rooftops across the city, we had an amazing time. My heart is so full….but my body is exhausted! Haha.
Anyways, now that we’re all caught up, I wanted to share an outfit and sparkling wine recommendations for New Year’s Eve!
Shop My Outfit
New Year’s Eve Sparkling Wine Recommendations
Let’s start with the bubbles. As you know from this post, Champagne is not the only kind of sparkling wine. Although the word champagne has become synonymous with bubbles, there is a whole world of sparkling wines out there to explore. While I love myself a good champagne, I’m all about exploring new wines! If you too are looking to expand your palette and try out some new bubbly beverages, I recommend a Cava, Prosecco or Italian Sparkling wine to ring in the new year.
Cava is an affordable sparkling white and/or rosé wine from Spain, produced using the traditional method (same as Champagne). This wine is crisp and refreshing and boasts flavors of citrus, apples, almonds, and toast. It’s most popularly made in a brut or dry style, but can also be found in sweeter styles. Here are a few Cavas to try:
- Pere Ventura Brut Rosé Cava, ~$14 (pictured in this post)
- Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava, ~$10
- Rondel Brut Cava, ~$8
Prosecco is a white sparkling wine that’s made in the Veneto region of Italy from the Glera grape. It has quite a different flavor profile compared to Champagne and is produced using the tank method. Prosecco is sweeter and fruitier than champagne, with notes of green apple, pear, honeysuckle and fresh cream. Here are a few Prosecco brands to try:
Italian sparkling wines from Trentino. Prosecco isn’t the only fabulous sparkling wine produced in Italy! As I mentioned in this post, I now oversee 3 Italian wine brands at my new day job at a social media agency. I’ve always loved Italian wines, but didn’t realize how many amazing sparkling Italian wines came from the Trentino area in Northern Italy. Rotari (one of the brands I represent), for instance, is produced using Metodo Classico (just like champagne), tastes like bubbly luxury, and is only half the cost of champagne! Here are a few Italian sparkling wines from Trentino to try:
New Year’s Eve Outfit Idea
I didn’t have the time or money to go shopping specifically for NYE this year, so I shopped my closet and repurposed a few new and old pieces to put together the perfect, sparkling outfit for the holiday.
My top is covered in champagne-pink colored sequins and is a classic NYE top. I paired it with a glittery pink and black midi skirt, which is one of my favorite holiday purchases this year (see how I styled it for Fa La Land here). I typically wouldn’t have thought to do a skirt for NYE, but I love how it accentuates my waistline and allows for some fun texture pairing.
I finished off my NYE outfit with some gorgeous rock stud Valentino pumps (these were a gift from Doug last Xmas styled here and here), which really elevated the look and pulled it together. Since it’s freezing outside, my cold-weather accessory of choice is this fuzzy maroon scarf/shawl which I styled in last year’s holiday dresses post.
This December has been pretty jam-packed for this extroverted introvert, so I think I’ll stay in the ring in the new year this year! I’ve been waiting for a special reason to pop open the Bottega Gold Brut Prosecco, and NYE is the perfect occasion.
How will you be celebrating New Year’s Eve this year, and what will be in your glass? Whatever you’re doing, I wish you love, happiness and health as we say hello to 2019!
Cheers,
