US consumers have access to wide
range of good quality sparkling wines. Nevertheless, The iconic word champagne conjures
up memories of celebratory milestones like marriage, graduations promotions
etc...
By law, specifically those of the EU and France in
particular the use of the term champagne on a wine label is restricted to wines
produced in that specified terroir Wines produced in Champagne are also subject to stringent
requirements relating to viticulture and vinification. These measures make champagne production very
expensive. The result for the US
wine drinker is a retail price point starting at $40or more a bottle for NV
(non vintage) champagne.
If your budget doesn’t allow sufficient latitude to purchase
copious quantities of the “Wine Of Kings" there are many good alternatives. Many sparkling producers use a similar
production method (known as the “traditional method”) and are available at a
price point of $15- $20 per bottle or sometimes less.
Three words to remember represent sparkling wines from Europe produced outside the champagne region. These are Prosecco (Italy ),
Cava (Spain ), and Cremant (France) Each
represents unique sparkling wine styles or multiple wine styles in the case of
Cremant. They are all suitable for drinking in all four seasons to celebrate
or for no reason at all.
A few comments on
each style:
Cava – From Spain ’s Catalan
Penedes region. Nearest large city is Barcelona
Cava is made in the "traditional methode" or “methode
champenois.” Cava is the
second largest sparkling wine export from Europe. Cava uses similar designations reflecting aging
and sugar content labeling as champagne. More importantly, it is a far better value.
Prosecco- Made
from the Glera grape and is sourced
from Italy ’s Veneto Champagne
which is in the bottle Very limited aging often reflects a fruity sometimes off
dry style. Great with brunch and Mimosas.
Cremant – Sparkling
wines produced in the tradtional methode /methode champenois from approximately 23 French wine
regions Each uses the grape varieties indigenous to their respective region
representing a range of styles Some examples
Alsace (Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris), Cremant
Rose d’Alsace (100% Pinot Noir).
Cremant from the
Langedouc Roussilan is the
largest wine region in France (who knew?)
The most well known is Blanquette Limoux – Limoux is recognized as the oldest producer of French sparkling wines,
made using the oldest (literally) ancient method beginning in 1513. (This proceeded Champagne and the traditional method by more
than 200 years.) The key grapes are
Chardonnay, Mauzac and Chenin Blanc.
Champagne –
This “wine of kings “ toasted 26
coronations of French Kings at the cathedral of Reims
as a starting point. The famous wine of champagne began as a still off dry
style wine. The modern style was actually the result of a stalled fermentation
during winter weather. When warmer temperatures m returned it restarted fermentation the by product of which was CO2
trapped in the bottles which created bubbles. Originally this was considered a
wine fault
The grapes allowed are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Petit
Meunier.
My friend, Elizabeth Miller the manager of Vintology Wines in
Scarsdale NY,
These are very good
examples different styles of sparkling wine:
Cava -
Juve & Camps, "Cinta
Purpura", Cava Reserva NV. It retails for about $15.00/ bottle.
Prosecco
Masottina, Brut Prosecco DOC NV. Once again a good price point at $15.00/ bottle.
Cremant – Jura
This option is as
they say in football is “going deep.” It’s
a cremant from producer Francois Montand. It retails for $15 -$16 per bottle
for the Rose and the Brut. The history
of this transplanted Champagne native from occupied to free France Elizabeth
Champagne – the “granddaddy of them all"...Pol Roger, Extra Cuvee de
Reserve Champagne NV
“Pol Roger is the wine geek’s champagne and
the British favorite!”
Here’s to feeling
the warm glow of sunshine and the sensation of bubbles on your palate in the
Summer of 2016.
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