The Basics of Sparkling Wine and a New Year

Sparkling wine can often be as confusing as it is delicious.  Whether it is for a special event, anniversary, or to ring in the new year, sparkling wine is a perfect fit with celebrations.  Finding the right sparkling wine for you is not as daunting as you may believe.

WHAT IS SPARKLING WINE?

Sparkling wine is wine made with large amounts of carbon dioxide, giving the wine the bubbles everyone comes to expect.  There are various ways the wine comes to have carbon dioxide.  The most famous way is to follow a method referred to as Methode Traditionelle or Methode Champenoise.  This method first came to birth in the Champagne region of France and has since been copied in various places around the world, including California and Spain.  These wines undergo fermentation in large tanks or barrels prior to being bottled.  Once bottled, more yeast and sugar are added to the bottle.  This results in a secondary fermentation in the bottle which produces the iconic bubbles.  There is also a method called Charmat, which also ferments the wine twice, but this time the second fermentation also takes place in large tanks or barrels.  This process is much quicker than bottle fermentation.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHAMPAGNE AND SPARKLING WINE?

The answer to that is simple; there is no difference.  Champagne is region in France famous for making sparkling wine.  Therefore, sparkling wine made in the Champagne region of France is referred to as Champagne.  This is called a appellation d’origine contrôlée which translates to “controlled designation of origin.”  Similar to tequila and chianti, the name comes to represent where the ingredients are taken from.  So, if you ask for a “champagne” recommendation this year, be prepared to to listen to French.

There are other sparkling wines that are named or are associated with a region of the world.  For example, prosecco is an Italian sparkling wine known for its vibrant fruit flavors and lower alcohol content.  Popular all over the world, prosecco can be used as a replacement for champagne in most settings and is intended to be consumed while young.  There is also the Spanish Cava which is usually made of Spanish varietals in the methode champenoise.  It is usually priced very well considering the method of creation and can reflect the terroir of the Spanish landscape.  There are also many sparkling wines made in the United States such as Mumm Napa, Korbel, and Barefoot.  These are created and modeled after french wines, thought the quality and creative process is not as controlled or rooted in history.

However, all of these examples are sparkling wines in that they all achieve carbon dioxide to create bubbles as outlined in the definition of sparkling wine.

HOW DO I KNOW IF THE SPARKLING WINE IS DRY OR SWEET?

Most sparkling wines will have an indicator on the bottle which tells the consumer the level of sweetness.  The sweetness is placed on a scale in direct relation to the amount of residual sugar per liter in the finished wine.  The most common words to look for are as follows:

Extra But – Less than 6 grams residual sugar per liter  (This is the most dry designation commonly found at your local spirits retailer)

Brut – Less than 12 grams residual sugar per liter  (This is the most common sparkling wine made)

Extra Dry – Between 12 and 17 grams residual sugar per liter  (Most often recommended for mixing in drinks such as a mimosa or bellini)

Sec – 17-32 grams residual sugar per liter

Demi-Sec – 32-50 grams residual sugar per liter

Doux – 50 or more grams of residual sugar per liter

Generally speaking, most American sparkling wine consumers choose between Brut, Extra Dry, and Sec.  Though on the drier end of the spectrum, most sparkling wine consumers today prefer not to have something too sweet.  Also, these are very mixable with juices or other items that already carry sugar and acidity.

WHAT GLASSWARE DO I USE FOR SPARKLING WINE?

There are three types of stemware usually associated with sparkling wine:

1) Champagne flute – is a stem glass with a tall, narrow bowl. The bowl of a flute may resemble either a narrow wine glass, a trumpet shape or be very narrow and straight-sided.  As with other stemware, the stem allows the drinker to hold the glass without affecting the temperature of the drink. The bowl is designed to retain champagne’s signature carbonation, by reducing the surface area at the opening of the bowl. The deep bowl also enhances the visual effect of the bubbles rising through the liquid to the top. The flute has largely replaced the champagne coupe or saucer, the shape of which allowed carbonation to dissipate even more rapidly than from a standard wine glass. Its smaller diameter also allows more flutes to be carried on a tray. – Wikipedia

2) Champagne Coupe – is a shallow, broad-bowled, stemmed glass, commonly used at wedding receptions, often stacked in layers to build a champagne tower. The broad surface area allows champagne to lose its carbonation more quickly, making it less suitable for the current style of very dry champagnes, compared to the sweeter champagnes that were popular in the 1930s, and therefore fell out of fashion except for traditional occasions such as weddings. – Wikipedia

3) White Wine Glasses – Champagne can be served in white wine glasses. Some oenophiles prefer this, particularly in a “tulip” or “belly” shape in which the rim of the glass is narrower than the midpoint, as it permits the drinker to get more of the aroma than a traditional flute, while still not having enough surface area to cause the champagne to quickly lose carbonation. – Wikipedia

WHY IS DOM PERIGNON AND CRISTAL SO EXPENSIVE?

These wines are referred to as a cuvee de prestige meaning they are the top of a producer’s range.  These wines are hand selected and blended to offer a high quality product in an appealing package.  These wines are often highly sought after and are enjoyed by the wealthy and famous of the world.  This also creates a premium on name recognition and prominence which contributes to the price.

WHAT ARE SOME MGM WINE & SPIRITS RECOMMENDATIONS?

Here is a list of many of our favorite sparkling wines:

La Marca Prosecco – This sparkling wine is pale, golden straw in color.  Bubbles are full textured and persistant.  On the nose the wine brings fresh citrus with hints of honey and white floral notes.  The flavor is fresh and clean with ripe citrus, lemon, green apple, and touches of grapefruit, minerality, and some toast.  The finish is light, refreshing, and crisp.  This sparkling wine made Wine Spectator’s Top 100 in 2007.

Mumm Napa Brut Prestige – Brut Prestige is Mumm Napa’s signature sparkling wine. It is a relaxed, yet elegant, wine that earns sparkling accolades from consumers and critics alike.  Brut Prestige features fine bright citrus, red apple, stone fruit and creamy vanilla aromas, with hints of toast, honey and gingerbread spice. Its vibrant flavors are balanced by fine acidity and a rich, lingering finish.

Korbel Extra Dry – KORBEL Extra Dry is a fresh, off-dry California champagne that is light, luscious and always a crowd favorite. It features delightful flavors of bright citrus, vanilla and spice. The varietal composition of Extra Dry is Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and French Colombard with a dosage level of 1.5%.  Pairs great with salads with sweet, fruit-based dressings. Great with spicy foods, especially Thai or Vietnamese dishes that use cilantro, ginger or chilies.

Freixenet Cordon Negro Sweet Cuvee – Sipping sweetly, this sparkling wine charms with peaches and cream on the nose.  Fine bubbles form a delightfully playful and creamy mousse that closes with a sweet, long finish.  Highly drinkable, and a perfect match with seafood.

Moet & Chandon Rose Imperial – Rosé Impérial is a spontaneous, radiant, romantic expression of the Moët & Chandon style, a style distinguished by its bright fruitiness, its seductive palate and its elegant maturity.  The flavor contains the juicy, persistent intensity of berries (strawberry, raspberry, redcurrant) and the fleshiness and firmness of peach.  You will also notice the freshness of a subtle note of menthol.

  Toad Hollow Risque – “Toad Hollow Vineyards are from California, but the Toad Hollow Risqué is crafted in Limoux in the       Languedoc, France using the Mauzac grape and imported to the US by Toad Hollow. Made with the Methode Ancestrale style, which differs from most Sparkling wines since there is no second fermentation. The wine is bottled before the first fermentation is complete, as the fermentation is completed in the bottle, the carbon dioxide being released by the sugar being turned into alcohol gives the wine much softer, less intense bubbles. A low alcohol content of 6%. Light golden yellow, with decent bubbles. Some lemon and limes on the nose, floral and pretty. The Toad Hollow Risqué feels slippery in your mouth, it’s a little sweet, but just a touch. It tastes of apricots and pears, the bubbles are very soft, it is a very light and refreshing Sparkling wine.  A nice, tasty and unique aperitif, you probably won’t find two Methode Ancestrale wines on the store shelf. The Toad Hollow Risque is the perfect Sparkler for the times that you want a sensuous wine, but can do without the alcohol content. The perfect drink for after dinner or for before something Risqué.”