Moxie Vino

What is the best champagne for New Year's Eve?

Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label (about $60) is the best Champagne for a New Year's toast, Kirkland Signature Brut Champagne (about $22) is the best value if you have Costco, and Freixenet Cordon Negro (about $11) is the best pick for a big party.

Midnight needs bubbles, but how much you spend depends on the crowd. For a small group, a real bottle of Champagne makes the moment. For a packed apartment, nobody is studying the label at 12:01, so a crisp cava or Prosecco stretches your budget a lot further. Here are both, labelled honestly.

Real Champagne

  • 1. Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut

    about $60

    Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot MeunierDrink this one

    Toasty, rich, and the bottle everyone recognizes in photos. Worth it when the toast is the point of the night.

  • 2. Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut

    about $50

    Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier

    Fresh, appley and easy, with the famous name. A little lighter than Veuve and often a few dollars cheaper.

  • 3. Nicolas Feuillatte Réserve Exclusive Brut

    about $38

    Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier

    Clean, bright Champagne that is widely stocked and often on sale in December. The sensible way to say "real Champagne."

  • 4. Kirkland Signature Brut Champagne

    about $22

    Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot MeunierDrink this one

    Costco only, but if you have a membership this is the real deal from France for a fraction of the big names.

Party bubbles (not Champagne, still great)

  • 5. Chandon Brut

    about $22

    Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot MeunierGood buy

    California sparkling made the Champagne way, with a similar toasty feel. A strong middle ground.

  • 6. La Marca Prosecco

    about $16

    GleraGood buy

    Fruitier and softer than Champagne, which a lot of people actually prefer. Easy to drink a second glass after midnight.

  • 7. Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut

    about $11

    Macabeo, Xarel-lo and ParelladaGood buy

    Spanish cava, made with the same second fermentation in the bottle as Champagne. Buy a case for a crowd and nobody will know the difference in the moment.

Good to know

One bottle toasts about six people
A 750ml bottle pours about six flutes for a toast. If people will keep drinking it all night, plan on closer to one bottle for every two or three guests.
Chill it properly
Three hours in the fridge, or 30 minutes in a bucket of ice and water. Warm bubbly foams over and tastes flat.
Open it quietly
Hold the cork, twist the bottle (not the cork) and let it sigh out. A loud pop wastes wine and is how people end up with a black eye at midnight.

More lists

Last checked 2026-10-04. Selection and prices vary by store and state.