SPARKLING WINES

Poirés, Cidres, Cormé, Montlouis, Moscato d'Asti, Vouvray, Quality Sparkling Wines... as well as champagnes of course, all these appellations produce sparkling wines. Were you curious to find out what was hidden behind the little name ‘Les Bulles’? We'll tell you all about these drinks, which have a different style to still wines.

WHAT IS A SPARKLING WINE?

Sparkling wines are also known as "vins pétillants" or "fines bulles" in French. Most of the time, these are sparkling wines, but they can also be semi-sparkling or pearlescent: effervescence varies depending on a number of criteria, such as the region, the appellation, the grape varieties and the production methods. There are several different winemaking techniques, including the méthode champenoise (and tradition), the méthode ancestrale, the closed vat method and the méthode dioise. These wines have been regulated by the European Union since 2008 and 2009.

Sparkling wine is wine from which CO2 has been removed. This carbon dioxide is created during the fermentation of the wine. It is dissolved in the wine by closing the bottle with its cork, held in place by a wire worm. The gas only comes out when the bottle is uncorked and the wine is poured into a glass. Sparkling wines are often appreciated for their freshness and lightness.

CHAMPAGNE BUT NOT ONLY...

The Champagne region produces only sparkling wine made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Champagnes known as ‘Blancs de Blancs’ are made exclusively from Chardonnay, while ‘Blancs de Noirs’ contain a proportion of red grape varieties. More generally, we know Champagnes Bruts, Champagnes Blanc de Blancs and Rosés, with one very telling example of success: the Champagne Louis Roederer House.

Because it's not just in Champagne that fine bubbles are produced, there are now gourmet ciders, perries and cormé produced by Eric Bordelet. This is just one example, but more and more producers are turning their attention to making cuvées for meals, because after all, why not combine food and wine throughout the meal by varying the pleasures with sparkling wines? Sparkling wines are very versatile when it comes to food and wine pairing. Champagne is perfect with seafood, oysters, sushi or even poultry or cheese dishes, while Prosecco is ideal with light dishes such as salads, tapas or vegetable dishes, for example.

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPARKLING WINE

Of course, Crémants, Cidres, Vouvray, Poirés, Sparkling wines and other sparkling wines are slightly less effervescent than classic champagnes, but that in no way prevents the creation of tasty combinations. A little geographical information: the Vouvray and Montlouis appellations are very popular and come straight from the Loire Valley, as do ciders, perry and cormé. Sparkling wines can be produced anywhere in France and around the world. Moscato d'Asti comes from the superb country of Italy, and can be found in our delicious selection from other countries. Let's not forget the famous Prosecco produced in the Veneto region is made using the Charmat method, where the second fermentation takes place in vats rather than in the bottle, resulting in a lighter, fruitier wine. Lastly, Crémant comes from several French wine-growing regions (Burgundy, Alsace, Loire, etc.) and is also produced using the traditional method. Crémant is often a more affordable alternative to champagne, while still offering high quality.

 

Sparkling wines are often associated with celebrations and festive occasions, but they can also be enjoyed in more everyday contexts, thanks to their diversity of styles and prices.