If you're looking to buy a bottle of sparkling wine you may easily get confused. How to know which one is the best? Should you get the most expensive one? Is region important? You may get answers to these questions if you're shopping in a physical store, but if you're buying sparkling wine online, you'll find yourself Googling things. Here's what you need to pay attention to.
Different Types of Organic Sparkling Wine
Prosecco
Italy, known for its amazing wines, brings us Prosecco, which hails from a quaint village in the Prosecco region. Made from glera grapes, this sparkling wine has a naturally sweet flavour. It’s particularly popular in cocktails due to its larger bubbles, thanks to the Tank method of production. Italians often enjoy Prosecco with a nice cheese platter or some tasty finger sandwiches.
Champagne
If you're browsing sparkling wine online stores, there's no way you'll miss the superstar. Champagne is the most famous among sparkling wines, and it’s no surprise that many people mistakenly call all sparkling wines “champagne.” To earn that title, a bottle must come from the Champagne region in France. This bubbly is super versatile, making it a great match for everything from fancy dinners to casual brunches, and even fried foods. The delightful tiny bubbles bring a fruity and sweet flavour that pairs well with any occasion. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy sipping from those elegant champagne flutes?
Sekt
Germany also has its own sparkling gem called Sekt. This wine features a fruity and floral profile, with notes of pears, apples, and white flowers. It’s not as sweet as some other organic sparkling wines, and its lower alcohol content makes it a favourite among many.
Rosé
Who can resist a sparkling rosé? Its beautiful pink hue and fruity scent make it a fantastic choice for celebrations, romantic dinners, or just a chill afternoon binge-watching your favourite show. This wine is made from grapes and sometimes includes strawberries, rhubarb, or rose petals, all of which contribute to its stunning colour.
What to Look for in a Sparkling Wine?
When picking a sparkling wine, it helps to think about your personal taste preferences. Sparkling wines can range from sweet to dry and from light to rich. Here’s a quick guide to help you figure out what flavours and traits to look for:
Sweetness Level
Sparkling wines typically fall into four main sweetness categories that you’ll find on their labels, listed from sweetest to driest:
• Demi-Sec: This is the sweetest option and pairs perfectly with desserts.
• Extra Dry: These wines are a bit sweeter but still have some dryness. Prosecco is a popular choice here.
• Brut: Mostly dry with a hint of sweetness, Brut is the go-to level for many, with Champagne being a classic example.
• Extra Brut: This style has very little to no sugar, making it the driest of the bunch.
Grape Variety
The level of sweetness or dryness in sparkling wine is influenced by both the production method and the type of grapes used. Getting to know different grape varieties can help you choose the sparkling wine that suits your taste best.
Some of the most popular grape varieties you’ll find are:
• Chardonnay - This is a go-to for sparkling wines thanks to its adaptability. This grape is pretty neutral, so its flavour changes based on where it’s grown. In cooler areas, you get grapes with higher acidity, while warmer spots yield grapes that are richer and creamier.
• Pinot Noir - This is a red grape that often teams up with Chardonnay in sparkling blends. It brings in some complex flavours like red berries and earthy notes, along with sweet aromas and a hint of spice.
• Pinot Meunier - These grapes are another key player in Champagne blends, offering bold flavours of juicy red fruits and a nice brightness to sparkling wines.
• Pinot Gris - This grape is known for creating dry, aromatic sparkling wines that burst with citrus flavours. It’s a favourite in Italian sparkling wine production.
• Sauvignon Blanc - These grapes add a refreshing, herbaceous kick to sparkling wines and are typically very dry.
The Methods
Traditional Method
This is the classic way of making sparkling wine, closely linked to Champagne and other premium varieties. It involves two rounds of fermentation, one in barrels and another in the bottle, along with some hands-on techniques like riddling and disgorging. Plus, the wine has to be aged for a good while.
Tank Method
Known as the Charmat method, this approach is quicker than the traditional one. Here, the wine goes into a big pressurized tank for its second fermentation. Because it ages for less time, the final product is cheaper and tends to be lighter and fruitier.
Transfer Method
This method combines elements of the previous two. The secondary fermentation occurs in the bottle, but instead of the labour-intensive riddling, the sediment is filtered out using a tank. It’s a more budget-friendly option that still keeps a lot of the quality you’d expect from traditional sparkling wines.
Carbonation Method
With this method, there’s no secondary fermentation at all. Instead, the bubbles come from injecting carbonation directly into the wine. It’s the most affordable way to make sparkling wine, but the end result can be a bit lacking in flavour and depth.
