Sparkling Wine or Champagne? Part 1

When I worked at the Lawrenceville store, the Champagne/Sparkling Wine  question was ever-present. Since so many people will be shopping for the bubbly over the next few days, I thought this would be a good time to offer some guidance and definitions.

Champagne is a sparkling wine that is produced in the Champagne region of northeastern France. Champagne will include any or all of these three grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir, and will include a secondary fermentation (to create the carbonation). "Méthode champenoise" is the term used to describe the champagne-making process. You'll see that phrase on many domestic sparkling wines (like Gruet, Domaine Ste. Michelle and Schramsberg), which indicates that those are made like champagne, but aren't made in Champagne.

An under-the-radar, highly recommended Champagne is the Duc de Romet. It's properly Brut, and scored 91 points from Wine Spectator. From their review: "A fine, creamy mousse defines this elegant version, underscored by a chalky note of minerality and offering subtle notes of patisserie apple, blanched almond, fresh ginger and a hint of crystallized honey." And at only $25.99 in the Bottle Club®, it's our lowest-priced Champagne.

Any number of other sparkling wines are produced in France, but are not champagnes. Two examples are the Varichon & Clerc Brut Blanc de Blancs and Jean-Charles Boisset's JCB Cremant de Bourgogne. Blanc de Blancs, or "white from white", is a sparkling wine made exclusively from white grapes. A Cremant ("creamy") sparkling wine must be hand-harvested, and aged for at least one year. And since they're both priced under $20, they may be attractive alternatives to champagne.

We offer several types of Italian sparkling wine: Prosecco, Moscato d'Asti, and Asti (also known as Spumante or Asti Spumante).

Prosecco is traditionally made in northeastern Italy, in the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia-Giulia regions. It's typically made from the grape known both as Glera or Prosecco. Most often, Prosecco is produced with the secondary fermentation occurring in stainless steel tanks, making the wine less expensive to produce than champagne.

One staff favorite is the Merum Prosecco. It's a "Vino Spumante", which means that it had the full secondary fermentation, making it more sparkling than many others.

This has excellent bubbles that stay around longer than most Proseccos. It has a creamy flavor with soft fruit and nuttiness. Enjoy on its own as an aperitif or in a Bellini or Mimosa. Merum is priced at only $9.96 in the Bottle Club®, making it an outstanding value.

Another Prosecco that's a staff favorite is Zonin.

Zonin Prosecco is another fantastic value sparkling wine!  It's a clean, easy-going bubbly offering apple and pear flavors with a touch of almond on the soft finish.  This is a bright, fun sparkler to enjoy before or during any meal! And from the review in Wine Enthusiast: "An enjoyable bubbly with good creamy froth, white peach, mineral and hard candy tones that are nicely balanced and spread throughout. It has a thick consistency and a snappy, crisp close". Consider Zonin Prosecco for your midnight toast on New Year's Eve, priced at $9.99 in the Bottle Club®.

If you prefer a domestic sparkling wine, we have a great suggestion for you. I have a couple of bottles of this in my wine 'fridge, because it's at that perfect intersection of price, value and quality: Gruet Brut.

French-born Gilbert Gruet learned to make wine in the Champagne region of France and then moved himself and his family to New Mexico. There, they set up production of one of the best tasting, best value sparkling wines in the country. Vineyards at an elevation of 4300ft. get hot in the day and very cool at night, producing great fruit with crisp acidity. You can see the "Méthode champenoise" designation on the label, and it definitely feels like a champagne.

Gruet Brut is a crisp and full-bodied sparkling wine, which has developed rich complexity and fine mousse. The allure of toasty finish from twenty-four months on tirage, is a complement to the sophisticated apple and citrus flavor. Winemaker's Note: Brilliant with ultra fine bubbles. A wonderful fine bouquet dominated by green apple and grapefruit flavors. A truly classic house style!  

The price? Only $12.99  in the Bottle Club®.
 
With so many Champagnes and other sparkling wines on our shelves, choosing can be difficult, especially if you don't often indulge. We hope these notes, drawn from our staff, the wineries and professional journals, will offer you some guidance. As always, don't hesitate to ask for assistance from our staff. Part 2 will be published tomorrow, with more outstanding selections for your consideration.