The 10 best sparkling wines (plus a bonus) to bring to New Year’s Eve chosen by Gambero Rosso

In the air of the end of the year, among Christmas markets and preparations for the festive dinner, one sound reigns supreme: the popping of corks. This year, Italian sparkling wines promise an explosion of success: 355 million bottles opened between Christmas and New Year’s Eve worldwide, according to the UIV-Ismea Wine Observatory. The sparkling wine industry in Italy is booming, set to surpass 1.015 billion bottles produced and sold in 2024, an 8% increase from the previous year. The holidays, as we know, bring a surge in toasts and consumption. So, what should you choose to accompany the evening of December 31st? Here’s a selection of high-quality sparkling wines at affordable prices, staying under the €50 mark. From Alta Langa to Franciacorta, Prosecco for all budgets to Trento Doc, the choices are vast and sure to please every palate. But beware, as this list holds a surprise finale.

After our tips on which red, rosé, white, and orange wines to gift for Christmas, here’s a small guide to help you choose which sparkling wines to bring to this New Year’s Eve.

The sparkling wines for New Year’s Eve chosen by Gambero Rosso

Below is a list of some of the best wines we reviewed in the Vini d’Italia 2025 and Berebene 2025 guides by Gambero Rosso, available on the shelves of wine shops and online stores for less than €50.

Alta Langa Extra Brut Bio Giulio Cocchi 2019 - Bava – Cocchi

Finely sparkling, with aromas of white fruit and Mediterranean herbs, and a pleasant palate offering beautiful freshness, yet creamy and profound. The Bava - Cocchi winery consists of three estates in three of the most classic wine scenarios of Piedmont: Monferrato, Langa, and Astigiano. It goes without saying that the main grapes used are Barbera, Nebbiolo, and Moscato, but great work is also done, besides with the latter, on other aromatic varieties such as Ruchè and Malvasia. The company is now more than a hundred years old, but the Bava family continues a winemaking story that spans over four centuries.

Alta Langa Pas Dosé Blanc de Blancs 2020 – Marcalberto

A kaleidoscopic and electric Blanc de Blancs Pas Dosé '20. Tense, juicy, and persistent—a true champion of its kind. Marco and Alberto Cane are now confidently guiding their small, delightful maison towards ever higher and more ambitious goals. With the invaluable contribution of their mother Marina and their experienced father Piero, they represent a rare example of a fully family-driven enterprise, from the rigorous agricultural management to the delicate winery work required daily by an excellent traditional method. Spring 2025 will see the birth of two new traditional methods with very limited editions, which will top the maison’s pyramid.

Alta Langa Extra Brut 2020 – Ettore Germano

Well-executed, this Alta Langa Extra Brut '20 is intense, savoury, and creamy on the palate. Cerretta, Lazzarito, Vignarionda, and Prapò are the crus that the winery produces in Serralunga d'Alba. Selling grapes to third parties ended in the 1960s, precisely with Ettore Germano, who renewed the vineyards and bought new ones. The first year in which all grape production was bottled was 1993. The company took on its current shape with the entry of his son Sergio, and today also with the help of his children Elia and Maria, who are actively involved.

Franciacorta Dosaggio Zero ND - San Cristoforo

The company continues to be appreciated for its consistent quality and stylistic cleanliness across the range. This year, ND, produced from pure Chardonnay grapes, features a harmonious, crystalline, savoury, and profound palate, with persistent and creamy perlage that gives vitality to the sip. The nose is intense, elegant, and multifaceted, with notes of white fruit, aromatic herbs, and honey. It ends very long, with savoury notes and great pleasure.

Franciacorta Dosaggio Zero Naturae Edizione - Barone Pizzini

Complete from every point of view, the spicy, pastry, and citrus tones blend with a vibrant and fresh mouthfeel, with a refined evolutionary touch perfectly balanced. In this historical moment, in which sustainability is a central theme, one can only admire how Barone Pizzini has held organic certification since 1997. However, this is only one of the many pieces of the puzzle of the winery's success. Alongside a holistic vision of the territory, the winery’s distinctive style has resulted in highly recognisable wines, making this winery a benchmark in Franciacorta.

OP Pinot Nero M. Cl. Pas Dosé Vergomberra 2020 - Bruno Verdi

So full and structured yet agile, brisk, vivid, splendid in its evolution, and varied in its aromas, from berries to aromatic herbs. Paolo Verdi, now supported by his son Jacopo, is one of the winemakers we most admire in the entire Oltrepò Pavese area. Tireless, he is always seeking innovations and refinements to characterise his wines with an unmistakable style. Paolo moves between a thousand types: still reds, sparkling reds, whites, and traditional methods, always with great skill. Recent tastings of older bottles confirm the value of his wines, as we eagerly await the Buttafuoco Storico, the latest creation promising greatness.

Trento Extra Brut Cuvée N. 8 2019 - Etyssa

The nose is open and nuanced, supported by a creamy, refined perlage, with a finish that combines freshness and savouriness. Etyssa is the dream of four friends, who over time have brought to life a great wine millesimato, one that perfectly captures the peculiarities of each vintage. Born only in 2015, the maison stands out for its ambitious projects, which include a new release every year.

Trento Brut Nature 2018 – Moser

Elegant and fine, this sparkling wine impresses with its vertical development on the palate while enveloping the taste buds. The Trento DOC line from Carlo and Matteo Moser is growing in quality and prestige thanks to longer ageing and experimental wines like Pinot Noir in pureness. The winery has a remarkable pedigree, with each vintage reinforcing the reputation of Moser as a flagship producer in the Trento region.

Valdobbiadene Rive di Rua Brut Particella 181 2023 - Sorelle Bronca

A Prosecco Superiore that surprises with its refined nose and savoury palate. The Bronca sisters have shown their ability to produce wines that best express the peculiarities of the Treviso territory, working with utmost precision and care in the vineyard and cellar. This latest vintage confirms their reputation as champions of Prosecco’s art.

Sergio Mottura Brut M. Cl. 2015 – Sergio Mottura

Crafted from Chardonnay, this sparkling wine is characterised by elegance, with delicate notes of white flowers and pear on the nose, a taut, savoury palate, and a clean, persistent finish. Sergio Mottura is synonymous with Grechetto excellence in Alta Tuscia and is celebrated for having elevated the varietal to a level of international renown. This Metodo Classico adds another feather to their cap.

Mattia Vezzola Grande Annata M. Cl. Rosé 2018 – Costaripa

A rosé of rare elegance and refinement, born from 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir. Creamy and fruity, it caresses the palate with softness and balance. The rosés by Mattia Vezzola, a winery with decades of experience, redefine the genre—a maison that has made sparkling wine and still wines its calling card for excellence.