Pour Some Sparkling In Your Glass

Pam J. Bernd

What a better way to ring in the New Year then with a bottle of sparkling wine. The hard question is what kind to choose. Sparkling wine can be a little confusing so here is a little breakdown.
The most popular is Champagne. A little thing to remember is Champagne is a sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wines are Champagnes. Champagne can only be produced in the Champagne region of France. One of the coldest and most northerly wine growing regions make it suitable for sparkling wine. Only three grape varietals can be used to create this bubbly; Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Since the region is cold, these varietals produce high level of acidity, which is great for producing Champagne.

Production of champagne is done in the methode champenoise process. This process is done by creating a secondary fermentation in the bottle to create carbonation. Champagne houses can produce a number of styles of champagnes:
• Non Vintage (NV) Champagne accounts for more them three-fourths of production. NV represents the blending of wine from various vintages.
• Vintage Champagne can only be produced in the best years. The wine used for vintage Champagne must be from the year indicated on the label. These cannot be released until the January three years from harvest.
• Blanc de Blanc is produced from white grapes only. Chardonnay is the only white grape allowed in Champagne.
• Blanc de Noir (white from black) is produced from using a black grape to create white Champagne. Usually, Pinot Noir is used.
• Rose is blended by allowing the red grape varieties (Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier) skin to be in contact with the grape juice to extract some color from the skins.

Different levels of sweetness can occur in Champagne. Brut Nature has no sugar added. This will be the driest of Champagne. Extra Brut has less then 6 grams of sugar. Brut has less then 15 grams of sugar. Brut is the most popular. Extra Dry is an off dry style having 12 – 20 grams of sugar. Sec is a slightly sweeter with 17 – 35 grams of sugar. Demi-Sec means semi-dry but in reality is sweet with 35 – 50 grams of sugar. Doux is very sweet with more then 50 grams of sugar. The sweetness levels are determined by the amount of dosage that is added to the wine. Dosage is a wine- sugar mix. To get a real understanding of how the sweetness relates, Minute Maid Original Orange Juice has 24 grams of sugar. Minute Maid

Here are my recommendations for a few Champagnes:
Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve NV – Pleasant aromas of almonds and pears bring together a fresh and balanced finished. Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve Average price is $36.00.
Pommery Maxi Pink POP NV – For the ladies … A beautiful rose color that ties in aromas of strawberry with a fresh fruity red berry finish. Pommery Maxi Pink Average price is $40.00.
Krug 1998 – For a special bottle, search out Krug 1998. Aromas of flowers and toast with a creamy texture deliver harmonious bubbles to your mouth. Krung 1998This may set you back an average of $260.00 but is well worth it in my book.

Let us move to another region of the world, Italy. Here we can find two different styles of sparkling wine. Italy is known for its sweet Asti Spumante. Produced in the Asti region of Piedmont, Moscato is the grape. Many times, we see the word Asti Spumate, which Spumante actually means, “foaming”. Asti’s tend to be fruity, light and sweet. This can often consumed with desserts. A well know Asti is M & R Asti M&R Asti. Average price is $11.00.

Another famous sparkling in Italy is Prosecco produced in Veneto. Prosecco are produced from an ancient grape variety Prosecco. Most tend to be refreshing, light, affordable and fun to drink. Check out Bisol Crede Prosecco di Valdobbiadene 2007 Bisol Crede Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Persistent bubbles bring out a scent of fresh fruits followed with a combination of pears and apples. This ends with an elegant creamy mouth feel. This is a little higher in price for a Prosecco, but well worth it. (Average Price $24.00.)

A not well know country for producing sparkling wine is Spain. The northeastern region of Penedes is where Cava is mainly produced. Cava is produced in the same way as Champagne. Three classical varietals are used to produce cava; Macabeo, Xarel-lo, and Parellada. Marques de Gelida Cava Brut Exclusive Reserva 2006 is one of my favorites, not just because it comes in a stand out orange bottle Marques de Gelida Cava Brut. This is a terrific value for a sparkling wine averaging around $14.00. This Cava is light with hints of lemon and roasted almonds finishing with some toasty bubbles.

California can produce some fine sparkling wines that should not be looked over. These tend to be high quality and often value priced. Most of these sparklers use the same grape varieties as in Champagne, France. Carneros and Anderson Valley in Mendocino County have a cool growing climate, which is perfect for the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. Domaine Chandon Brut NV produces a lively sparkling with aromas of apple blossoms, which lead to creamy flavors of pear and fresh baked bread Chandon Brut. The price for this averages around $20.00.

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year. Please remember to toast in the New Year with a great bottle of sparkling wine while drinking safety.

As ProLong Magazine’s official Wine Expert, Pam J. Bernd is excited to share her knowledge and advice with readers and show that even the most hardcore beer drinker can become a fan of wine. Pam started her college years wanting to work in the field of Information and Technology. Bachelor’s degree in hand she started selling wine. After learning about the different regions that make up the wine world, she started teaching a beginners class. Now she purchases wine for a retail organization. Having moved from her home town, she always enjoy going home and hanging with friends.