Sparkling Wines to Consider for the Holidays

Sparkling wines really do shine during the holidays—both literally and figuratively. Here’s a few tips on the various types of sparkling wines to enjoying them to the fullest.

Champagne

Champagne is a sparkling wine that is produced in the relatively small region of Champagne in France. An entry level bottle of Champagne is going to start in the $50 range.

Some Champagne facts:

  • Champagne is typically produced from three grapes — Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier

  • To be called Champagne, it must be produced in the Champagne region of France. Otherwise, it must be called Sparkling Wine

  • Champagne is produced using a process called the méthode champenoise where the bubbles are formed in the bottle during a second fermentation.

U.S. Sparkling Wine

In the U.S., there are a tremendous number of makers of sparkling wine. Most will produce a wine that can taste very much like the French Champagne. And, you can also find rosé sparkling wines.  An entry level bottle of sparkling wine in the U.S. can be as little as $10. Read more

Prosecco and Asti

In Italy, Prosecco is their signature sparkling wine. Produced in the Veneto region just north of Venice, this sparkling wine usually produces bigger bubbles. Bottles of Prosecco can be purchased in the $10- $15 range. Read more

Cava

The sparkling wine of Spain is Cava that is produced in the Catalonia region of Spain where Barcelona is located.  Nice bottles of Cava can be purchased for around $15. Read more

Styles of Champagne and Sparkling Wine

Brut Nature - This style is bone dry meaning it has little or no sugar content (0–3 g/L sugar).

Extra Brut - This style is also very dry but, it can have up to twice the sugar level of Brut Nature (0–6 g/L sugar). This little bit of sweetness creates a wonderful balance with Champagne’s naturally high acidity.

Brut - This is the most common style. While considered “Dry” this style can have twice the sugar of Extra Brut (0–12 g/L sugar).

Extra Dry - This is the one that always confuses people. This style is sweeter which actually makes it also taste a bit fruity (12–17 g/L sugar).

Dry - The confusing continues. This style is getting up there in sweetness (17–32 g/L sugar).

Demi-Sec - Now you’re talking Sweet (32–50 g/L sugar). This style works well with desserts or cheeses.

Doux - This one, while very rare to find, is really sweet (50+ g/L sugar).

A few serving tips

  • Chill properly: About 40–45°F (4–7°C) is ideal

  • Use proper glassware: Tulip or white wine glasses preserve aroma better than narrow flutes

  • Open gently: Twist the bottle, not the cork, for a quiet, elegant release

No matter which type or style you choose, give sparkling wines a try this holiday season. Cheers!

Sparkling Wines are Perfect for the Holidays!

Sparkling wines are perfect for the holidays. Here’s a few types to consider enjoying:

Photo by Oliver Sherwin on Unsplash

Champagne

Champagne is a sparkling wine that is produced in the relatively small region of Champagne in France. Only those sparkling wines produced in this region are allowed to be labeled as 'Champagne.'  And an entry level bottle of Champagne is going to start in the $50 range. So, typically you are toasting with some other sparkling wine. Read more

Some Champagne facts:

  • Champagne is typically produced from three grapes — Pinot Noir (Yes! A red wine grape!), Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier

  • To be called Champagne, it must be produced in the Champagne region of France. Otherwise, it’s called Sparkling Wine

  • Champagne is produced using a process called the méthode champenoise where the bubbles are formed in the bottle during a second fermentation.

U.S. Sparkling Wine

In the U.S., there are a tremendous number of makers of sparkling wine. Most will produce a wine that can taste very much like the French Champagne. And, you can also find rosé sparkling wines.  An entry level bottle of sparkling wine in the U.S. can be as little as $5. Read more

Prosecco and Asti

In Italy, Prosecco is their signature sparkling wine. Produced in the Veneto region just north of Venice, this sparkling wine usually produces bigger bubbles. Bottles of Prosecco can be purchased in the $10- $15 range. Read more

Cava

The sparkling wine of Spain is Cava that is produced in the Catalonia region of Spain where Barcelona is located.  Nice bottles of Cava can be purchased for around $15. Read more

Styles of Champagne and Sparkling Wine

Brut Nature - This style is bone dry meaning it has little or no sugar content (0–3 g/L sugar).

Extra Brut - This style is also very dry but, it can have up to twice the sugar level of Brut Nature (0–6 g/L sugar). This little bit of sweetness creates a wonderful balance with Champagne’s naturally high acidity.

Brut - This is the most common style. While considered “Dry” this style can have up to twice the sugar of Extra Brut (0–12 g/L sugar).

Extra Dry - This is the one that always confuses people. This style is sweeter which actually makes it also taste a bit more fruity (12–17 g/L sugar).

Dry - The confusion continues. This style is getting up there in sweetness (17–32 g/L sugar).

Demi-Sec - Now you’re talking Sweet (32–50 g/L sugar). This style works well with desserts or bold cheeses.

Doux - This one, while very rare to find, is really sweet (50+ g/L sugar).

No matter which type or style you choose, give sparkling wines a try this holiday season. Cheers!

Italian Sparkling Wines - Prosecco and Asti

France has its Champagne. Spain has Cava. In Italy, Prosecco and Asti are its two most popular sparkling wines.

Prosecco is primarily from the Veneto region of Italy and made from the Glera grape.  Like Champagne, Prosecco must be produced in designated regions of Italy to be called Prosecco on the label. Unlike Champagne and Cava that undergo a secondary fermentation in the bottle (the 'traditional method'), Prosecco is produced using the Charmat ('transfer') method.  Using this process, large quantities of wine are kept under pressure in stainless steel tanks during the second fermentation.  The resulting sparkling wine is then bottled.

While most people can't tell the difference in the secondary fermentation process used, it is generally believed that the traditional method results in smaller, more persistent bubbles, while the transfer method results in lighter bubbles, being almost frothy, and having a creamier feel in the mouth.  

Prosecco tends to be fruiter than Champagne and usually sweeter. Prosecco has been described as having flavors of melon, peer, apple, honey suckle and cream.  There are three main styles of Prosecco: Brut has up to 12 gram per liter of residual sugar, while Extra Dry has 12-17 gm/liter and Dry has 17-32 gm/liter.  Prosecco also tends to be lower in alcohol, around 11-12%  And, nice entry-level bottles of Prosecco are easily found in the $15 - $20 range. 

Asti is another popular sparkling wine from Italy. It is produced in the Piedmont region around the towns of Asti and Alba from the Moscato Bianco grape.  Originally known as 'Asti Spumante' (spumante means fully sparkling), the name was shortened to just Asti in 1993 when it received its official designation.  This fully sparkling wine has an alcohol content around 8% to 9% by volume. Sharing the Asti designation is Moscato d'Asti that is also made from the Moscato Bianco grape. This sparkling wine is typically in the frizzante style (frizzante means lightly sparkling). Like Asti, Moscato d'Asti is made using the transfer process, but the fermentation is stopped quite early, resulting in a sparkling wine that is sweet, has fewer bubbles and is low in alcohol (5-6%). Because Moscato d'Asti is lightly sparkling, it is typically packaged with a standard bottle and cork. Both Moscato d'Asti and Asti sparkling wines can be found in the $10 - $20 range.

These Italian sparkling wines are not meant for aging and should be consumed young and fresh. So pick up a bottle or two, chill them, and enjoy them right away. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Three Great Wines to Enjoy with Traditional Italian Christmas Meals

Riva Leone Gavi GOCG ($14.99) - From the Gavi area of Piedmont in Italy, this wine is produced from 100% Cortese grapes. Fermentation is carried out in stainless steel tanks and aged in steel for 2-3 months before bottling.

This Riva Leone Gavi is a very pale yellow-green in color with very delicate aromas of citrus, lime and green apple. On the palate, this light-bodied wine has flavors of light citrus and melon, bright acidity and a soft, light finish.

Gavi is a classic starter that is crisp and immensely fresh. The mineral and citrus notes allow it to pair well with seafood dishes, as it complement and accentuate the salty-mineral flavors of shellfish and seafood.


Riva Leone Barbera DOC ($11.99) - From Piedmont Italy comes another of the classic Italian wines - Barbera.

This Riva Leone Barbera is a medium ruby in color with classic aromas of cherry and dried herbs. On the palate, this medium-bodied wine has flavors of tart cherry, a hint of black pepper and good acidity that finishes with fruity zip.

Barbera pairs well with meat-filled pasta, the medium tannins and bright acidity will match with the richness of fresh pasta.


Acquesi Asti Spumante ($17.99) - This Italian sparkling wine is produced from 100% Moscato. It is a sweet sparkling wine at just 7% alcohol by volume and 95 g/L residual sugar making it a sweet sparkling wine.

Its pale gold color and greenish hue leads to complex floral aromas of fresh tree fruits, honeycomb and exotic spices. On the palate it is fresh, sweet and persistent with a lingering, sweet fruity finish.

While this can be enjoyed with cheese and spicy Asian foods, it is most classically paired with desserts such as pastries, fruit tarts, cakes and butter creams. A perfect way to end a wonderful meal!

Each of these wonderful wines is imported by Mack & Schuhle and widely available and, at these prices, are a great fit as Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week. Cheers and Happy Holidays!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Samples Provided by Mack & Schuhle

Some Italian Christmas Traditional Meals and Great Wine Pairings

Italians really feel the holiday atmosphere starting in late November, but the Christmas season officially starts on December 8th, the Day of Immaculate Conception. On this day many Italian families decorate their home and trees, bake cookies, wrap their presents, and schools and offices are formally closed.  Christmas day and Christmas Eve are observed in different ways all over the country, but here’s a sample of Christmas meal traditions and some great wine pairings to go with them:

Riva Leone Gavi

Christmas Eve - The meal for Christmas Eve, La Vigilia, doesn’t have any red meat; it’s all fish and vegetables. That’s in keeping with most meals served on the eve before a religious festival in Italy, you’re supposed to be eating lean to help purify your body for the holiday.  A wonderful pairing is one of the many classic Italian white wines, Gavi (aka Cortese). It is named for the town of its origin and has reached the prestigious DOCG ranking. It is a classic wine that is crisp, racy and immensely fresh. The mineral and citrus notes are often why Gavi is paired with seafood dishes, as these notes complement and accentuate the salty-mineral flavors of shellfish and seafood.

Riva Leone Barbera


Christmas Day Lunch - After you’ve refrained from indulging on Christmas Eve, you’re allowed to really eat-up on Christmas Day. Lunch is the main meal. Pasta is a common kickoff to the meal across Italy. In Bologna, it’s all about meat-filled tortellini.  A great wine to pair with this meal is Barbera. The medium tannins and bright acidity will match with the richness of fresh pasta. Barbera traditionally has bright red fruit flavors, including cherry and spice, which complements the flavor of the meat.


Acquesi Asti

Dessert - Italians aren’t generally big on desserts, but when it comes to sweets and the Christmas season, all bets are off. Of course, sweet breads, like panettone and pandoro, are popular across Italy. Other desserts include cavallucci, cookies with the image of a horse; dita degli apostoli (“fingers of the apostles”), chocolate- or coffee-flavored ricotta-filled omelets; and mostaccioli, spiced nut pastries.  Asti is an excellent dessert wine, and pairs particularly well with fruit-based desserts. Its sweetness and fruitiness complement the flavors of the dessert, while its effervescence cuts through the richness and provides a refreshing contrast.

So, if you’re planning an Italian meal, or any meal, this holiday season, give these wines a try! And, check out the next installment of Behind the Cork™ that will feature more details on each the three wines shown: Riva Leone Gavi, Riva Leone Barbera and Acquesi Asti. Happy Holidays and Cheers!