You may have heard the so-crazy-it’s-true fact: Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro on Aspen Highlands claims the no. 1 Veuve Clicquot account in North America. But do you know about these effervescent alliances elsewhere in town?

Casa Tua

Gosset Grande Réserve Brut
Founded in 1584, and one of the smallest Grande Marque producers, Gosset bottles its Grande Réserve Brut boasting bright richness, fine acidity, and toasted honey notes developed during a minimum four-year aging process. $38/glass

Henriot Brut Rosé, the most delicate in the portfolio of the eighth-generation family winery and a beautiful copper-blush, is also poured ($45/glass) as well as half-bottles of Krug Grande Cuvée 170ème Édition Brut, expertly blended from 120 wines produced over 10 years. $245/half-bottle

French Alpine Bistro

Lallier Série R0.18 Brut 
“I focus on smaller producers, boutique wineries, female winemakers, and wines with a wholesome approach,” says FAB Wine Director Maria Cardenas. “Lallier Champagne is family-owned, passed down through generations, and has a strong sense of tradition and heritage.” These bubbles, made from Grand Cru vineyard grapes that are hand-harvested and cellar-aged until complex flavors emerge, exhibit “elegance, finesse, and balance, showcasing the purity of the fruit and the terroir.” $25/glass

Hotel Jerome

Ruinart Blanc de Blanc
“I like to think of Ruinart as the Champagne that embodies the character of the Hotel Jerome,” says Wine Director Christel Stiver. “Not only is it elegant and timeless—a crowd pleaser loved by all—but it is also famous for being the oldest Champagne house in the world. As the oldest hotel in Aspen, I like to think we are connected by our deep histories.”

The Jerome also offers Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs from California to many in-room guests, and Stivers’s personal favorite, Paul Launois, Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs (by the glass in the Living Room). “Lots of vivacity and electric minerality with delicate pear and apple flavors, ideal with caviar!” $42/glass. 

BIG GULPS
“Last winter (December–April) we sold 2,581 glasses of bubbles,” says Hotel Jerome Wine Director Christel Stiver. Of her list’s 70 sparkling wines by the bottle (ten by the glass), the Aspen Extreme pick might just be six-liter Dom Pérignon at a crisp $18,000.

The Little Nell

Vilmart & Cie Little Nell Cuvée Grande Réserve NV
“A stunner with a gorgeous enveloping texture from the aging on lees,” says The Little Nell Wine Director Chris Dunaway of this exclusive private-label Champagne, made from organic 1890 estate-grown grapes. Enjoy “notes of orchard and citrus fruits, lemon confit, chamomile, dried herbs, white flowers, and sweet spice.” $35–$56/glass

NYE UNCORKED
The Little Nell’s annual New Year’s Eve soirée pours more than 400 bottles of Dom Pérignon. Meanwhile, a Champagne-focused experience is planned to enhance the Living Room—“one of the best in Aspen for imbibing and people-watching,” quips Wine Director Chris Dunaway. “Caviar will definitely be involved.” 

Matsuhisa Aspen

Krug Brut Grand Cuvée 168 ÈME Édition 
“Champagne pairs well with sushi because of its freshness, high acidity, and lack of oak,” says Master Sommelier Jay Fletcher, who offers four sparkling wines by the glass at Matsuhisa. “Oaked wines with lower acidity can fight with some fish oils and make the fish taste fishy; fish oils can make oaked wine taste bitter. Champagne rarely has any major oak influence as it is matured in-bottle on its own yeast cells, which gives it notes of brioche and roasted nuts—without having the caramelized flavor of an oak barrel. High acidity and tiny bubbles cleanse the palate and highlight the rich flavors of the fish.” $70/glass. 

PARC Aspen 

Vincent Couche Eclipsia Brut
“It is crafted from pinot noir with a small portion of chardonnay from top sites within the Aube,” says PARC Aspen Wine Director Greg Van Wagner, of the biodynamic Champagne only recently available in the US, debuting on his winter list. “The winemaking is pure and honors the terroir, which speaks to our culinary guiding principles.” Wednesday Flight Nights, featuring four themed pours, will highlight Champagne in January 2024. $32/glass. 

BRUT FORCE
Wine Director Greg Van Wagner suggests pairing Eclipsia Brut with PARC Aspen Railroad Ties, made from Layered Fries, topped with crème fraîche and Bjørk kaluga caviar.

The St. Regis Aspen Resort

Piper-Heidsieck x St. Regis Aspen Cuvée
Dating to 1785, when founder Florens-Louis Heidsieck created a special blend for Marie Antoinette, Piper-Heidsieck now creates this rich, creamy, dry Champagne especially for the St. Regis. It boasts “lots of lemon curd and savory notes,” reports hospitality, wine, and food specialist Matthew Demma. “The tirage is beautiful, the bubbles are mousse-like, and the color is classic pale straw yellow with a slight gold tint.” Enjoy anywhere on property and at the resort’s complimentary sabering ceremony, daily at 3 p.m. $33/glass

FIZZ THE SEASON
From December 15 to 31, 2023, the St. Regis Aspen’s Mountain Social hosts an oyster, caviar, and Champagne bar daily from 2:30 to 6 p.m.