Does anyone have any suggestions for champagnes/sparkling wines less than $12?

On sale, you can generally find Piper Sonoma for $11-12, and at that price, I think it's much the best sparkler out there - especially if you are trying to get as close as possible to the taste and character of REAL Champagne. Domain Chandon is comparable, but typically a couple bucks more a bottle. I personally slightly prefer the Piper to the Chandon, and the fact that it's usually a couple bucks less is a bonus.

For a few bucks less, Codorniu Brut, from Spain is pretty good, but I personally would pay ~$3 more for the Piper Sonoma.

If you don't mind something a bit different, and typically less dry and more fruity, there are lots of Proseccos from Italy available for around that price - although I'm not up on which ones are best.

If you live in or travel to France or Italy or Australia, yes indeed you can get some very nice Champagnes or sparkling wines at that price. But if you are in the US, that's probably not possible due to shipping, import, middle-men, etc. I personally have never tasted nor reliably heard of a decent US-made sparkling wine.

$12 no, but for about $17 you can find Schramsberg Mirabelle which is a very acceptable way to pass time before a meal.

There are plenty of very good U.S. sparkling wines, although at that price point, I could only really name Piper Sonoma, and for a couple of dollars more, Domain Chandon. Korbel is not bad, but I prefer the ones made by the French houses' U.S. operations for more of a Champagne type style. Somewhat above that price point, in addition to Schramsberg mentioned above, there are also Iron Horse, Gloria Ferrer, Scharffenberger, and my personal favorite, Roederer Estate. Mumm and Taittinger also have operations in Napa, although I think that their products are a tad over-priced relative to the others I just mentioned.

You can get some reasonable Italian and Spanish sparkling around that price point over here, I prefer it to the US and Canadian fizz personally.

When I was a drinker, Champagne was my preferred beverage. Living in France for a while, I got used to drinking it not for celebratory reasons, but just to drink it. After all, I was alive, so I guess I could "Celebrate" that fact.

A Sommelier introduced me to Veuve Cliquot about 20 years ago and that did it. I drank Veuve every chance I could. I preferred it over anything. Sams Club used to carry it for around $40 the bottle. A good deal.

Prosecco is a great choice in the 10-12 range. Cantine Maschio Proscecco Brut is worth considering, and would make a nice Bellini also.

in my experierence, Roederer Estate(CA) is preferred by a wide margin over the "bottom of the barrel"Roederer FR in blind tastings by people who should know better. this is not a small differential, but 2 or 3 to 1.

the roederer people confirm this preference.

That's because Roederer Estate is better. It's not cheap though. The NV Brut is $20-25, while the vintage cuvees are $40-50 a bottle here in California

$18 at Beltramos in Menlo Park, and it was really good last night out of magnum ($45)!

Do you mean the Roederer Brut Premier (the entry level NV Champagne from Roederer in France ?)

That's a pretty big price differential between 750ml and Magnum. But a fine price for the single bottle, for what I consider to be the best standard cuvee sparkling wine made in the U.S.

Roederer Estate NV Brut can be found in the DC area for ~$18.

Also, Mumm's Napa Cuvee (the only offering by Mumm's US operation that we like) can be found for ~$15 on sale.

Here is a list of my favorite Champagnes......

Normality.......
Billecart Salmon Rose NV
Cattier Brut Antique
Deutz NV

For an occasion....
Krug Vintage
Dom Perignon Oenotheque

Important moments.....
Krug Clos du Mesnil
Salon
Bollinger Vieille Vignes Fran�aises