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About Sparkling Wine

Sparkling wine is always confused with Champagne from France's Champagne province. Not sparkling wines with bubbles are called Champagne. Under French legislation, Champagne is a sparkling wine produced only within the defined geographic boundaries of Champagne province and made under the strict regulations of the Appellation Controlee, using only one procedure— the Methode Champenoise. Sparking wines made in all other parts of France are called Vin Muosseux even they are made using the same grapes and methode - Methode Champenoise.

In the U.S., sparkling wine and champagne get their sparkle during a second fermentation in a sealed container. The is no restrictions on the choice of grape varieties growing and the procedure of creating the bubble. The only legal limitation is that these bubbles must be produced naturally.

Sparkling wine and Champagne Label

The toughest part of selecting a Sparkling wine or Champagne is to figure out the label. Lets look at some of the common terms when selecting a Sparkling wine or Champagne.

Extra Brut, Brut Nature, or Brut Sauvage – Refer to Bone dry or Extremely dry
Brut – Refers to Dry
Extra Dry – Refers to Medium Dry
Sec – Refers to Slightly Sweet
Demi–Sec – Refers to Fairly Sweet
Doux – Refers to Very Sweet

Demi-Sec in sparkling wine suggests half as sweet but it means twice as sweet in the case of Champagne. Sparkling wine when made by the Methode Champenoise, the wine may be labeled "Cremant."

Note: Champagne from France’s Champagne province is upper case "C" and champagne from U.S. is lower case "c". Interesting, isn’t it?

Find out about the brief history of Champange

Other sparkling wines varieties

Sekt from Germany
Spumante from Italy
Cavas from Spain
champange from U.S.

Full Wine List

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