I kind of agree with you with the caveat that two of the most common grapes used to make champagne are pinot noir and Pinot meunier, so while champagne is usually white (or rose), the grapes are not necessarily white grapes.

<didn't see already mentioned>

Happy anniversary! :)

I would also recommend Deutz - the Amor de Deutz is very nice!!

http://www.champagne-deutz.com/presentation/index.html

Veuve Clicqot La Grande Dame is another option.

Seems like some great suggestions - thanks everyone! I'll ask my local store what they can get (can't order online in MD). She is partial to rose, so those get a bit of a bump on the list :) If the price is right I may just have to pick up 2 bottles :D

avsfan: We did have a "special" bottle for the wedding. We had purchased Dom (I forget the year, but there was significance to it at the time...) but she just didn't feel like having it, so we decided to save it for the return from our honeymoon. The facility packed all of our stuff (including the champagne) and someone took it all home for us. The box with the champagne was left in a car inadvertently for a week and a half during unusually hot weather for April :mad: Needless to say, that didn't go to well...

Thanks also for all the well-wishes. :)

My suggestions have mostly been given already - adore Krug. So I'm just chiming it to say how refreshing it is to see a posting from someone who has "daily" and "special occasion" champagne glasses. This after enduring the endless postings from people who stridenly tried to make us believe that there is no difference between Chateau Margaux and Koolaid. There IS hope for the world.

Bollinger RD (we had the 1995 at our wedding in 2008 and it was fabulous).

thank you for all the suggestions
 

Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions. As luck would have it, at Cost Plus last night I saw Cristalino (I think it was on sale for $6.97?). Having my first drink of it now -- quite nice, good flavor (not cloying); not quite as bubbly as Freixenet but a damned good drink at this pricepoint. ^^

Thank you all for the suggestions. Salut!

How cheap do you want to go?

For me, my go to sparkling wine for ~$15 a bottle range has always been Piper Sonoma.

For $30-35, I would recommend Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut

For under $10, I would recommend Codorniu or Friexenet from Spain, but IMHO, the quality jump up to Piper Sonoma is pretty significant.

New Zealand Cloudy Bay Pelorus is a lovely fizz that just comes in on budget if you shop around (UK)

Much cheaper, for around £7-£10 in the UK is Lindauer Special Select

2 brilliant sparkling wines that are better than many a cheap champagne

Post deleted - sorry meant to start a new thread

Some ideas for a special moment bubbly.....

Salon Cuvee S
Krug Clos du Mesnil
Bollinger Vieille Vignes Françaises
Cattier Clos du Moulin
Billecart-Salmon Le Clos Saint-Hillaire

I have Riedel O champagne and wine glasses for casual drinking (like when I am cooking) and Riedel Sommeliers for special occasions, guests, etc.
Their Tyrol collection is also nice for "daily" use.

Just because I like a glass of Mercier every now and then. It is the second brand of Möet and quite a good price in the surroundings.

1st: Crystal
2nd: Don Perignón
Perrier-Jouet and Veuve Clicquot La Grand Damme are good options too!