Sparkling Wine Defined
Bottle and Flutes of Sparkling Wine
What is sparkling wine? Simply put, sparkling wine is carbonated wine. The bubbles can be produced using several different methods from a wide variety of grapes in countries around the world.
Methods of Carbonating Sparkling Wines
The are several different ways of making the bubbles that are characteristic of sparkling wine.
Méthode Champenoise. In the Méthode Champenoise, the bubbles are produced by a secondary fermentation in the very bottle from which the wine is eventually poured. After the primary fermentation in tanks, the wine is bottled with an additional mixture of sugar and yeast, called the liqueur de tirage. The sugar acts on the yeast producing carbon dioxide gas that is trapped in the bottle, secured by a crown cap (like a bottle of beer).
The traditional method, Méthode Champenoise, must be used to make French Champagne. It is also required in other areas of France and used in many other countries around the world. This process is thought to produce the best sparkling wines with the finest bubbles and most complex flavors.
Tank Method. In the tank method, also called the Charmat method, the secondary fermentation occurs in a pressurized tank. Yeast and sugar are added to the tank to create the bubbles. When the fermentation is complete, the wine is filtered and then bottled. This is a less expensive way to make sparkling wines. Most Prosecco is made using the tank method.
Ancestral Method. This method is believed to pre-date the traditional method and has come back into popularity in recent years. In this method there is no secondary fermentation at all. Instead, the first fermentation is stopped by bottling the wine before fermentation is complete. There must be enough sugar in the wine at the time of bottling to create the bubbles.
Transfer Method. This process is a blend of the traditional and tank methods. The second fermentation occurs in a bottle as in the traditional method. Once complete, the wines are emptied into a pressurized tank, filtered to remove the sediment, and bottled into new bottles.
Carbonation. In this method, carbon dioxide is injected into a still wine to create the bubbles, much the way soda is made. The bubbles produced in this method dissipate quickly, therefore it is thought to be an inferior way to make sparkling wine.
Bunch of Partially Ripened Wine Grapes
The Grapes and Colors of Sparkling Wine
Sparkling wines, like still wines, can be made from any grape variety. Some regions specify the grapes that may be used, like in Champagne, where only seven varieties of grapes are allowed.
Sparkling wines also come in many colors. White sparkling wines are most common and can be achieved in three different ways.
All White Grapes. Sparkling wines made solely from white grapes are referred to as Blanc de Blancs (white of whites).
White and Red Grapes. White sparkling wines can also be made from a combination of white and red grapes. The red grapes are pressed immediately so they have no contact with the skins that would impart color to the wine.
All Red Grapes. Sparkling wines made solely from red grapes are referred to as Blanc de Noir (white of red). The grapes are pressed immediately so there is no contact with the skins. The color in wines comes from the skins.
Rosé sparkling wines are also popular. Rosé wines are made from red grapes that spend a brief time resting on the skins. They vary from very pale pink to magenta. Darker red sparkling wines spend more time in contact with the skins before being pressed. They are less common.
Many Styles of Sparkling Wine
Sparkling wines come in many styles depending on the method used to make the wine, the grape varieties and blends used, the climate where the grapes were grown, the level of sweetness – referred to as the dosage – and the techniques employed by the winemaker.
“I realized there's so much to learn about sparkling wine and so many wines to try. Discovering this whole other world, was so exciting.” -Ashley Herzberg, Sparkling Winemaker
Sparkling Wines Made Around the World
Today, sparkling wines are made in every country that makes wine. Some countries have specific names for their sparkling wines to designate a particular region where they are made, or the method used to make them.
Champagne. The most well-known sparkling wine is Champagne, which must be grown and produced in the Champagne region of France using the Méthode Champenoise. It is the only sparkling wine that can be called Champagne.
Sparkling Wines. Many countries that make sparkling wine do not have a special term for their wines. The U.S., Australia, Brazil, and China are some of the countries that use the generic name for sparkling wines.
Crémant. These sparkling wines are made in France outside of the Champagne region. They must be made using the traditional method.
Cava. Sparkling wines from Spain made in the traditional method are called Cava. They are made from a variety of Spanish grapes especially Xarello, Macabeo, and Parellada.
Methode Cap Classique. This is the term used for sparkling wines from South Africa made using the traditional method.
Prosecco. This sparkling wine is made in the Prosecco region of Italy from the Glera grape. The tank or Charmat method is used to make it.
Sekt. This is German sparkling wine. It can be made in either the traditional or the tank method.
Still Thirsty?
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