Sparkling Wine Guide
Want to add a little sparkle to your wine? Sparkling wine  is a refreshing drink that is especially tasty during the warmer summer months. Most people associate sparkling wines with celebrations, such as New Year's Eve and weddings. Others consider sparkling wine their drink of choice. Grab a big bottle and break out the nice wine glasses, because this is your guide to everything sparkling wine.
How is Sparkling Wine Made?
So you want to know how it gets its sparkle? Sparkling wine can be carbonated in several different ways. The best method depends on the type of wine and grapes used.
| Sparkling Wine Production: "Come Quickly, I Am Tasting Stars" |
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Traditional or méthode champenoise This is the method considered to be the highest quality-- and the most expensive. It is carbonated by a second fermentation in the bottle. This method is used to produce champagne and high quality sparkling wines. |
Metodo Italiano or Charmat This method produce small, long lasting bubbles. It is carbonated by a second fermentation in bulk tanks and is bottled under pressure. This method produces sparkling wine of good quality and is slightly less expensive than wines produced using the traditional method. |
Injection Less expensive sparkling wines are created by injecting carbon dioxide into the drink, similar to how soft drinks are created. This causes large bubbles that quickly disappear in the glass. |
Think You Got a Deal on that $10 Champagne?
Okay, this can get a bit confusing, but champagne
in the United States is not always the same as champagne in Europe. Basically, in countries such as France, there are actually laws that make it illegal to use the term "champagne" on anything that isn't from the Champagne region of France. Yes, they really take their champagne seriously (there are many very strict regulations in France about champagne production). In the United States, champagne can refer to any carbonated wine, though laws require that the true location of production is on the label.
Regional Sparkling Wines
France- Champagne
- Crémant -- generic term for any sparkling wine not produced in Champagne region.
- Mousseux -- term that means "sparkling".
- Blanquette de Limoux -- Sparkling wine from Limoux containing three grape varieties.
- Clairette de Die AOC -- A natural sparkling wine.
- Pétillant -- A term for semi-sparkling wine.
- Perlants -- Though it just barely misses the criteria for being technically defined as a semi-sparkling wine, perlants have a nice sparkling taste that isn't overbearing.
Spain
South Africa- Cap Classique -- Made from the traditional champagne method and produced from grapes from a variety of regions of the Cape, causing a variety of flavors.
Italy- Asti -- Made from Moscato grapes and from the Asti region of Piedmont, Italy. Sweet and low in alcohol, this is usually enjoyed with dessert.
- Spumante -- Italian term for sparkling wine.
- Frizzante -- Term for semi-sparkling wines.
Germany- Sekt -- German term for sparkling wine. The majority is made from the Charmat method, while the rest are made using the traditional method.
- Perlwein -- Term for semi-sparkling wines.
Australia
United States- California sparklers -- The U.S. uses both the méthode champenoise and the charmat method. There are little regulations on sparkling wines in the U.S., however, so quality can vary.
United Kingdom- Nyetimber recently had the best sparkling wine at a competition.
Soviet Union (originally)
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