Fizz is tracking up right now and with good reason as the festive season is here with growing demand for sparkling wine, even though wine sales have taken a global nose dive.

If there one category of wine that's under rated and absolutely over performs in Aotearoa New Zealand, it's sparkling wine. From the warm, humid climate of Gisborne to the deep southern region of Central Otago (in all its diversity from Wanaka to Alexandra), sparkling wine shines in this country - and here are five top drops to prove the point. All are relatively accessible in both affordability and availability. 

18.5/20
Forrest Tiggy Sparkling Rosé RRP $29

Sparkling Rosé is a first from Forrest and named after the granddaughter of the founders of this winery, Tiggy. The wine is a tangy sparkling rosé with a noticeable touch of raspberry sherbet aroma, which sits in a framework of tangy acidity that adds vibrant freshness to every sip. The production process involved bottle fermentations which adds depth of flavour and body. This is a delicious zingy little number released in time for the festive season - and for summer.

18.5/20
Mumm Marlborough Brut Prestige RRP $40

Mumm has been making sparkling wine in the Champagne region since 1827 but the New Zealand addition is a tad newer on the radar and Trina Smith (pictured) is the Mumm Terroirs winemaker for the Pacific. She's doing a great job, if this bright, fresh sparkling wine is any indication. It's a blend of Chardonnay with Pinot Noir and has had moderate lees contact on tirage (the influence of lees releasing mano-proteins and rich flavours as they break down in the wine following the second fermentation in bottle). This brings depth and body to the wine while retaining freshness. I enjoyed this bubbly over three days, thanks to an excellent stopper that clamps around the neck of weighty sparkling wine bottles, which enabled it to remain fizzy for days - it tasted best on the third day but it wasn't lasting any longer than that. Even moderation has its limits (and it was being shared with another). 

18.5/20
Lindauer Special Reserve Brut Cuvée RRP $19.99

Two regions, two grapes and 24 months of ageing in the bottle on yeast lees all contribute to this wine's impressive body, aromas and complex layers of flavour - think creamy nuances framing a layered toasty sparkling wine. It was a stand out (tasted blend) at this year's New World Wine Awards (which I judged). It won champion sparkling wine of the show, a gold medal and made the top 50 this year.

Lindauer Special Reserve Brut Cuvée also won silver medals at the NZ International Wine Show and in the Aotearoa Wine Awards.

16.5/20
Lindauer Prosecco DOC RRP $14

Light in body and fresh in taste with aromas of pear, lemon and floral notes, this wine represents very good value buying this festive season. It's a successful marriage of well known - and well loved brand - with the global darling of fizzy wine right now - Prosecco. 

It won a gold medal at the New World Wine Awards and a silver at the NZ International Wine Show this year. 

18.5/20
Hunter's Mirumiru NV RRP $35

Jane Hunter is one of the first producers of sparkling wine in Marlborough and this outstanding sparkling wine shows it with bright freshness, weight and depth of flavour. It's a blend of the three most popular traditional grapes in the Champagne region - Pinot Noir (50%), Chardonnay (45%) and Pinot Meunier (5%). The wine spends 18 months on lees (tirage) in bottle, gaining depth and retaining vibrancy. Fantastic value for money and widely available - this is one of my favourite go-to sparkling wines. 

The name MiruMiru™ translates to “bubbles” in Te Reo Māori.