There is no better way to kick off a holiday celebration than greeting your guests with a chilled glass of sparkling wine. It creates a festive mood and makes every occasion a special one, but sparkling wines are much more than just mood-setters. Bubbles are great palette cleansers, so sparkling wines pair well with all kinds of hors d’oeuvres and holiday foods.
Sparkling wines come in many styles and colors, white or rosé, and there are also different levels of sweetness. Most frequently you will see wines labeled Brut or Extra-Dry. The drier (least sweet) of the two is the Brut. If you like a little sweetness, go for the Extra-Dry. Yes, with sparkling wines the Extra Dry is the sweet one, but I wouldn’t call them sweet wines.
The bubbles in many sparkling wines are produced by causing a secondary fermentation in the bottle known as the Traditional Method, or as seen on many labels, Methode Traditionelle. There are also other methods of making sparkling wines. With the Tank or Charmat Method, the secondary fermentation is done in a large tank and then the wines are bottled. This is a less expensive and less labor intensive production method.
We Americans call everything with bubbles Champagne, however, everything that sparkles is not Champagne. Champagne is a wine region in northern France and only the sparkling wine from that region can be called Champagne. Believe me, Champagne producers are very particular about that fact.
Much of the Champagne you’ll see on store shelves will be non-vintage or NV. NV Champagnes are blends of wines from multiple vintages, ensuring consistent quality and a distinct flavor profile from the Champagne producer. Only in the best grape growing years will producers designate and produce vintage Champagnes. Plan to start at about $30 for NV wines and well over $100 for vintage offerings from premium producers.
Spanish sparkling wine called Cava is also made using the Traditional Method. They are low in acidity, fresh and fruity with a hint of apple and vanilla flavors. They are great tasting and great values. $10 to $20 will get you a nice bottle of Cava.
Prosecco from Italy is made using the Charmat Method. Prosecco is dry, crisp and fresh with flavors of pear, apple and peach. Expect to pay between $10 and $25.
Domestic sparkling wines are good substitutes for real Champagne. Many Champagne houses, such as Roederer and Mumm, have even chosen sites here to grow grapes and produce quality sparkling wines. The best are made using the Traditional Method and come in a wide variety of styles. You can find some great wines priced from the high teens to the low $40 price range.
No matter if it’s real Champagne, a tasty Cava, a crisp Prosecco or a domestic sparkler, raise a glass of your favorite sparkling wine and toast to a healthy and happy holiday season and a prosperous 2020.
Phone: (410) 268-1961 | https://www.bayridgewine.com/ | 111 Hillsmere Dr, Annapolis, MD 21403
