CHAMPAGNE AND SPARKLING WINE: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

The pop of a champagne cork is one of the season’s most festive sounds. Have you ever wondered about the difference between wines that go by that French name – and others that are simply labeled as sparkling wine?

sparkling-wine

Here’s the short, simple answer. Only wines that come from the region of Champagne in France can be properly called champagne. Period.

Many winemakers still attach the word “champagne” to their products, but that doesn’t make much sense. If someone in France produced a wine called Napa Valley Merlot, we’d probably wonder why.

All champagne is sparkling wine – but not all sparkling wine is champagne. And not all producers are created equally, as you’ll find when you explore the different kinds of sparkling wine and discover your own favorites.

 

THE ORIGIN OF SPARKLING WINES

Sparkling wines are made by taking the simple formula for fermentation – sugar plus yeast equals alcohol and CO2 – and making sure the resulting gas does not escape. When you ferment wine in a closed or sealed environment, the CO2 returns into the wine, only to be released as tiny bubbles when the bottles are opened.

The monk Dom Perignon (1638-1715) is often credited with making the first sparkling wine. In reality, this style of winemaking probably evolved over time in the hands of many monks in the Champagne region of France.

Why this particular spot? Well, for one thing, the Champagne region is very cold. Low temperatures, coupled with deep cellars and lack of insulation, created a chilly environment for winemaking. Fermentation began but soon shut down as fall and winter approached. As the story goes, the monks bottled their wines in colder weather. But the following spring, as temperatures rose, fermentation continued.

With nowhere for the CO2 to escape, it gradually became part of the wine itself, eventually blowing the corks from their bottles. It was then, as the story goes, that brother Perignon poured a glass of the bubbly drink and said, “Come quick! I am tasting stars!”

 

HOW SPARKLING WINES ARE MADE NOW

Modern methods for making sparkling wine are far more controlled than in Dom Perignon’s time, but the chemistry is the same. Because this method was developed in Champagne, and the original rules governing the making of this particular sparkling wine belong to that region, we should think of Champagne as being a place rather than a style of winemaking.

Excellent sparkling wines are made all over the world. You will find fabulous examples from Africa, Austria, Napa Valley and Oregon. There are many great sparklers made outside the Champagne region, including wonderful selections made under the Cremant designation and many fine Italian sparklers that go by the name of Prosecco.

When you’re looking for bubbles to celebrate the New Year, ask your favorite wine seller for recommendations. An enjoyable way to choose is to take home a few different styles to be sampled ahead of time – so you can select the one that pleases you most.

 

MAKE THE HOLIDAYS HAPPIER — LET JERRY’S KITCHEN DO THE COOKING FOR YOU

The perfect holiday celebration starts with Jerry’s Kitchen. Whether you’re planning a simple get-together for friends and family or a huge corporate celebration, our skilled catering team will arrange everything for you.

Looking for deluxe food trucks with our award-winning Philly cheese steaks and other classic favorites or a more traditional menu with fresh and delicious options for every guest? Our expert catering services team is ready to help.

To book a date for your holiday celebration near Doylestown or Greater Philadelphia, call us today.

Source

The Wine Company

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