Sparkling Wine

Sparkling Wine

The best sparkling wines give Champagne a run for their money – unsurprising given that some are made in exactly the same way. But sparkling wine is a versatile product, and is usually excellent value, too.

Production

Sparkling wine can be made from many grape varieties and is produced around the world, from Europe to America, Australia and South Africa. They are made in one of three ways: a second natural fermentation either in the bottle (méthode traditionelle , essentially the same as the méthode Champenoise); in a tank (the Charmat method common in Italy and other parts of France); or, for inexpensive sparkling wines, injecting carbon dioxide directly into the wine.

Styles

Sparkling wines can be made from both red and white grapes, and can be red, white or rosé. They have higher acidity than still wines, which can be balanced by producing a sweeter style, such as Asti or Moscato d’Asti in Italy.