New Year’s Eve can’t get here soon enough. This past year has been full of challenges, loss, and uncertainty. But with the new year comes maybe a little hope and a sense of renewal — an opportunity for a fresh start, which we could all use right about now. And we’d be lying if we didn’t admit that a little party would feel pretty nice, too.
Wherever we are and in whatever big or small way makes sense, it’s worth marking the new year and all its potential. Give this year a Freix-start. This New Year’s Eve, tear up some confetti, find a countdown clock, and a pad of paper for recording all your resolutions, and, of course, pour a glass or two of bubbly sparkling wine, namely Freixenet Cava.
Since 1914, when its first bottle of Cava was released, the Freixenet philosophy has centered on forging ahead and celebrating as a way of life — no matter what. The marriage of Pedro Ferrer and Dolores Sala (the founders of Freixenet) coincided with the phylloxera plague in Spain, which destroyed most of Europe’s vineyards. But they didn’t let that stop them. They replanted and kept moving forward with the conviction that there were still good times to come. Their first sparkler was born out of that commitment and continues to this day.
Freixenet’s vineyards are located in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia in Penedès, Catalonia, along the Balearic Sea — an ideal environment for growing Macabeu, Parellada, and Xarel-lo, the grape varieties used in making Cava. Today, 18 generations later, Freixenet continues to innovate while keeping an eye on tradition. And its commitment to creating special moments remains steadfast.
This is a new year like we’ve never needed before. Here are some tips on how to ring in 2021 and celebrate a Freix-start:
Light It Up
Whether you live somewhere that has good weather year-round (or you and your family have invested in some serious outerwear) and can host outdoors, you’re holing up in your living room, or you’re taking the celebration online, give your party some shine. Sparklers, twinkly lights, and shimmering garlands can help create a lively, festive environment. And don’t forget the music. Create a playlist that will “Celebrate La Vida,” which is exactly what Freixenet inspires. Make sure your mix gives the right vibe: jazz for mingling and chatting (maybe some Tete Montoliu?), pop classics to amp up the fun (Daft Punk can raise the mood), holiday classic crowd-pleasers for reminiscing (who could forget “Auld Lang Syne”?), and the ever-important dance beats to raise the energy and get everyone on their feet (try some Rosalia or Becky G). If you’re celebrating online, share the list so all your guests can enjoy it.
Start with a Bang — Or a Pop
Sparkling wine is a must. Beginning with a cheery glass of Freixenet Cava is always a great option. Its optimism is undeniable, its bubbles are irresistible — it’s sure to set a festive, cheery mood. You can even use it to create a bubbly cocktail, like the lightly smoky Winter Mist, or a Spanish Cava take on the classic French 75. If you’re going the cocktail route and are hosting online, send around the recipe ahead of time.
Dish Up Some Serendipity
Many traditional New Year’s foods are meant to bring prosperity and good luck in the coming year. In Spain, the new year is welcomed in with “12 grapes of luck” — eating a grape with each stroke of the bell at midnight. In some traditions, legumes (lentils in Italy, black-eyed peas in the southern U.S.) are thought to look like coins and mean future financial prosperity. Cooked greens are the color of money. Pork appears on the table in many cultures because it represents prosperity and good luck. In Greece, New Year’s cakes include a hidden coin or figure symbolizing prosperity for the person who gets the slice holding it. Include one of these or another traditional New Year’s dish to help pass along the prosperity.
If you’re creating a New Year’s Day brunch, serve some chard and cheesy eggs, Hoppin’ John, smoked salmon eggs Benedict, or a very hearty bacon and potatoes Spanish omelet. And pour some Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava, which complements any and all brunch items. Planning an early tapas evening? Include a mix of sweet, salty, and sour foods — put out some olives, Iberian ham and Manchego cheese, a bowl of salty potato chips, anchovies and octopus, potato croquettes, roasted veggies, and an assortment of meats.
Celebrate the Moments, the People, You – All the Time
Let’s use our New Year’s resolutions to focus on positivity, the people in our lives, and the ways we can still get together and celebrate that will make this time of year feel just as special as it’s always been. And toast to making a Freix-start.
The coming of the New Year gives us more than just the opportunity to bid 2020 a not-so-fond farewell. We turn to 2021 with a hope for joy and a thoughtful mind. And as any New Year’s event sets the tone for the year to come, it’s more important than ever to rekindle our love of celebrating the moments, the people, ourselves, to ring out the old, embrace the new, and raise a glass of Freixenet Cava to the promise of a Freix-start.
We’re continuing to celebrate the holidays with delicious bubbly all month. Discover more holiday content here!
This article is sponsored by Freixenet.
