Nothing says New Year’s Eve like Champagne. Since the discovery of Méthode Champenoise or the Champagne method, it’s grown to become the premier sparkling wine. The first thing you should know about Champagne is that the wine, by definition, must be made in the Champagne region of France. That means many favorite brands like Moët, Veuve Clicquot, and Dom Perignon are all produced in the same area. Vinepair.com
Sparkling wines are also produced throughout the globe, but cannot be called Champagne. The most common of these purchased in the United States is Prosecco, made in Italy, Cava made in Spain, and a variety of sparkling wines made in a number of states.
Unlike wine, sparkling wine is classified by its sugar levels, ranging from Brut (bone dry), Demi-sec (half-dry), Extra Dry (fruity) to Doux (sweet).
With this classification in mind, let’s dive into a flute of the most popular of these celebratory and decadent sparkling wines.
Mailly Grand Cru Extra Brut Millesime, 2012
Extra Brut with green apple & biscuit notes
Brut With Citrus & Berry Notes
Dry with red fruit & floral notes
Veuve Clicquot Demi-Sec Champagne
Demi-Sec with peach & vanilla note
Brut with toast & dried fruit notes
Demi-Sec with citrus & biscuit notes
Champagne Coligny Pere & Fils Brut Rosé NV
Demi-Sec with peach & vanilla notes
Dry with blackberry & strawberry notes
Brut with dry pineapple & biscuit notes
France – Sparkling Wine
St Reine Blanc De Blancs Brut Sparkling
Brut with notes of cream & apple
Italy – Prosecco
Dry with fruity, pear & lemon notes
Extra Dry with clean & fruity notes
Stella Rosa Imperiale Rosso LUX
Doux with berry & cherry notes
Brut with apple & floral notes
Doux with red berry notes
Crafted from 100% handpicked Moscato Bianco grapes grown in northern
Italy.
Spain – Cava
Segura Viudas Brut Heredad Reserva
Brut with brioche, lemon & smoke notes
Brut with green apple & citrus notes
Demi-Sec with pear, peach & apple notes
Berberana Gran Tradicion Semi Seco Cava
Demi-Sec with citrus & fruity notes
United States – Sparkling Wine
Schramsberg Blanc De Blancs Vintage
Brut with green apple, pear & citrus notes
William Heritage Estate Blanc de Blanc
Brut with green pear, quince & caramel notes
Brut with citrus, apple & pear notes
Extra Brut with fruity & sweet notes
Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Alternatives
Crisp and toasty with tree fruit nuances.
More fruity than dry, this “extreme brut” is filled with soft peach and
nutty flavors.
A well-balanced and structured sparkling wine marked by intense fruit
notes, including nutmeg and delicate white flowers.
Freixenet Legero Sparkling Rosé
Made using Moscatell grape variety, by Freixenet winery located in the
Region of Penedès, in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia (Barcelona).
