Champagne for breakfast? Yes, it’s that time of the year. And, clearly, New Year’s Eve just wouldn’t be the same without a glass or two of the bubbly. It’s a must. Champagne is no longer reserved for CEOs and rappers, and there is nothing exclusive about it. Champagne—that is, real Champagne—is produced only in the Champagne region of France, and is generally hailed as the greatest sparkling wine available. It’s effervescent and lively, and at the same time it offers tremendous complexity and finesse. With that in mind, we present our suggested Champagne endorsements. With your wallets in mind, we made $70 our top spending limit (with a few exceptions). Happily, many solid Champagne labels clock in at around $50 or less. Each of these winning bottles represent an excellent value in the “holiday splurge” category, which is what Champagne is all about.

Louis Roederer Cristal Brut 2000: Name-checked by Diddy and Jay-z (and, later, boycotted by Jay-z,) Cristal is, simply put, the Champagne of…er…Champagne. If money is no object and you simply must have the best, then Cristal is quite a good route to take. At $250 a bottle, it’s certainly a pricey venture, but one that’s instantly rewarded with an intense nose of white flowers, citrus and red berries, followed by warmer whiffs of toast and wood.


Diebolt-Vallois Brut Blanc de Blancs: As one of those boutique “grower” Champagne labels (ie, the grapes are from a small farm, and the production is relatively low), this well-priced bubbly (around $40) is produced from vines in the village of Cramant. Clean and pure with hints of lemon, green and yellow apples, this is a light Champagne that serves great as an apertif.


Chartogne-Taillet Cuvée Sainte Anne: Fruity with a light-to-medium body, Chartogne-Taillet Cuvée Sainte Anne is a great Champagne to serve with dinner. It has a clear straw color and has wildly abundant bubbles that continue streaming for hours in the glass. Also, the farmer keeps a hilarious blog detailing his only-in-small-town-France adventures with sheep.


Champagne, Diebolt-Vallois Brut Blanc de Blancs: Using a biodynamic system, the Fleury Rosé is made entirely of pinot noir from Courteron, in the southern part of Champagne. The Champagne is made by maceration, with all of the skins in contact with all of the juice. Most rosés made in this style feature a big robust flavor, and the Fleury Rosé is no exception, holding its own with a fresh pinot noir nose of strawberry fruit. It's priced well, at $50, but I'd reserve it for those special occasions. Possibly ones that involve the exchange of diamonds.


Moutard Brut Grand Cuvée: Aged for at least three years in their cellars and made entirely with Pinot Noir, this bottle has a rich taste, with warm notes of butter, almond, and brioche. The Moutard-Diligent family first produced Champagne under its name in the ‘20s, currently managing 22 hectares of family owned vineyards in what is the least known of Champagnes’ four main districts, the Côte des Bar.


Pierre Gimonnet Brut Blanc de Blancs: With a light straw color and lemon-lime, acacia and lemongrass tones, this all-Chardonnay grower-Champagne has a firm acidity, fresh structure, and a clean finish. Priced at $40 per bottle, it's also served by the glass at Thomas Keller's Per Se, which is about as high a recommendation as we know of.


Pierre Peters’ NV Grand Cru Brut Cuvee De Reserve: With one of the longest (and very familiar) names for a Champagne label, the NV leans toward undertastes of yeast and grain, and is best described (in a good way) as “bready”, but the palate is rewarded with ample richness and fine balance. Bottles retail at $40 and are well worth it. *The “NV” in the title means non-vintage, or grapes that have been harvested in different years.


Pierre Peters’ Cuvee Speciale 1999: Pierre Peters’ is a growing and dependable brand. If you enjoyed the upmarket NV offering and want to step up further to an aged selection, this is the route to go. The price climbs to $70, but the French know that only superb years deserve to be awarded vintage status. According to many purists, this consistently ranks in the pantheon of the greatest Blanc de Blancs. Made from chardonnay grapes and yields long notes of baked apples.


Blanc de Blanc d’Ay: Gaston Chiquet grows Chardonnay in the Pinot-rich village of Ay. His ancestors have been making Champagne here since 1746. Simply put, the man knows his stuff and you can trust him to give you a quality bottle. Try the regular Blanc de Blanc bottle for $40, or step up to the 1998 Club Millesime at $65 a bottle for the next level of delicious Champagnery (no, it’s not a word. But it should be).


Bollinger Special Cuvee: A strong-flavored Champagne, comprised of a many vintage reserve wines. With a brut taste and a $74 price tag, this one’s not for beginners. But breaking out a bottle at a party is sure to impress that wine snob you know. Made most from Pinot Noir, with some Pinot Meunier thrown in for good measure, it's fermented in old oak barrels.


Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve: Another potently flavored bottle, the Brut Reserve is full-bodied and intensely flavored but still sweet enough to appeal to the novice. The $54 Champagne should be a hit at any dinner party as the light but distinct flavours mix perfectly with quality cuisine. However, be sure to serve it with something worthwhile - like Alaskan oysters - as we’re talking ripe, fruity flavors.


Cuvee Laetitia: H. Billiot Fils are located in the grand cru village of Ambonnay and produce one spectacular Champagne. Cuvee Laetitia has a demanding cost of $80 per bottle, but one sip is all it takes for wallets to open. If you want to appear like a Sideways-esque Champagne expert at a party, this is the ideal bottle to use to fake it. Made primarily from Chardonnay grapes with a little Pinot Noir, with a lengthy finish, it would go great with seafood.


Delamotte Brut: The $55 Delamotte blend of roughly 50/40/10 chardonnay/ pinot noir/pinot meunier is aged a minimum of three years on the lees prior to release. We’re not completely sure what that means either, but we’re sure that the results are spectacular. This is not the ideal accompaniment to a meal though; as creamy, fresh and clean as it is, the flavors – Golden Delicious apple – are best savored in isolation. If anything, try sushi and sashimi.

Duval-Leroy Brut Paris Label: A relatively new label for this brand, the “Paris” pours an elegant glass with toasty, nutty, fruity and honey flavours, with aromas of fresh fruit, white flowers and hazelnut. Sounds like a great depth of flavor doesn’t it? Well, that’s what $70 buys you. Bonus: The bottle is gorgeous, and sure to impress those infuriating friends of yours who buy based on bottle-prettiness rather than, you know, taste.


Krug Grande Cuvee:If you’re going to pick up a non-vintage bottle, there is no selection finer than this. At $242 a pop its hardly a casual purchase, but one that promises excellent rewards. The price and reputation suggest an elite flavor and a single sip will prove that its not overrated. Ideally any bottle of Krug Grande Cuvee will be saved and aged by the proud owner, but Champagne this good can be hard to sit on. This is one of the greatest non-vintage Champagnes.


Laurent Perrier Brut L-P: A lighter, elegant bottle that is ideal for any beginner to the Champagne game. The $61 bottle is neither too dry nor acidic in the mouth, promising a sweet flavor that will instantly transform anyone into a Champagne lover. Chardonnay, is the dominant grape in Brut L-P, with a proportion that is double the average. Wines from more than 55 crus make up the blend. The flagship bottle for the wide-ranging Laurent-Perrier Group, this Brut is the perfect gift for a Champagne newbie.


Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial: A very appealing and accessible Champagne that is sure to please the hard-to-impress types at your party; even those more interested in name-brand recognition. Boasting a green apple and bread-dough aroma, this is a quite tasty choice that never disappoints. At $65 a bottle, it’s hardly a bargain-barrel choice. But quality should always outweigh any strain the price may put on your wallet.


Le Nombre d’Or Campanae Veteres Vites 2000: This label boasts an 18th-century pedigree and utilizes some lesser-known grapes (arbanne, petit meslier, and fromenteau). The result is some of the most amazing Champagne on the market. For $66 you get a bottle that promises a unique flavor and extraordinary high quality. If you don’t try this Champagne, none of the other kids on the playground will think that you’re cool.

Ne d’Une Terre de Vertus NV: At $65, you can expect a delightful Champagne, but with a twist. This bottle is prepared in a manner that many small growers swear by: it is completely natural, with no artificial sweeteners used at any time. You might think that this would lead to a rather dull and disappointing drink, but one sip and all of your concerns will drift away. Consider this Champagne as a gift for your hardcore vegan friend.

Piper-Heidsieck Brut: This perfectly fine bottle is a steal at only $49 per bottle. You’ll get good value without sacrificing any flavor or overall quality. Sufficiently dry but not too crisp, the Piper-Heidsieck Brut has a fresh, medium-bodied style, with notes of apple, peach, ruby grapefruit, vanilla and toast. This is the great late-night movie Champagne.

Taittinger Brut Reserve: Taittinger Brut Réserve is a Chardonnay Pinot wines from 40 different vineyards and matured to perfection. Such a high proportion of Chardonnay is seldom found among the great Champagnes. This crisp and elegant Champagne is beautiful choice, with baked red apple, toasty, spicy, citrus, peach skin flavours. This is a great choice that retails at $59 and really should only be sipped in formal wear.