Whether you plan on spending New Year's Eve at home with the family or dressed to the nines at a festive cocktail party, bubbles are a must for any celebration! There are a variety of Missouri bubbles to choose from - but here are 11 sparklers to get you started:

Adam Puchta Winery Dry Brut

This Dry Brut style sparkling wine is full of tiny, vigorous bubbles. Light and dry with hints of strawberry, peach, citrus, and a crisp melon finish. It makes the perfect toast for any special occasion - or can be an occasion all unto itself. Price: $19.99 - limited quantity available.

Crown Valley Winery

2005 Traminette Sec
This sparkling Traminette has a subtle rose petal, lychee and citrus fruit aromas. The palate is fresh with a lively effervescence and a slightly sweet finish. Price: $16.00.
2008 Muscato
A light and fresh wine with a subtle orange blossom perfumed nose. The palate is clean and crisp with fresh citrus fruit flavors and a lively effervescence. Price: $16.00.

Hermannhof Winery Brut Reserve

Attractive freshly baked bread nose with fruity and floral tones. Full lemon and grapefruit flavors with a long creamy finish. Price: $24.99.

Les Bourgeois Vineyards Brut

Using primarily Vidal grapes gives this method traditionale sparkling wine a refreshing aroma with a crisp effervescence and dry finish. Price: $18.99.

Mount Pleasant Winery

Ten Bucks
Toast to the New Year with this very popular sweet, carbonated white wine made from Seyval, Vidal, Rayon, Chardonel. Very creamy! Price: $12.00.
Ten Bucks Pink Spumante
This sweet, delicious sparkler is made from 97% Catawba and 3% Concord grapes. Perfect for sipping in front a warm winter fire. Price: $12.00.

St. James Winery

Demure
The lemon zest and bruschetta aromas develop into a cleansing pineapple palate, developing into honeydew melon flavors. Fresh and subtle like its name. Enjoy as an aperitif or anytime. Price: $14.99.
Island Getaway
Remarkable pineapple and papaya aromas, these fresh tropical aromas transfer seamlessly to the palate. This lighthearted and fun wine will have you thinking beach vacation. Price: $14.99.
These wines are only available in their tasting room.

Stone Hill Winery

Brut Rosé
The beautiful deep rosé color makes an instant impression. With its enticing aroma and flavor, this crisp, dry Brut Rosé adds a festive touch to any occasion. Price: $18.99.
Golden Spumante
A rich, fruity, semi-sweet sparkler that's sure to delight those who love spumante. Price: $10.99.

Click on each individual winery for more information, including contact information for where to purchase your holiday bubbly. See the complete list of Missouri sparklers here! Don't forget your sparkling grape juice for the kiddos! Have a safe and happy New Year!

When the temperature drops outside, a nice bowl of hot soup is a treat that warms you inside. Pairing soup with wine is easy when you remember these tips:

 

The acidity in white wines is a perfect partner with creamy soups; it cuts through the richness, cleanses the palate and prepares your taste buds for the next spoonful.  Try a dry Chardonel or Vidal with this recipe for Potato Leek soup.

 

Tomato based soups pair well with lighter bodied red wines with less tannin. The acids in the tomato base and the tannins in the wine complement the flavors in the soup while refreshing the palate. Try a Chambourcin with Minestrone soup. 

 

Consider an off-dry white wine to tame a spicy soup. The hot spices reduce the sweetness of the wine and the sweetness of the wine tames the hot spice. Try a semi-dry Vignoles or Traminette with this recipe for Spicy Lentil soup. 

 

Hardy, chunky meat stock soups match up with an equally hardy, red wine. The tannins in the wine react with protein, softening the effects of the tannin on the palate. Try a Norton with this Beef and Vegetable soup.

 

A smooth, light soup like a Consomme is traditionally paired with fortified wines such as sherry. The higher alcohol of the sherry creates a textural contrast and makes the pairing work beautifully. 

 

Try sweet wines with fruit soups. Sweet wines are best with foods that have a similar level of sweetness. Try a Pink Catawba. 

It is no secret that wines are frequently paired with some type of meaty protein, but let's not forget about all the wine-loving veg-heads out there. Who says you have to enjoy that delicious glass of Norton with a messy rack of ribs? Missouri wines pair nicely with a cornucopia of vegetable-centric dishes, too. Be it a flavorful tofu stir-fry or a simple pasta dish, here is a beginner's guide to the best wines to have on hand when vegetables are on the menu.

                   

The most important key in a vegetarian diet is to get enough protein. Tofu and other soy-based foods are great ways to achieve that nutritional goal. Because tofu basically takes on the flavor of whatever it is being cooked with, spice up your meal with this Fried Tofu with Spicy Ginger Sesame Sauce recipe. The ginger-sesame glaze pairs nicely with a full-bodied red wine, like Norton. Beans and lentils are also a great source of protein and are perfect during the winter months for veggie chili. The earthiness of the lentils pairs nicely with an earthy wine, like Chambourcin. However, if you prefer spicier chili, stick with a more fruit-forward, semi-sweet to sweet wine, like Vignoles, because tannins tend to intensify the heat.

 

Mushrooms are also a tasty and healthy vegetarian-friendly food. The full-flavored portabella mushrooms go great with a dry, full-bodied white wine, like Chardonel. Try this Stuffed Portabella Mushroom recipe, courtesy of the Food Network website.

 

Pasta and pizza can be popular with vegetarians because they are versatile. If you are cooking noodles with a basic tomato sauce, try a slightly acidic white wine, like Vidal Blanc. Wines with a bit of acidity can bring out the delicious flavors in the naturally acidic tomatoes. If you are making fettuccine alfredo or another dish with a cream based sauce, stick with Chardonel.    

 

If pizza is on the menu, try this Arugula, Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Pizza recipe, with a glass of sparking wine or a light, fruity white wine, like Traminette. The light wine will tame the strong flavor of the goat cheese and the slightly pungent leafy green, arugula.

 

No matter what vegetarian dish is prepared, it is good to know that there are excellent local wines that will beautifully enhance the flavors and the overall dining experience. For more info on Missouri varietals, visit http://www.missouriwine.org/wines/varietals.htm.