Features of sparkling winemaking
Sparkling wine has already become not only a traditional companion during holidays and important events, but also a great supplement to warm meetings. The technology of its production is different from the manufacturing of common still wines, although in some ways they have something in common.
Basically, sparkling wine is made in 2 stages. The first stage implies preparation of ordinary wine from berries, and the second stage implies adding sugar and yeast to it, in order to make secondary fermentation to start. This technique enables the formation of bubbles. As a rule, especially expensive wines are fermented directly in bottles, and wine for mass production is fermented in separate hermetic containers, from which later ready sparkling wine is bottled.
Sparkling wine is considered ready after the entire sediment (fermentation byproduct) has been removed from it. But winemakers, who prepare sparkling wine directly in the bottles in their own cellars, turn each bottle with their own hands and in a special way.
To reduce the cost of the manufacturing process, some manufacturers simply carbonate wine with carbon dioxide. Such a product is easy to detect from the bubbles that quickly evaporate from a glass. Accordingly, the longer the bubbles stay in the glass, the higher the quality of the wine.
Types of wine
For the production of sparkling wine not many grape varieties are used. Most often, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay are used in the production. The varieties Arbani, Pinot Blanc and Petit Mellier are also quite popular, but they are used less frequently. Sometimes for production they take only one variety, sometimes - several varieties of grapes at once.
So, from Chardonnay they make white sparkling wine, and from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier - red. A pink tint is obtained when grape juice, which is golden from any grape variety, is in contact with the skin of the berry for much longer time.
Sparkling or champagne?
Out of habit, sparkling wine is still often called “champagne”, but only that wine grown in French province of Champagne can be called a real champagne. And the difference is not only in price and naming, but also in the features of production.
For example, for the production of champagne, the sugar level in grapes must be lower than in the production of ordinary sparkling wine. It is believed that only this way the real wine will be able to reveal all its features. For this reason, the berries are gathered not ripened sufficiently and the juice is instantly squeezed so that it remains white.
As for the classification regarding quality, both champagne and sparkling wine can be without specifying on the label the year of production (only sugar content is written on the label), vintage (indicating the year, from the one harvest grapes), premium wines (indicating the year, best grapes, often with their own names).
Aging
Most sparkling wines that can be found in stores do not require long aging. It is believed that they should be consumed young - within a few years after production. For example, the well-known sparkling wine called “Soviet Champagne” by its technology had a production time of 26 calendar days.
Usually, the most common sparkling wines can age for no longer than 15 months, or even much less. Champagne wines that are produced according to the champagne bottling method must age at least 18 months, but vintage wines can age up to several years.
Storage
Sparkling wine should be stored in a cool place. It should be remembered that even a slightly frozen sparkling wine, may have crystals of ice at the bottom of the bottle, but its taste will not be significantly affected by this. But sparkling does not like warm temperatures. This wine is recommended to keep at temperatures above 15 ° C - in contrast to cold temperatures, high temperatures can ruin the taste of the drink. In addition, winemakers advise not to leave an open bottle of sparkling wine in direct sunlight for more than 20 minutes.
Serving
Sparkling wine should be served when well chilled. For semi-sweet and sweet wines, the appropriate temperature is 6-8 ° С, and for dry and semi-dry ones - up to 4 ° С. Red sparkling wines are cooled to 8-10 ° C. The bottle is carefully uncorked just before serving, pouring wine at an angle of 30-45 °. Sparkling wine is served in narrow glasses in the form of a flute or a tulip in order to maximally save bubbles from disappearing. According to the rules, after opening a bottle of sparkling wine it should be placed in a special bucket with ice.
Sparkling wine is usually served with snacks that match the flavors of the drink itself. For example, dry sparkling wine perfectly combines with goat cheese, semi-sweet with blue cheeses, semi-dry with seasoned yellow cheeses, and gorgonzola is served with sweet sparkling wine. Exquisite foie gras is especially good for a semi-sweet rose. Seafood, fish and caviar are served with dry or brut.
Meat snacks and white meat are combined with dry and semi-dry wines. As for desserts, white chocolate or strawberries can be offered to semi-sweet and semi-dry sparkling. The taste of expensive aged champagne is advised not to mix with anything, or at least it can be a light snack without intense taste - for example, oysters.
Wine list
Sparkling wines perfectly perform the role of an aperitif. Dry wines such as prosecco are perfect before dinner due to light taste and refreshing bubbles. White sparkling wine Bottega Gold Prosecco Spumante is just a perfect choice. The delicate and fresh taste of dry wine with fruit and floral notes reveals in a harmonious aftertaste and is sure to be the perfect start to the evening.
Sweet wine lovers will appreciate the nutmeg taste of Italian Martini Asti Spumante. Due to the special production technology, the natural sweetness of Moscato from Piedmont is remained in wine.
The legendary Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut Rose is famous for the fact that this particular brand became the pioneer manufacturer of pink sparkling wine. Amazing pink champagne is often called the absolute masterpiece of winemaking.
One of the world's most popular sparkling beverages is Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial Champagne. In this wine 3 grape varieties are ideally combined: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, and the traditions of the famous Wine House for more than one century retain its distinctive bright taste.
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