reach for Cook’s California Champagne Brut. Popping open a bottle of this bubbly feels like a special occasion. This pale California sparkling wine is packed with lots of large bubbles.

I like the Korbel or the Cook’s or the Andre. They’re very good champagnes, most of them. And they’re not that expensive.” Murad says a good mid-grade champagne sells in the $20 to $50 per ...