Nothing says it’s a celebration 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 are Prosecco, made in Italy, Cava made in Spain, and a variety of sparkling wines made in a few states.
Unlike wine, sparkling wine is classified by its sugar levels, ranging from Brut Nature (bone dry) to Extra Dry (less dry) to Doux (sweet).
With this classification in mind, let’s dive into a flute of the most popular of these celebrator and decadent sparkling wines.
France – Champagne
Mailly Grand Cru Extra Brut Millesime, 2012
Extra Brut with green apple & biscuit notes
Dom Perignon, 2010
Brut with citrus & berry notes
Laurent Perrier Rosé
Dry with red fruit & floral notes
Veuve Clicquot Demi Sec Champagne
Demi Sec with peach & vanilla notes
GH Mumm Grand Cordon Brut NV
Brut with toast & dried fruit notes
Piper Heidsieck Extra Dry
Demi Sec with citrus & biscuit notes
Champagne Coligny Pere & Fils Brut Rosé
Demi Sec with peach & vanilla notes
Champagne Altair Etoile Or
Dry with blackberry & strawberry notes
Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut
Brut with dry pineapple & biscuit notes
France – Sparkling Wine
St Reine Blanc de Blancs Brut Sparkling
Brut with cream & apple notes
Italy – Prosecco
Rebuli Prosecco
Dry with fruity, pear & lemon notes
Mionetto Prosecco Rosé
Extra dry with clean & fruity notes
Stella Rosa Imperiale Rosso LUX
Doux with berry & cherry notes
La Marca Prosecco
Brut with apple & floral notes
ReLusso Rosso Frizzante
Doux with red berry notes
Martini & Rossi Asti
Doux with peach & honey notes
Spain – Cava
Segura Viudas Brut Heredad Reserva
Brut with brioche, lemon & smoke notes
Conde De Caralt Brut NV Cava
Brut with green apple & citrus notes
Freixenet Ice Cuvee
Demi Sec with pear, peach & apple notes
Berberana Gran Tradicion Semi Seco Cava
Demi Sec with citrus & fruity notes
United States – Sparkling Wine
United States – Sparkling Wine
Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs Vintage
Brut with green apple, pear & citrus notes
Great Western Extra Dry
Brut with citrus, apple & pear notes
Andre Extra Dry
Extra Brut with fruity & sweet notes
Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Alternatives
Martinelli Sparkling Cider
Pressed from 100% U.S. grown fresh apples with just the right amount of bubbles and no chemical preservatives.
St. Regis Non-Alcoholic Brut
Fresh, crisp, and toasty with tree fruit nuances on the nose and palate.
Rondel Zero Non-Alcoholic Cava
Fruity aromas lead into fine bubbles with zesty notes of apple and citrus flavors.
St. Regis Non-Alc Nosecco/Secco
Well balanced and structured, it is marked by intense fruit notes, including nutmeg and delicate white flowers.
Freixenet Sparkling Alcohol Removed
This is the one of the most popular wines from Catalonia [Catalunya].
“Come quickly, I am drinking the stars!” ~ Dom Perignon
