Drink more sparkles

Hi there! I’m Chris. You can usually find me at the Brookline location on the weekends (although I do work a Sunday at Fenway every now and then). If you see me in the shop feel free to say hi and chat me up about wine. It’s pretty easy to spot me in my grey glasses and black cap with a little Champagne bottle on the front. 

Champagne is iconic. But lots of people don’t know that beyond Champagne, there are many types of sparkling wine. I think we should all drink more of it - it’s delicious and there’s something for every budget and occasion. Sparkling wine can be made from a variety of different grapes, and in many different ways. Here’s a little overview on what makes it sparkle, and a short list of some of my favorite styles from around the world.

What makes it sparkle?

Still wine undergoes a second fermentation to produce carbon dioxide (AKA sparkles). Long story short, yeast and sugar are added to the wine in an enclosed environment. When the second fermentation begins, the yeast releases carbon dioxide that has nowhere to go, making the wine bubbly! The two most common methods to achieve this are Méthode Champenoise (Champagne method) or Metodo Italiano (Charmat-Martinotti method). The Champagne method takes place in the bottle, producing wines that are rich and complex. By contrast, the Charmat-Martinotti method happens in a large tank before the wine is bottled, producing wines that are typically fruitier, aromatic, and easy drinking.

Champagne

Marie-Courtin, Efflorescence

If you have a wine nerd in your life, you’ve probably heard that Champagne is a type of sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is Champagne. [include tweet] We sound pretentious but we’re trying help: it’s only champagne when it’s grown, fermented, and bottled in the Champagne region of France. By law, only seven grape varietals are used in Champagne production. The most common ones are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier followed by Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Petit Meslier, and Arbanne. Most champagnes are made from a blend rather than a single varietal. It’s worth noting that great sparkling wine made is all over France, but if it isn’t from Champagne then it’s classified as Cremant. Now you’re a wine nerd, too!

Cava

Avinyó Reserva Rosé

Cava is sparkling wine from Spain. It’s made using the Champagne method, but from different grapes. The three main grapes in Cava are Macabeu, Parellada, and Xarel-lo (other grapes include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Garnacha and Monastrell, but don’t memorize any of this). It’s very affordable and similar in body and style to Champagne - the perfect everyday sparkling wine. 

Prosecco

Terre Gaie, Prosecco

Prosecco comes from northeastern Italy, and is made using the Charmat-Martinotti method with Glera and Bianchetta Trevigiana grapes. It typically has larger bubbles than Champagne or Cava, and has a lighter, and fruitier flavor profile, ideal for mimosas.

Sekt

Hild, Elbling Sekt

Sekt is German sparkling wine and one of my personal favorites. It tends to be a little lower in alcohol and can be sweeter than other styles. Riesling, Elbling, Pinot Blanc, and Grüner Veltliner are all commonly used. Germany’s climate is ideal for producing the light-bodied, high-acid wines needed for sparkling wine.

American sparkling wine

Gruet, Sauvage Zero Dosage Rosé

The many versions of American sparkling wine allow you to choose your own adventure; you can find them made using either method, and from a number of different grape varietals. If you try one you don’t like, just try another one! I’m fond of sparkling wines from California, New Mexico, and the Finger Lakes.

What to eat

My one caveat about food pairing: don’t pair it with anything sweet.

The acidity in sparkling wines cleanses the palate. Pair it with first courses, salads, or a lovely amuse bouche. My recommendation is to grab a bag of your favorite potato chips, or order dinner (and tip well) from your local fried chicken spot.