Sparkling Wine

Sparkling wines are delicate, slightly more acidic with lower alcohol content. Its effervescence is a result of the natural byproduct that occurs during fermentation.

There are two forms of production, methode champenoise and the charmat process. With Methode champenoise the wine is fermented in the bottle. Sparkling wine and Champagne that use this method are generally more expensive. The charmat process is typically the least expensive of the two since production occurs in a large stainless steel tank.

Sparkling wine is produced around the world. It should never be referred to as Champagne since true Champagne is produced only in the Champagne region of France< /st1:country-region>.

Countries refer to sparkling wine by different names:

• Germany – sekt.
• Italy – spumante.
• Spain – cava.
• South Africa – cap classique.
• Portugal – vinho verde.

Sparkling wine will be either white or rose in color with the exception of a delightful sparkling Shiraz that hails from Australia.<

The variations of flavor in sparkling wine are sure to please any palate.

• Very Dry: Extra Brut, Brut Nature and Brut Savage.
• Medium Dry: Extra Dry and Brut.
• Slightly Sweet: Sec and Demi-sec.
• Sweet: Doux

Sparkling wine should always be served in either a flute or a tulip-shaped glass. This type of stemware tapers at the bottom which preserves the bubbles, preventing it from losing its effervescence.

A variety of fruits compliment sparkling wine. Desserts containing apples, peaches, strawberries or raspberries served with a sparkling wine are excellent dessert options when dining out. Sparkling wine should not be limited to enjoying a dessert. It is excellent when paired with Japanese food, shellfish and spicy cuisine.
Most upscale restaurants have a variety of sparkling wine on hand available either by the bottle or glass. A split is a small bottle of sparkling wine in an individual portion. Splits are a nice alternative to ordering a single glass from an already opened bottle of sparkling wine since splits are corked. Ordering a split is a way to avoid receiving a flat glass of sparkling wine from a bottle that may have been previously opened.