The Enthusiasts! NYC Wine Club: Bubbles Details
To start: some words of wisdom from a great movie...
Cassandra:
"I don't believe I've ever had French champagne before..."
Benjamin Kane:
"Oh, actually all champagne is French, it's named after the region. Otherwise it's sparkling white wine. Americans, of course, don't recognize the convention so it becomes that thing of calling all their sparkling white champagne, even though be definition they're not."
For those who haven't guessed, the above was quoted from the movie Wayne's World. Who would have thought that movie would have provided such fundamental information about our next topic -- Champagne and other sparklers.
No way! Way!
All jokes aside, the following information is meant as an introduction to the topic of sparkling wine. This introduction will include a brief overview of how sparkling wine is made and details about several styles of sparkling wine, including: Champagne, Cremant, Cava, Prosecco, Franciacorta, and Rose Champagne.
How Sparkling Wine is Made:
The process of marking sparkling wine is one of the most complicated wine making processes. When grape juice is fermented, sugar is converted into alcohol and carbonic gas. Generally, still winemakers allow the gas to escape, producers of sparkling wine do not. The key difference in the production of sparkling wine is the second fermentation.
This generally occurs in the bottle for a minimum of 18 months and allows the bubbles to fully integrate into the liquid. A typical indicator of quality is --> the smaller the bubbles, the higher the quality of sparkling wine. Bubble size is affected by (a) the length of time champagne ages (longer = smaller) and (b) temperature of the aging cellar (cooler = smaller).
Four formal methods of sparkling wine production include:
- Methode Champenoise; this term indicates wine that has undergone a second fermentation in the bottle it will be sold in. The second fermentation traps the natural carbon dioxide inside the bottle which eventually becomes bubbles.
- Bottle Fermented; this refers to a wine produced through a second fermentation, but not necessarily the bottle in which it will be sold.
- Methode Rurale; this is the precursor of method champenoise, involves no second fermentation, wine is bottled before the first alcoholic fermentation is finished.
- Cuve Close; (Tank method) used for bulk production of inexpensive sparkling wine that have undergone second fermentation in large tanks before being filtered and bottled.
Opening a Bottle of Sparkling Wine:
Each bottle of sparkling wine is under 6 atmospheres of pressure, so it is important to open each bottle with care. The steps to opening a bottle safely are: 1) Remove foil. 2) Place thumb on cork prior to removing wire. 3) With other hand, loosen and remove cage. 4) Holding cork firmly, begin to twist the cork in one direction until released.
Champagne.
True Champagne comes only from the Champagne region of France. This region is known for its high quality. What makes this region unique? Its northern climate and its chalky soil.
Champagne is typically made from a blend of the following grapes: chardonnary, pinot meunier and pinot noir. Each grape contibutes something different: chardonnay contributes finness and elegance, pinot noir contributes body and texture, and, pinot meunier contributes fruitiness and earthiness.
- If you see blanc du blanc on the label, that means 100% chardonnay
- If you see blanc du noir on the label, that means 100% pinot noir
What about vintage, or the lack thereof?
Champagne makers use reserve wine to blend in each year (called the assembleage) – this maintains consistency across each year and gives extra depth and richness. However, some finer Champagne Houses do release vintage wines if the weather has been particularly good that year.
Cremant
If you see Cremant on the label, this means the bottle is a sparkling wine from France, made in Champagne style, but sold at a more affordable price. This style of sparkling wine is typically made with the grape of the specific region in France were it is produced. The most popular cremant regions include: Cremant d'Alsace, Cremant de Bourgogne, Cremant de Limoux, and Cremant de Loire.
Cava.
Known as an even better value that Cremant. Cava is a style of sparkling wine from Spain, most of which from a region called Penedes. The name cava, is Catalan for cave or cellar. By law, this style of sparkling wine is made with one or more native spanish grapes, including: parellada, xarel-lo, and macabeo. It is known as a great partner with food, specifically popcorn.
Prosecco.
Prosecco is a style of sparkling wine from Italy, the best from a region north of Venice. Prosecco is the only sparkling wine named after the grape (yes, prosecco is a grape too!) instead of the region where it is produced. This style is typically made in the charmant, or bulk tank, fermentation method (opposed to the traditional method). Producers use a different method to preserve the freshness. Prosecco is known for its light and bright taste. Another notable, yet sometimes difficult to find, Italian sparkling wine is Francicorta. It is made with chardonnay grapes instead of prosecco grapes.
Rose Champagne.
Rose Champagnes are considered more prestigious than white champagne. This type of sparkling wine is commonly made with pinot noir or pinot meunier. An interesting fact about this rose style, it is the only wine in France allowed to be a blend of red and white wine (which is not how rose is typically made).
Sweetness Levels:
When you pick up a bottle of sparkling wine, you may ask yourself - what does "brut" mean, and how is it different from "sec?" These words are frequently placed on the label to identify the sweetness level of the sparkling wine. Below is a spectrum of words you may see as sweetness indicators (From Dry to Sweet):
- Extra Brut (very, very dry)
- Brut (very dry)
- Extra Dry (off-dry)
- Sec (lightly sweet)
- Demi-Sec (dessert wine)
- Doux (extra sweet - very rare today as they are somewhat out of fashion)
Standby for the group reviews and pictures of the Holiday Treats we had with our sparkling wine tasting!
Cheers!