The best cheap sparkling wines for New Year’s Eve

Everyone knows the best way to celebrate New Year’s Eve without being disappointed or getting your phone stolen is to avoid the outside at all costs and attend a house party. Simply flip on the TV to whatever channel is showing the ball drop, Anderson Cooper getting progressively more wasted (or not), and this year’s freezing performer—you can have the spectacle on in the background without being dragged into its mess.

Along with lucky black-eyed peas for New Year’s Day, you’ll need a bottle of bubbly to get the party started on Dec. 31. Champagne and other sparkling wines can be very pricey, but for this annual occasion, $15 is the sweet spot. With that price tag, many bottles provide great quality-to-price ratio, and why spend any more when it’s destined for a cooler full of Bud Light and pre-packaged Jell-O shots?

Here are the best $15 (or less!) bubblies at H-E-B and Spec’s.

Spec’s

Aria Cava Brut Pinot Noir

Yep, sparkling (and white) wine can be made from red grapes—producers just run the juice off the skins before fermenting it. Bubblies made with Pinot Noir will still be a little fleshier than their Chardonnay or other white grape counterparts. This version from the Aria brand is a Cava, hailing from Spain. Get it at Spec’s ($15).

Spec’s

Chandon California Brut

A handful of Champagne houses in France have sparkling wine ventures in California. These are great to have in your back pocket if you want quality from the masters of the tradition, but don’t want to spend as much on it. The venerable Moët & Chandon produces many bottles under the Domaine Chandon brand out of Napa Valley. Get it at Spec’s ($15) and H-E-B ($19).

Spec’s

François Martenot Crémant de Bourgogne

Any time you see “crémant” on a label, it’s likely going to be an amazing value. The moniker encompasses sparkling wines made anywhere in France outside of Champagne; they are great sippers for a fraction of the price. This Martenot is a Crémant de Bourgogne, but also look out for Crémant de Loire, Crémant d’Alsace and Crémant de Bordeaux. Get it at Spec’s ($15).

Spec’s

Freixenet Brut Cava Cordon Negro

Cava is Spain’s answer to Prosecco, and has come up on its Italian cousin’s heels in the past decade or so. Freixenet is one of the biggest producers of Cava, so its bottlings are plentiful and very cheap. You can’t beat the price of the Cordon Negro for the quality. Get it at Spec’s ($9) or H-E-B ($10).

Spec’s

Gruet New Mexico Brut

Based in New Mexico, this winery is always a solid bet for inexpensive made-in-America sparkling wine. This bottling has “méthode champenoise” on the label, which means it’s made in the same method as Champagne. Gruet also produces rosé and blanc de noirs, which in bubbly lingo means made only from red grapes (typically Pinot Noir). Get it at Spec’s ($15) or H-E-B ($15).

H-E-B

Lini Lambrusco Rosso

Move over, Riunite. Alicia Lini has set out to show that Lambrusco can be a serious—and seriously good—beverage. This rosso has the color of a very dark rosé, is an excellent aperitif but will also pair well with any canapés you may be scarfing down on New Year’s Eve. Get it at H-E-B ($15).

Spec’s

Mionetto Prosecco Brut

Prosecco is the world’s most popular sparkling wine for a reason. Over decades, producers in northeastern Italy have figured out how to make decent-quality bubbly at scale, and it remains top of mind for drinkers as a casual sipper or mimosa base. Mionetto is a leading winery in the category, and its classic brut Prosecco bottling does the trick. Get it at Spec’s ($11) or H-E-B ($13).

Spec’s

Mumm Napa Brut Prestige

Remember what we said about French Champagne houses making bubbly in California? Here’s another example. G.H. Mumm in France is behind Mumm Napa, also a classic and inexpensive méthode champenoise option. For a couple bucks more, you can get the blanc de blancs, which means it’s made from only white grapes, in this case Chardonnay. Get it at Spec’s ($17) or H-E-B for the blanc de blancs ($19).

H-E-B

Pasqua Romeo and Juliet Prosecco

The Famiglia Pasqua is a giant of the Italian wine world, with many labels exported to the U.S. This Prosecco is easy-drinking and comes with a fun label to boot, a great addition to any cooler at a New Year’s Eve house party. Get it at H-E-B ($13).

Spec’s

Bonus splurge: Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne

If you want real Champagne (annual reminder that Korbel, Andre and Cook’s are not actually Champagne) and you’re willing to spend a little more without breaking the bank, Nicolas Feuillatte is a solid option for a relatively inexpensive Champagne made by a reputable house in the O.G. French region. Get it at Spec’s ($33) or H-E-B ($33).