Champagne makes
any day extra special

We tend to wait and wait for a special occasion in order to enjoy a glass of bubbly, but champagne is really the perfect drink any time.

The mood of any gathering is instantly elevated when people hear the distinctive "pop" of a champagne bottle being opened. Think about how refreshing a chilled glass tastes on a warm day. Even picnics and tailgating pair well with champagne.

Champagne is great with sushi, as it can keep up with the hot wasabi and different textures and flavors of this island favorite. It also goes well with everything from dim sum to caviar and oysters.

Do you always choose the same champagne? You're not alone. The champagne houses have done a great job of branding, so that many of us order the same label over and over. In fact, there are many equally good champagnes.

It helps to know that different champagne houses produce different styles. Here are a few examples to help you choose a style to match your mood and taste preference.

Delicate, light, elegant, and fresh could be used to describe Taittinger Brut (non-vintage, $34). Try it with oysters on the half shell.

For a more fruity easy-to-like style consider Moet Chandon, the largest champagne house in the world. They say that every three seconds someone somewhere in the world opens a bottle of Moet Chandon! Try the Brut Imperial (non-vintage, $40) with poached salmon and dill.

A fuller, richer, more powerful style can be found in Bollinger Brut (non-vintage, $40).

The "best of the best" produced by each house is called "Prestige" or "Tete de Cuvee." This is what people think about when they think of champagne. You might splurge for a wedding, birthday or anniversary on a Krug 1989 ($145) and enjoy it with broiled lobster, creating memories for everyone.

Have you seen the hip-hop videos with stars drinking Cristal directly out of the bottle? This has created such a demand among new customers that this label has been difficult for long-time fans and restaurants to find.

So don't wait for New Year's Eve. Try champagne on different occasions, with different foods. Pick a new one and shop around, as retailers often have sales. The product and the pleasure is the same regardless of where you buy it.