Happy New Year! This is the season to enjoy sparkling wines and Champagne. Anything less is just not festive. Here are three of the best in their price brackets. You need not stay with the same wine all night long and it's a special treat to welcome in the New Year with something special. The following recommendations also work well with a wide range of cocktail foods such as small roast beef open-faced sandwiches, rosettes of smoked salmon, and by far the tastiest and most crowd-pleasing - sushi rolls. The food's delicate flavours complement the fine, gentle nature of sparkling wines and Champagne. Yellow by Yellowglen 2003, southeastern Australia Yellowglen is one of the best drinks for the price. It doesn't pretend to be too sophisticated and esoteric. This Yellow by Yellowglen is funky, young and hip. The flavours are full, appealing and easy to enjoy. It has ample lush, ripe, almost tropical notes, from the chardonnay grapes, and the bubbles are lively. Add a spoonful of white peach puree for a Bellini. For a more exotic taste try pureed lychee and a drop of fresh ginger juice. Available for $158 from Watson's (tel: 2147 3641) Schramsberg, Blanc de Blancs Brut Methode Champenoise 2001, Calistoga, California Schramsberg was founded in 1862 by Jacob Schram. It is one of the earliest wineries in California. In 1965 the Davies family acquired the business and set about producing the highest quality sparkling wine in the US. In 1972 Schramsberg was chosen by US president Richard Nixon as the suitable tipple for a 'toast to peace' with Chinese premier Zhou Enlai. You don't need a presidential salary to be able to enjoy this wonderfully affordable wine. Made of 100 per cent chardonnay grapes, it is silky, elegant and leaves a lasting impression on the palate. It is well-balanced and, unlike other sugary mid-priced sparkling wines, the Schramsberg is also satisfyingly rich and fruity. Available for $344 from Golden Gate Wine (tel: 2891 8121) Dom Perignon 1998, Epernay, France Dom Perignon is the king of Champagnes. The 1998 was an eventful vintage. The vines were baking in unseasonable heat in the beginning of August. Thankfully the berries hadn't formed sufficiently to be damaged. The general water stress caused the vines to refocus their energy to develop good grapes, then continuous rain in the first week of September topped up the thirsty soil and vines. The slightly shaken vines and berries grew happily in the next four weeks under cool, dry and sunny conditions. Every vintage of Dom Perignon reflects the characteristic of the vintage. The 1998 is both sensual and seamless. The silky, satiny velvety gasses gently caress the palate. The Champagne is complex with many layers of different flavours, which all stroll along for a long while. It is a complete wine. Serve to good friends together with happy New Year wishes. Available for $1,200 from Riche Monde (tel: 2976 1888) simon@iwinecentre.com