The glitz and glamour of Hollywood culminates in Los Angeles every year for the Academy Awards. The Oscars are the biggest honor an actor, movie, director, producer, etc can receive in acknowledgment for their work. The ceremony is filled with excitement of red carpet arrivals, first time nominees, season veterans, and stellar musical performances. Will the host succeed or bomb? What will he wear? What will she wear? Each year the excitement is palpable.

This year’s 89^th annual Academy Awards is sure to be golden. La La Land has everyone reminiscing of Ginger Rogers and Gene Kelly. This year’s best picture nominees offer something for everyone: aliens, family drama, war, outlaws, and intelligent women who secretly served their country. There are great performances from a diverse set of actors and great music from a diverse set of films.

Whether you choose to host or attend an Oscar party to celebrate the nominees with others or quietly take in the epic event at home, the only way to enjoy the Oscars is with bubbles! Of course Champagne is always a good idea! But how about something different? Here are four delicious sparkling wines, each made in the traditional Champagne method, that not only cost less than many Champagnes but they also pair beautifully with four of the Best Picture nominees.

Pair Manchester by the Sea with 2011 Bedell Cellars Blanc de Blancs North Fork of Long Island USA ($60)

Northeastern Massachusetts and Long Island are completely different worlds, but they do share the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, die-hard local pride and distinct accents. Celebrate Manchester by the Sea’s epitomization of East Coast life with a bottle of 2011 Bedell Cellars Blanc de Blancs; 100% Chardonnay; clear pale gold; clean medium aromas of tart green apples, green pears, lemon rind zest, toast, minerality; dry, acidity medium+, crisp and refreshing with lively bubbles that dance across the palate in a long finish.

Pair La La Land with NV Willm Crémant d’Alsace Brut Prestige France ($20)

Bright, bubbly and enlivening, La La Land’s ethos is captured in NV Willm Crémant d’Alsace Brut Prestige: crafted of 42% Pinot Blanc, 45% Chardonnay, and 13% Pinot Noir; clear pale gold; clean medium- aromas of green apples and pears, white peaches, white fresh floral notes, fresh citrus, brioche; dry with medium+ acidity, crisp and racy on the palate with fine and persistent perlage with a long, tart finish.

Pair Lion with 2012 Herdade do Esporão Espumante Brut Sparkling Alentejo Portugal ($25)

A story of returning home and finding one’s place in the world, leading Portuguese winery Esporão experienced a similar challenge after the Carnation Revolution in 1974. The Roquette family, who had purchased the estate the year before, fled to Brazil and later returned to Portugal to create their first vintage in 1985. Today the 2012 Herdade do Esporão Brut Sparkling is crafted of 70% Arinto and 30% Antao Vaz; clear pale lemon, clean medium aromas of bright fresh picked citrus, crisp apples, white stone fruit, homemade biscuits; dry medium aromas, clean and vibrant on the palate, fresh and elegant with a long pleasant finish.

Pair Hidden Figures with NV Camille Braun Crémant d’Alsace Brut France ($22)

Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary were brilliant African American women who worked at the male-dominated NASA. These women work side by side with the men and were the brains behind Astronaut John Glenn’s orbit. Their historical contributions were vital to getting the US space race back on track. Today, Chantal Braun works side by side with her husband Christophe to produce the stellar wines of Domaine Camille Braun. NV Camille Braun Crémant d’Alsace Brut: crafted of 60% Pinot Auxerrois and 40% Pinot Blanc; clear pale lemon; clean medium aromas of green apples, lemon zest, minerals, brioche; dry medium+ acidity, silky mousse like perlage; clean and elegant, very tart finish.

I am certain that these high quality, excellent value bubbles will make your 89^th Academy Awards experience sparkle!

My Song Selection: Sadly there are no songs nominated by African American artists this year. Therefore, I went through the vault and found lots of great previous winners for Best Song. I selected the following song because it was written and sung by a woman in honor of Hidden Figures and its highly inspirational.

Get your own bottle of unique bubbles and let me know what song you pair with it. Cheers!