Sparkling Wine

What is Sparkling Wine?

Sparkling wine is a carbonated wine that can be made from any white or red grape. Though white sparkling wines are most common, sparkling rosé and, to a lesser extent, red wines can also be found. Sparkling wines range from dry to sweet and express a spectrum of flavors that depend on the grape(s) used, the climate they were grown in, and the winemaking method used.

How is Sparkling Wine made?

Méthode Champenoise is considered the premier method of making sparkling wine. The term is typically used for wines made within the Champagne region, while the term traditional method relates to wines made using the same technique but  elsewhere in the world. This process requires the secondary fermentation to happen inside the bottle. The wine then spends time aging on its lees (dead yeast cells), which impacts its aromas, flavors, and texture. This step of the process produces notes of brioche and nuts along with a soft and creamy mouthfeel. The Champagne and traditional methods involve time-consuming riddling (sometimes done by hand) and disgorgement, which translates to higher price-points on store shelves. 

A faster and cheaper way to make sparkling wine is the Charmat method, also known as the tank method. Most famous for its association with Prosecco, this process sees the wine transferred from its first fermentation vat to a large sealed pressurized tank where it undergoes carbon-dioxide-creating secondary fermentation. The wine is then bottled and shipped to market. This method produces lighter and more fruit-forward sparkling wines because they don’t spend time on lees and are released immediately after bottling.