Sparkling Wine: A Refreshing Time!
The Super Bowl is now a few days behind us. For those who live in Seattle or have allegiance to the Seahawks, it was a great game, a glorious triumph. For others, it was a Super Dud. A blow-out does not lend itself to excitement. Nonetheless, the Seahawks and their fans should be celebrating with some wonderful sparkling wine!
Most people will refer to sparkling wine as Champagne, yet the truth is that only sparkling wine from the region in France named Champagne can truly be called that. The French have done an excellent job with their expression of sparkling wine, and many times it will come at a price. The process of getting all those little bubbles in the bottle is the result of a specific process of secondary fermentation. The grapes that are used are specific as well. Champagne is produced using Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes. It is a lovely journey, which may be a bit expensive yet worth the pleasure.
There are three other sparkling wines that are worth the time to explore. The first is Prosecco. It is made from the grape variety sometimes know as Glera. This is wine from Italy, and they make it sparkle in a different way from Champagne. They use a method known as Cuve Close or Charmat. Instead of the secondary fermentation taking place in the bottle itself, it is done in large closed tanks. This allows for a larger production of wine at a lower cost. In previous blogs, I have mentioned a Prosecco called La Marca, which is readily available and a lovely addition to any get together.
Another sparkler is Cava. Most of these lovely bottles come from a region in Catalonia, Spain. They use the secondary fermentation that is employed in making Champagne and use Spanish grapes such as the white Macabeu. I personally have not had the pleasure to try any bottles, yet I understand that they can be impressive, world-class wines at about half the price of Champagne.
To round out this list of sparkling wines is Moscato d’Asti. This is made from the Muscat grape. It is a fruity, fresh, floral, and aromatic wine. It is produced in similar fashion as Prosecco and is delightful. I first became acquainted with this wine as Asti Spumante. It is an easy drinking, mildly sweet wine that provides for a pleasurable experience.
These wines are a great beginning to any meal and are great for parties. They can accompany many meals and will provide a perfect accompaniment for any celebration. To maximize your enjoyment, make sure your bottle is cold. The ideal temperature to serve Champagne or sparkling wines is 45-48 degrees. A good way to prepare your bottle is to place it in your refrigerator for about 4 hours before you serve it. Oh, and yes – flutes are best to serve up your bubbles!
Enjoy!