Sparkling Wines
Who doesn't like the bubbly? Many countries around the world
make sparkling wines. This section offers a round-up of the major
types of sparkling wines and discusses what's Champagne, what's
Cava, what's Proseco and what's just plain sparkling wine.
Who doesn't like the bubbly? Many countries around the world
make sparkling wines. This section offers a round-up of the major
types of sparkling wines and discusses what's Champagne, what's
Cava, what's Proseco and what's just plain sparkling wine.
What Makes it Fizzy?
In short, carbon dioxide makes puts the sparkle
into sparkling wines. There are three basic ways to
get carbon dioxide into the wine:
Méthode champenoise
The in-bottle second fermentation method used in
the Champagne region in France as well as in
other countries, although today the term "traditional
method" is now used outside France to avoid
confusion between actual Champagne from
Champagne and sparkling wines made by the
same method outside France.
In short, carbon dioxide makes puts the sparkle
into sparkling wines. There are three basic ways to
get carbon dioxide into the wine:
Méthode champenoise
The in-bottle second fermentation method used in
the Champagne region in France as well as in
other countries, although today the term "traditional
method" is now used outside France to avoid
confusion between actual Champagne from
Champagne and sparkling wines made by the
same method outside France.
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Charmat process
Also known as the "bulk process," bubbly made with the charmat process
undergoes second fermentation in large steel vats. As with most every "fact" in
the wine world, the charmat process is not without controversy. Some say the
process was invented in 1895 by the Italian enologist Federico Martinotti but
swiped and copyrighted in 1907 by French winemaker Eugène Charmat.
Carbon dioxide injection
Just at it sound, a techniques used to make generally cheap sparkling wines
in which carbon dioxide is injected into the gas into the wine. Sparkling wines
made with this technique should be labeled "aerated Sparkling wine made
with the addition of carbon dioxide." Sounds appetizing, doesn't it?
Also known as the "bulk process," bubbly made with the charmat process
undergoes second fermentation in large steel vats. As with most every "fact" in
the wine world, the charmat process is not without controversy. Some say the
process was invented in 1895 by the Italian enologist Federico Martinotti but
swiped and copyrighted in 1907 by French winemaker Eugène Charmat.
Carbon dioxide injection
Just at it sound, a techniques used to make generally cheap sparkling wines
in which carbon dioxide is injected into the gas into the wine. Sparkling wines
made with this technique should be labeled "aerated Sparkling wine made
with the addition of carbon dioxide." Sounds appetizing, doesn't it?
How to Read the Bottle
Traditional Champagnes and sparkling wines are made with three grapes,
Chardonnay (a white grape), Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier (both red grapes),
but not all three are always used all the time. Here's how which is which is
indicated on the label (regional sparkling wines vary):
Sweetness
Some Champagnes and sparkling wines are dry, others sweet. Here's how to
tell on the label :
Vintage vs. Non-Vintage
Both Champagne and sparkling wines from other regions differentiate
between vintage and non-vintage.
Vintage
Vintage Champagne is made in good growing years that have fine weather
and offer an excellent selection of grapes selection. The big boys of
Champagne, such as Dom Perignon, only make vintage Champagne. Vintage
sparkling wines are made in small batches and command higher prices.
Vintage sparkling wine is different from non-vintage in that vintage winemakers
are less concerned with blending for consistency and are more interested in
producing a unique product.
Non-Vintage (NV)
Most Champagne and sparkling wine is non-vintage. Think of it like beer. The
winemaker's concern is consistency of product from year to year. It can be a
very high-quality product, but it will taste more or less the same as that of the
year before and the year before that.
Regional Styles
Asti
Asti is a sparkling wine made from the Moscato grape in the Asti region of
Piedmont, Italy. It is available as a true sparkling wine (a.k.a., Asti Spumante)
and a "frizzante," which means "lightly effervescent" (called Moscato d'Asti).
Astis are sweet and low in alcohol, making them tolerable dessert wines.
Cap Classique
Cap Classique is a South African sparkling wine made by the traditional
method, brought to that country by French Huguenots. Today Cap Classique
production is guided by the Cap Classique association, which is attempting to
set high standards for its member wineries.
Cava
Cava is the sparkling wine of Spain. It can be white or rosé. It is produced
mainly in Catalonia, Spain, not far from Barcelona. "Cava" is said to come from
the Catalan word for cellar. I quite enjoy it.
Champagne
The grand-daddy of all fizzy lifting drinks, Champagne dates back to the 14th
century and is the world's best-known sparkling wine. It's so well-known, in
fact, that all sparkling wine is often wrongly referred to as Champagne.
Needless to say this gets the vintners in Champagne in a lather. True
Champagne must come from the Champagne Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
in France. The stuff that Korbel sells laballed Champagne is, to put it bluntly,
not. Got that? Champagne is made by the traditional methode champanoise in
which only three grapes are used – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier
-- and secondary fermentation occurs in the bottle.
Crémant
Crémant is sparkling wine made in France but outside the region of
Champagne. The three Crémant Appellations are: Crémant du Jura, Crémant
d’Alsace and Crémant de Bordeaux.
Sekt
Sekt is German for sparkling wine. Sekt may be made by the traditional method
by bulk method. Sekt was made, at least partially imported from France an
other places. Sekt can only be labelled as Deutscher Sekt if it is made
exclusively from German grapes, such as Riesling.
Spumante
"Spumante" is the generic Italian term for all types of sparkling wine. Wines
labeled as Spumante are often semi-sweet or sweet, especially those sold in
the U.S. I find most sweet Spumantes headache in a bottle.
Traditional Champagnes and sparkling wines are made with three grapes,
Chardonnay (a white grape), Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier (both red grapes),
but not all three are always used all the time. Here's how which is which is
indicated on the label (regional sparkling wines vary):
- Blanc de Blanc -- French for "white of white;" only Chardonnay is used.
- Blanc de Noir -- "White of black;" pale champagne made from either
Pinot Noir or both Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. During the making
process, the red grape skins are pulled from the grape juice before they
can tint it red. - Rosé – Could be only one grape or all three, but contains some
percentage of a red grape.
Sweetness
Some Champagnes and sparkling wines are dry, others sweet. Here's how to
tell on the label :
- Extra Brut/Brut Naturale -- Driest of the dry
- Brut -- Dry, the typical style of Champagne
- Sec -- Pretty dry but with a touch of sweet
- Demi-sec -- Half sweet; pretty sweet to most modern drinkers
- Doux -- The sweetest it gets Champagne, over 5% sugar, and dessert
in it own right
Vintage vs. Non-Vintage
Both Champagne and sparkling wines from other regions differentiate
between vintage and non-vintage.
Vintage
Vintage Champagne is made in good growing years that have fine weather
and offer an excellent selection of grapes selection. The big boys of
Champagne, such as Dom Perignon, only make vintage Champagne. Vintage
sparkling wines are made in small batches and command higher prices.
Vintage sparkling wine is different from non-vintage in that vintage winemakers
are less concerned with blending for consistency and are more interested in
producing a unique product.
Non-Vintage (NV)
Most Champagne and sparkling wine is non-vintage. Think of it like beer. The
winemaker's concern is consistency of product from year to year. It can be a
very high-quality product, but it will taste more or less the same as that of the
year before and the year before that.
Regional Styles
Asti
Asti is a sparkling wine made from the Moscato grape in the Asti region of
Piedmont, Italy. It is available as a true sparkling wine (a.k.a., Asti Spumante)
and a "frizzante," which means "lightly effervescent" (called Moscato d'Asti).
Astis are sweet and low in alcohol, making them tolerable dessert wines.
Cap Classique
Cap Classique is a South African sparkling wine made by the traditional
method, brought to that country by French Huguenots. Today Cap Classique
production is guided by the Cap Classique association, which is attempting to
set high standards for its member wineries.
Cava
Cava is the sparkling wine of Spain. It can be white or rosé. It is produced
mainly in Catalonia, Spain, not far from Barcelona. "Cava" is said to come from
the Catalan word for cellar. I quite enjoy it.
Champagne
The grand-daddy of all fizzy lifting drinks, Champagne dates back to the 14th
century and is the world's best-known sparkling wine. It's so well-known, in
fact, that all sparkling wine is often wrongly referred to as Champagne.
Needless to say this gets the vintners in Champagne in a lather. True
Champagne must come from the Champagne Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée
in France. The stuff that Korbel sells laballed Champagne is, to put it bluntly,
not. Got that? Champagne is made by the traditional methode champanoise in
which only three grapes are used – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier
-- and secondary fermentation occurs in the bottle.
Crémant
Crémant is sparkling wine made in France but outside the region of
Champagne. The three Crémant Appellations are: Crémant du Jura, Crémant
d’Alsace and Crémant de Bordeaux.
Sekt
Sekt is German for sparkling wine. Sekt may be made by the traditional method
by bulk method. Sekt was made, at least partially imported from France an
other places. Sekt can only be labelled as Deutscher Sekt if it is made
exclusively from German grapes, such as Riesling.
Spumante
"Spumante" is the generic Italian term for all types of sparkling wine. Wines
labeled as Spumante are often semi-sweet or sweet, especially those sold in
the U.S. I find most sweet Spumantes headache in a bottle.
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