Now that the holiday season is in full swing, it’s common to see bubblies during parties and to be given as gifts. However, do you know the difference between the different fizzy drinks that are being served during this special season? From champagne to prosecco and everything in between, here’s a quick rundown of what they are, where they come from, and why they are beloved during celebrations.
There are plenty of sparkling wines produced all around the world. Any wine that’s fizzy falls under this category except for Champagne, which we will delve into later. Sparkling wine comes in many forms from many different countries. For example, there’s sparkling Shiraz, Lambrusco, sparkling white, sparkling rosé, Espumante, Cap Classique, and the list goes on and on. Sparkling wine can be traced back to Ancient Greek and Roman times when people couldn’t understand how wine came to have bubbles. However, in 1662, a scientist named Christopher Merret wrote about how adding sugar to the wine coupled with the bottling process led it to become bubbly. They quickly figured that any wine could be made bubbly if done with a specific process. Fast forward to the present day, and sparkling wine is now an integral part of a wine list whether at a bar or restaurant. It has also found its place as the go-to drink when looking to celebrate an occasion or to mark something special.
When we think of sparkling wine, the first thing that comes to mind is probably champagne, and for good reason. Its status of being luxurious, expensive, and extra special is something we are all familiar with, but why is that? How did champagne come to have the status that it has today? Well, for one thing, champagne can only be called champagne if it comes from the Champagne region in France and is made in a specific way. There is a set of rules and regulations under the Comite Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne or CIVC which protects the wine that is produced in the region. For example, although other grapes such as Arbane and Petit Meslier can be used as well, champagne is usually made from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay. The name champagne has also been legally protected under a treaty since 1891. Another example of a regulation that has been set is that champagne must be bottled within 100 miles of the Champagne region in France. If it does not follow this, then it cannot be legally called champagne.
Champagne wasn’t always associated with luxury and status. In fact, it was accidentally discovered and used to be called ‘the devil’s wine’ or le vin du diable since bottles would explode or corks would pop off from the pressure in the bottle. However, sometime during the 1890’s producers started marketing the drink differently. They would advertise it as the drink of the aristocrats and even royalty. Then they started marketing it to women in the 19th century since wines such as Bordeaux and Burgundy were considered to be for men. These days, anyone and everyone can and should enjoy champagne. The popping of the cork has become an iconic tradition portraying celebration.
When it comes to the labels that you see on bubblies such as Extra Dry or Brut, these terms refer to the sweetness of the sparkling wine. The sweetest will be Doux, then Semi-Sec, Sec, Extra Dry, Brut, and Extra Brut. Prior to the 19th and 20th centuries, Champagne was usually served as a dessert wine and not with a meal. However, today you’ll find that Champagne is usually Brut and less sweet than it once was, allowing it to be served not only at the end of meals.
When it comes to other kinds of sparkling wine, another crowd favorite is Prosecco from Italy. Although the drink is produced in different provinces and regions in Italy, the name comes from the village of Prosecco in the province of Trieste. Unlike champagne, the fermentation process of this wine is a little different. With champagne, the second fermentation happens when it is bottled, however, with prosecco it happens in a stainless steel tank before being bottled. Production can take anywhere from 30 days to 9 months and is made with a blend of either of the following: Verdiso, Bianchetta Trevigiana, Perera, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco.
Another famous sparkling wine is Cava, which comes from Spain. It may come in two variants: a white or blanco and a rosé or rosado. Cava also has regulations in place, such as it can only be labeled cava if the wine was produced in the traditional method. Although cava is produced in many provinces and villages, 95% of all cava comes from the Penedès area in Catalonia, Spain. The name cava means ‘cave’ or ‘cellar’ which is where wine was preserved, aged, and produced in the early days of winemaking.
Asti or Asti spumante is another sparkling wine from Italy. It is produced in the towns of Asti and Alba, among other southeastern portions of Piedmont. It is made from the Moscato Bianco grape which is why sometimes you’ll see the label as Moscato d’Asti. The Moscato Bianco grape is one of the oldest grapes in the region even if Asti as a sparkling wine is something relatively newer in the the wine world. It is light in taste and has floral aromas and a fruity flavor with a slight sweetness. It is also consumed quite sooner than other wines since after a couple of years it can tend to lose its floral notes and its lightness.
There are many producers of sparkling wine all over the world. If you are looking to expand your bubbly horizon beyond the French, Spanish, and Italian kinds try looking into Sekt. Deutscher Sekt is a sparkling wine made solely with German grapes. There are also English sparkling wines you can try out that are made with grapes grown in England but using the same type of grapes from the Champagne region. England has over a hundred vineyards and produces a couple million bottles every year. South Africa is known for producing good wines and sparkling wine is no exception. Cap Classique uses the same method as champagne and is also made with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Chenin Blanc.
There are so many sparkling wines out there, not just from Europe or South Africa, but also from Australia, Canada, and the United States of America. Now that you know a little more about sparkling wines, the next time you want to pop a cork or celebrate something special there’s a whole variety of fizzy goodness to choose from beyond just the usual.
