Sparkling Wine

Sparkling wine is a very popular wine to serve, especially on occasions that are special. There is something absolutely divine about the sweet taste combined with bubbles that just screams today is a special day! All sparkling wines are best when they are chilled to 43 to 48 degrees. This temperature can easily be accomplished by submerging the bottle into an ice bucket about 30-40 minutes before use. You could also choose to stick it in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours before you serve it.

Champagne

The most famous sparkling wine around is Champagne . Some people use this word synonymously with sparkling wine, but the truth is that true champagne only comes from the area in France known as Champagne . It is this region that perfected that process of putting carbon dioxide bubbles into a fantastic tasting wine.

How is it Made?

There are only three types of grapes that are used when it comes to making sparkling wine: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Some sparkling wines use only one of them, whereas others use two or even all three of them at one time. The other true traditional method needed to make sparkling wine is to ferment this beverage in the bottle. This allows the naturally occurring carbon dioxide bubbles to remain in the wine as it ferments. There are some wineries that choose to ferment in the usual way and then add carbon dioxide into the mix at a later time. The actual preparing of the grapes is no different than any other variety of wine, but there is not any time where the skins of the grapes remain in the mixture. That is precisely why sparkling wine is always white in color, whether a red or white grape is used.

Sparkling Wine Styles

There are five basic sparkling wine styles. Brute Naturale is the absolute driest version of sparkling win e that is on the market. Brut is the style that most people think of when they think of Champagne . It is dry and has no sweetness to it. Sec has a touch of sweetness while being still dry. Demi-sec is fairly sweet. The final style is rare to find. It is known as Doux, and is very rich and sweet. In fact, it is sometimes served as a dessert all on its own. The style that is just right for you is ultimately up to your personal taste.