If you’re unfamiliar with the sparkling wine category, a good rule of thumb to remember is that Champagne is a sparkling wine that must come from its eponymous region in France (and adhere to a strict set of rules), which means that not all sparkling wines are Champagnes. Taste a piece of history and pour yourself a glass of Ferrari Brut bubbles to celebrate yet another sparkling discovery.Whether you're shopping for bubbles for a special occasion or your New Year’s Eve toast, before you shell out $50 or more for that iconic orange label, it’s worth getting an in-depth look at what else is out there-especially if you’re hoping to expand your wine horizons or just find something at a more approachable price point. Notes of apple, flowers, apricots, tropical fruits, and brioche abound, making this sparkling wine ideal by itself or with a wide assortment of dishes (via Italian Wine Connection). With dry bruts, rosés, millesimatos (vintage), and riservas (longer aging), there's an option for everyone. If you're a fan of Champagne and want to try something different at a slightly lower price point (with the quality intact), Trentodoc is a worthwhile alternative. Thanks to its unique terroir, Trentodoc is often called 'sparkling wine from the mountains.' Grapes are hand-picked and the wine undergoes a notable maturation period (from 15 months to 10 years) in order to develop its flavors. Try Nino Franco Prosecco as a fun and fizzy apéritif or serve it at a glam brunch.Īs Masters of Wine describes, the Italian terroir boasts high-altitude vineyards where chardonnay, pinot noir, pinot blanc, and pinot meunier are grown - all are permitted in Champagne production, too. If you're a fan of pink wines, Prosecco DOC Rosé was officially approved in 2020. Prosecco ranges from extra brut (very dry) to demi-sec, a sweet style that makes for an excellent dessert wine. Valdo winery explains that this type of secondary fermentation produces a fresh, crisp taste by reducing the time the wine is in contact with dead yeast cells.

The Charmat method is commonly used and partly responsible for these flavors. Prosecco is generally recognized for its light, floral, fruity, and aromatic notes. That designates greater regulations and superior vineyard zones. Given the huge volume of production and varying quality, if you want to taste the good stuff, look for DOCG labels on bottles. In fact, it was the first area of Italy to be labeled as a sparkling wine region. Subareas of the region designate levels of quality and winemaking restrictions, with the hills of Conegliano Valdobbiadene typically considered among the best. Finally, the ancestral method involves bottling and sealing the wine before it completes its first fermentation, effectively blocking carbon dioxide in the bottle and producing bubbles. The tank (or, Charmat method) simplifies the process by performing the second fermentation in a large pressurized tank before bottling the bubbly wine.

Sealed, the carbon dioxide byproduct has nowhere to go, ultimately settling in the wine as bubbles. It entails making a still wine and bottling it with additional sugar to provoke a secondary fermentation in the bottle. The traditional method is often considered the most prestigious (and time-consuming). Each technique highlights different components, creating the nuanced flavors you'll find in any given glass of sparkling wine. The three main fermentation processes we will touch upon in our selection are traditional, tank, and ancestral. The grape varieties in the wine undoubtedly have a large impact, but the method used to develop the bubbles does, too. There are many factors that influence how any wine will taste, and sparkling styles have additional variables that make each unique.

Sparkling wines