Time to explore sparkling wines from around the globe!

Time to explore sparkling wines from around the globe!
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Toast the New Year with these traditional method sparkling wines

Created using the same method as Champagne, these luscious sparkling wines ring in the new year in style.

When it comes to celebrations, no wine is more associated with festive moments than Champagne. And while “Champagne” can only come from the Champagne region in France, the winemaking process so closely tied to Champagne’s houses is used the world over. As the countdown to the new year approaches, now is the time to explore traditional method sparkling wines from around the globe.

What is “Methodé Champenoise”?

The winemaking process has many monikers: traditional method, Champagne method, metodo classico, just to name a few. But they all refer to the same vinification method. After harvest, wine is fermented into a still wine, called the base wine. It is then bottled, and a little bit of liqueur de tirage (a wine-yeast-sugar solution) is added, which kicks off a second fermentation and creates carbon dioxide. Once fermentation is complete, wine ages on the lees (the dead yeast cells) for anywhere from a few months to several years before disgorgement (the process of removing the lees). A little bit of liqueur d’expédition, which is wine mixed with cane or beet sugar, tops off the wine, and the amount added determines the style (brut, extra brut, demi-sec, no dosage, etc.). Finally, the bottle is sealed with a cork.

Within this process, there is a lot of room for interpretation, however, ranging anywhere from how wine is initially fermented to time spent ageing on lees. Zoom out to a global view, and even the varieties used in a cuvée create endless options for delicious traditional method sparkling wines.

South Africa

Methode Cap Classique (MCC), the term used for traditional method sparkling wine in South Africa, is a fairly new category in the country; the first noted bottling took place in 1971. But Cap Classique is the fastest-growing style of wine in South Africa, and with the quality revolution taking place, it’s easy to see why. Many producers work with the three varieties most common in Champagne—Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier—but Chenin Blanc, one of the country’s most well-known white varieties, also produces aromatic and enticing sparkling wine.

One to try: Colmant Brut Reserve, a cuvée of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir sourced from the Western Cape’s coolest wine regions.

Tasmania

This island, off the coast of mainland Australia, is the coolest wine-producing region in the country. Its climate, dictated largely by cooling winds, means grapes retain acidity, which is vital for sparkling wine production. Pinot Noir comprises almost half of the vineyard plantings, followed by Chardonnay, both of which, along with a tiny bit of Pinot Meunier, are the backbone of Tasmania’s traditional method sparkling wines.

One to try: Jansz Vintage Cuvée, an estate that was founded in partnership with Champagne house Louis Roederer.

Spain

The Penedès has long been a hotbed of sparkling wine production in Spain. It’s where much of the Cava D.O. is centred, as well as newer (unofficial) designations such as Corpinnat. However, some winemakers opt to just label their wines as Penedès to allow freedom in their winemaking process. Both native varieties, such as Xarel-lo, Macabeo, and Parellada, and international varieties, such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, are used in production.

One to try: Familia Torres Cuvée Esplendor de Vardon Kennett, a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Xarel-lo, sourced from high-altitude vineyards.

England

Traditionally the biggest export market for Champagne, the United Kingdom has a love affair with fizz. Now, England has a sparkling wine industry to call its own. Chalky soils, like those found in Champagne, dominate the terroir, while the cold-yet-increasingly-warming climate makes it possible for grapes to fully ripen. As an industry in rapid growth mode, this is a country to watch.

One to try: Nyetimber Classic Cuvée, a non-vintage Champagne made from the classic three varieties of Champagne: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.

Italy

Prosecco and its Charmat method get a lot of the spotlight when it comes to Italian sparkling wine but head an hour north of Milan for metodo classico sparkling wines, specifically, the region of Franciacorta. It’s a fairly new winemaking region—the 1960s are considered the birth of the modern era—but they’ve wasted no time catching up when it comes to quality sparkling wines. Here you’ll find Pinot Noir (known as Pinot Nero), Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, and Erbamat, the latter of which was recently approved for use as it shows to be a promising grape in the face of climate change.

One to try: Berlucchi Cuvée Imperiale Brut, an estate credited with producing the first traditional method Franciacorta wine.

Germany

In German-speaking countries such as Germany and Austria, “sekt” is the term to know when it comes to sparkling wine. In Germany specifically, “Winzersekt” on a label guarantees that the wine is made in the traditional method. A number of grapes can be used—Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Muskateller, and Traminer—but in Germany, the indigenous variety Riesling, with its heady aromas and high acidity, produces sparkling wines with character and verve.

One to try: Richard Böcking Riesling Sekt Trocken, a family-owned estate that sources fruit from steeply sloped vineyards in the Mosel.

Shana Clarke
Shana Clarke
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