Let's face it, the annual pilmgrimage to wine shops and grocery stores begins in earnest today in preparation for New Year's Eve celebrations. One of the missions: to purchase some bubbly to serve guests or bring to your host as a gift for the evening's enjoyment. Either way, the goal is the same, select quality bubbly without breaking the bank.

The classic French Champagnes are outstanding and offer tremednous quality and tradition, even at the introductory level (usually around $40). The average valley resident might not be comfortable paying that much per bottle, especially if the party is large. We can look to the west for some real quality sparkling wines, many of which are half the price of their French counterparts.

I first visited some of these wineries as part of my virgin trip to California wine country in 2007. I have made sure to visit at least one sparkling winery each time I've traveled to California ever since. in fact, I've visited each of the wineries listed below at least once. Two of them are French owned (Mumm Napa and Chandon). All of them follow the time honored "method" utulizied by French houses and governed by France's strict wine laws.

Here's a look at four California sparkling wineries that are readily available in local wine shops and grocery stores:

Mumm Napa

Located right on the historic Silverado trail and one of the best decks in Napa. They also produce consistent quality bubbly with three distinct styles, all of which are $19 right now. Brut Prestige is a classic representation of the classic Frnech cuvees, Brut Rose is delightfully pink with a little more Pinot Noir in the cuvee, and Cuvee M is fruity and slightly sweet.

Domaine Chandon

Another must visit while in Napa. they offer a fantastic tasting room that has more of a night club feel for a really fun tasting experience. Owned by the famed French house Moet and Chandon, so they follow the method and offer excellent quality. Their Brut comes in a really fun holiday bottle, which is perfect for your parties and is only $19.

Schramsberg

Home to the best set of Champagne caves in Napa Valley and an absolutely don't miss tour. They are not Fench owned, but do follow the great traditions of Champagne, producing some of the most flavorful and decadent bubbly anywhere. You might pay a lttle more than the above two, but the addiitonal few dollars is well worth it.

These three Sparkling wineries can help make you look like a bubbly genious to your firends and guests tomorrow night. One fun way to enjoy them is to pick up a couple bottles of each and taste test with your friends to determine which house style you prefer. Either way, you'll have some quality bubbles to enjoy and some extra money in your pocket. Cheers!