WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHAMPAGNE AND SPARKLING WINE?
Champagne is sparkling wine, but not every sparkling wine is a Champagne. The difference between Champagne and all other sparkling wines comes down to where the wine is made - Champagne must be produced in Champagne, France using an ancient method know as Methode Champenoise. This remains true even if the wine is made in France, which is responsible for 20% of sparkling wine production worldwide.
Because Methode Champenoise is very time consuming, Champagne generally has a higher price tag than other sparkling wines.While a bottle of bubbly remains an essential component of any celebration, its country of origin may not matter to you.
HOW MANY TYPES OF SPARKLING WINE ARE THERE?
The most common sparkling wines are Cava, Cremant, Franciacorta, Pet-Nat, Piquette, and the brunch staple - Prosecco,
EVERYDAY SPARKLING WINES TO ENJOY WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS
Bolla Prosecco
This extra dry Italian Prosecco is fresh and fruity, with lovely aromas of pear, apple and peach. Balanced acidity and a lively finish make this truly enjoyable and extremely versatile. Enjoy with seafood, pasta, or chicken.
Poema Cava Brut
Vibrant aromas of ripe peaches, pears and toasted bread with a hint of spice fill the nose. The palate on this non-vintage sparkling wine from Penedes, Spain is dry with a rich, creamy texture. Layers of flavor include orange rind and spice that persists through an elegant finish.
Maschio Prosecco Brut
Italy- Sparkling wine that is light straw yellow in color with a lively froth. Features a bouquet of white beach and orange blossoms, fruit forward with peach and almond flavors.
Chloe Prosecco
Chloe Prosecco defines the elegant sparkling style for which this captivating area is known. This Italian wine is bursting with fresh fruit and fine bubbles, with notes of peach, green apple, citrus and white flowers on the nose and palate.
Cupcake Prosecco
This refreshing Italian Prosecco sparkles with fine effervescence. Aromas of white peach, grapefruit and honeydew melon lead to flavors of creamy ripe lemon, refined citrus and a toasted brioche finish.
Domain Saint Vincent Brut
Domain Saint Vincent Brut is a soft yellow-gold, crisp and lively, with a nose of green apple and citrus mineral notes. This well balanced food-friendly sparkler offers bright, crisp acidity complemented by a touch of yeast on the delightfully long finish.
Caposaldo Prosecco
The color is pale straw with greenish undertones. The aroma is fruity with citrus, green apple and acacia flowers. On the palate, this Non-Vintage Sparkling Wine from Prosecco, Italy is a fine and persistent perlage which creates a soft, round mouth feel. Pleasant acidity, freshness and full-bodied flavor finish make this a versatile wine excellent for an aperitivo, appetizers or throughout dinner. Pair with light cheeses, cured meats, antipasti, fish (raw/cooked) fried foods, light-fleshed meats, light pastas and desserts.
Ruffino Prosecco
Hails from Veneto, Italy. Bright straw yellow with fine bubbles. Bubbles are full textured and persistent. On the nose the wine brings fresh citrus with hints of apples and pears. Ruffino Prosecco perfectly matches with pizza, fish and shellfish dishes as well as white meat dishes.
Korbel Brut
This California sparkling wine is light and crisp with fine citrus and pear notes. This wine is an excellent accompaniment to Asian dishes, chicken, seafood, and assorted fruits. Learn more about Korbel's California sparkling wine
Gruet Brut
Aromas of green apple and citrus mineral notes make for a delightful start to this traditional sparkler. This American Brut NV offers bright, crisp acidity complimented by a touch of yeast on the delightfully long finish. A classic house style!
Martini & Rossi Asti
Martini & Rossi Asti is crafted from 100% handpicked Moscato Bianco grapes, grown in Northern Italy. It is ranked DOCG, the highest classification granted to Italian wines.
Martini & Rossi Sparkling Rose
From one of the world's largest sparkling wine producers, this light-pink Italian sparkler has plenty of elegant red fruit, with subtle spice. Bright, clean and fresh, it's a great sparkling wine for any number of occasions - before and during the meal.
Martini & Rossi Prosecco
Veneto, Italy - Plays well as a white wine on its own, with delicious hints of apple and peach. When paired with food, its acidity, elevated fruit essence and spark of effervescence shine through, adding zest to classic fare or more exotic global cuisine.
JaM Cellars Toast Sparkling
Aromas of honeydew, white peach and orange blossoms will entice you. The palate is bright, fruity and well balanced with flavors of light toast and pear with hints of tropical pineapple and honeydew. It is fresh and fruity on one level, rich and sumptuous underneath, making Toast a perfect wine for any celebration.
Banfi Rosa Regale Sparkling Red Wine
Piedmont, Italy, has a delicate bouquet of rose petals and offers sensuous flavors of fresh raspberries and strawberries. Its effervescence is softer than that of champagne, yet it yields a persistent and delicate pink froth.
Piper Sonoma Brut
Sonoma- A fruit-forward sparkler with lovely lemon-lime citrus flavors with some nice gingery spice characteristic. The finish is refreshing, initiating you to take another sip.
LUXURY SPARKLING WINES TO TOAST HOLIDAYS & OTHER SPECIAL OCCASIONS
Domaine Carneros Brut
California- A wonderful array of aromas including white flower, pear, golden apple, honeycomb and brioche create a bouquet for the nose. The palate flavors are true to the aromas and are enhanced by a texture that is creamy, full and elegantly structured.
Luc Belaire GoldLuc Belaire Gold
Burgundy, France - A highly drinkable and refreshing, with aromas of white flowers alongside citrus and stone fruits, such as peach, grapefruit, and lemon. In the mouth, the wine is dry and light, with a crisp finish. Versatile enough to pair with nearly any dish.
Luc Belaire Rose
Provence, France - Carefully aged before release, it has a great effervescence, resulting in a beautiful, deep red with aromas of strawberry and blackcurrant. There is a roundness and a toasty richness. Great on its own as an aperetif, or paired with any dish, or in a sparkling cocktail.
Taittinger Brut La Francaise
A Non-Vintage Sparkling Wine from Champagne, France, the winery notes, “ (this wine) contains a higher proportion of the finer Chardonnay grape than other nonvintage Champagnes, giving elegance and freshness to the wine."
Champagne Palmer Brut Reserve
Citrus, pear, and apricot aromas with discrete notes of hazelnut and buttery brioche. Succulent and substantial with an unfettered freshness. The model of balance, crafted from a selection of the most prestigious terroirs in Champagne and distinguished by its elegance and finesse—the timeless signature of the Palmer style. A significant proportion of réserve wines contributes a rare fullness and maturity.
Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve
A deep golden robe. Delicate vivacious and long-lasting bubbles are the result of more than 36 months of ageing in chalk cellars. With 40% of reserve wines (the maximum possible amount), the blend offers a complex, voluptuous nose with notes of freshly baked brioche and the richness of roasted coffee beans.
A precise selection of wines, purposely limited to 60 crus, ensures the Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve a deliciously sophisticated harmony. An opulent selection of ripe, sun-drenched fruits such as mango, apricot, and greengage plum combines with dried fruits, pistachio and almond. The texture is reminiscent of a crisp layer of nougatine on a velvety cream pastry filled with plump red plums and ripe cherries.
The reserve wines, some dating back ten years give the wine lushness. The depth of the thousand-year-old chalk quarries where the wine matures offer a touch of praline along with notes of amber and vanilla.
Armand de Brignac Gold Brut
Armand de Brignac Gold Brut is the iconic, flagship tête de cuvée from the 11th generation Montagne de Reims champagne growers, the Cattier family. Reflecting the rich traditions of blending in Champagne, the assemblage comprises 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier and is a trio of vintages; 2009, 2010 and 2012.
To taste, the Armand de Brignac Gold Brut reveals peach, apricot and red berry aromas, followed by crystalized citrus, orange blossom and hints of brioche. The palate is rich with cherries, exotic fruits and a touch of lemon, vanilla and honey. The mouth feel is soft and creamy, with a hint of toastiness, from the unique Armand de Brignac dosage which is aged for one year in French oak barrels. Ideal as an aperitif or pairs perfectly with seared scallops, roasted quail and freshwater fish.
Each iconic, metalized bottle is finished by hand, with the application of French pewter labels, polished, and housed in a wooden lacquered gift box, ensuring every single bottle is unique. Champagne Armand de Brignac Gold Brut makes for a timeless keepsake and a truly memorable gift.
WHAT EVENTS AND HOLIDAYS ARE BEST TO SERVE CHAMPAGNE OR SPARKLING WINE?
Brunch
Birthdays
Graduation
Retirement
New Baby
New Home
New Job
Staycation
Vacation
Engagement Party
Bachelor Party
Bachelorette Party
Weddings
New Year’s
Valentine’s Day
Mother’s Day
Independence Day
Thanksgiving
Hanukkah
Christmas