Whether you call it champagne, bubbly or just plain fizz, sparkling wine is just the thing for holiday celebrations. And whether you serve it to your guests, give it to your friends, or take it as a thoughtful house gift to someone else’s party, wines that fizz and bubble really are perfect. Here are a few sparkling ideas; and best of all, they come from right here in Michigan.

From well-known experts to the person on the street, the word has spread that Michigan produces some of the best champagne-type wines anywhere. And they come in so many different styles that everyone will find something to enjoy.

Larry Mawby at L. Mawby Vineyards in Suttons Bay is Michigan's most well-known maker of bubbly. He has a style for nearly every taste. Conservancy is his Extra Dry sparkler that was voted Best of Class at the 2004 Michigan State Fair Wine Competition. Under the M. Lawrence label, he also makes such fun wines as FIZZ, SEX and US.

Larry also makes a Blanc de Blanc that is very popular. As the name implies, this is made exclusively from white grapes — in this case, Chardonnay. This is a lighter, very attractive wine with a broad appeal.

Another top sparkler is made by Bel Lago, near Cedar. Their vintage-dated Brut is made from the more typical combination of both red and white grapes. Other highly rated Michigan fizzies are Tabor Hill's Grand Mark and Good Harbor's Moonstruck.

One very popular traditional fizzy is Celebrate from Chateau Chantal. This is mostly Chardonnay with just enough Pinot Noir to give it a lovely rosé color. It is their best-selling wine.

Several wineries make sparkling wine from Riesling grapes. These are dry but have the typical Riesling aromatic qualities. People who try them just love them. Look for versions made by Shady Lane Cellars and Chateau de Leelanau to complement any holiday gathering.

Then there's the fun stuff ... sparkling wines with a twist. Topping the list of the most popular holiday bubblies are Sparkling Raspberry and Passionate Peach from St. Julian. Even the experts are impressed — they have more gold medals than the U.S. Olympic Team. You get the true taste of the fruit and moderate sweetness. Just plain delicious. Celebrate the holiday season and ring in the new year by serving and sharing one of Michigan's award-winning sparkling treasures.

Representatives of Michigan's wine industry will partner with the Michigan Department of Agriculture for in-store "Select Michigan" demonstrations at Meijer, Kroger, Super K-mart and Family Fare stores in Detroit and Grand Rapids in December. For dates, locations and times, visit www.michigan.gov/mda under "Michigan Marketplace."

The Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council is a 10-member panel that supports the growth of the grape and wine industry in Michigan. The Council office is housed in the Michigan Department of Agriculture, which is the official state agency charged with serving, promoting and protecting the food, agriculture and agricultural economic interests of the people of the state of Michigan. For information on the wines and wineries of Michigan, or to receive a complimentary Michigan Wine Country magazine, contact the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council at (800) 292-3939 or www.michiganwines.com.

Happy New Year!