Everybody knows about Champagne and Prosecco, but what of the many other kinds of sparkling wine out there? Just about every wine-production country has a version and they tend to all be a little different, both in terms of flavor and production methods.
We’ve rounded up some worthy options you should familiarize yourself with. It’s by no means a roundup of all the sparkling wine varieties out there, but a nicely-curated list of ones to seek out, especially with the holidays approaching. As always, chat up your local bottle shop staff for options within these fine regional sparkling wine genres.
Sekt
While perhaps not the sexiest name in the sparkling wine lexicon, Sekt is the Austrian and German sparkling wine category with some impressive offerings. For years, it was seen as cheap and mass produced but now there is a seriousness about it and the prices are still way lower than, say, Champagne. Winzersekt is the best example, high quality wines usually made from a single varietal from a single vineyard.
According to Wine Enthusiast, Germany consumes the most sparkling wine of any nation. Seems only fair that they produce a good lot too and that’s where sekt comes into play. More and more small producers are trying their hand at the style and there’s some quality being exported to curious American drinkers. Winzersekt is more of a focus these days, a style that must be made entirely from estate fruit, typically Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, or Muskateller. Also lookout for Rieslingsekt for some delicious options.
Cava
No longer the bottom-shelf stuff you pour into Mismosas, Cava is Spanish fizz that’s undergone a renaissance of late with producers really dialing in approaches and people thirsty for something beyond the usual sparkling wine suspects. It tends to be a bit citrusy and leaner, making it all the rage these days among those looking for both deals and lower-alcohol options.
The wine, Catolonian, can be white or pink. It’s typically made with Macabeo, Parellada, or Xarel-lo grapes. Some red grapes are permitted too but not as popular. The wine dates back to the 1850s. Spain is a major producer, one of the top five in all of the land. Look for options with an actual vintage on them, as they tend to reflect years the winemakers really liked and/or may indicate a smaller-production option that does not blend from varying vintages. Also, there’s a relatively new category called Corpinnat that’s about a decade old. It’s set in the Penedès region and the wines are made according to more exacting, stricter standards, often yielding more interesting results.
Cremant
France’s lesser-known sparkling, Cremant tends to be less expensive with some outstanding options especially from Alsace and the Loire. Think of it as Champagne, only made elsewhere, not just in French regions but Luxembourg too. There are some serious deals out there involving wines that would do just fine in blind tastings against some of the best Champagne wines out there. Domaine Ginglinger in Alsace is a safe bet, as is Domaine Bott Geyl, also in Alsace.
Franciacorta
Italian sparkling quite different from Prosecco, Franciacorta hails from Lombardy with its own esteemed DOCG designation. The wines go back to the 13th Century and today somms are seeking them out as they tend to be elegant and refined. The first DOC status of the wine occurred in 1967 with the DOCG designation happening in 1995.
The climate in this part of Italy is ideally-suited for sparkling wine and many think it’s the best effervescent wine to come out of the nation. It’s made of Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, and Pinot Bianco. The wines benefit from the classic method, an unhurried approach that sees them rest on the lees for up to five years and sometimes beyond even that. Look for stuff from Ca’Del Basco and Uberti, among others. Pair it up with your favorite charcuterie plate iteration.
Canadian Sparkling
An emerging category with some fun options, from Pet-Nat to traditional, Canadian sparkling wine is worth paying attention to. Many come from the Niagara region but some fine options come from British Columbia and Nova Scotia. They’re proving to age well capture quite a following, and deservedly so.
Here, producers employ both méthode champenoise and tank-fermented approaches. There are some major deals in this emerging market and, being just north of us, access to the stuff is pretty good (and improving). Try Okanagan Valley wines like the deft work of Howling Bluff Estate Winery. Or, Garnet Valley Ranch sparkling wine, made in nearby Summerland.
And don’t forget about the American sparkling wine scene. Places like the Willamette Valley are taking it too exciting new heights. In fact, some of the highest-scoring sparkling wines on the planet are being made right here in the U.S. There’s also a small but rather exciting Brazilian sparkling wine story being written at the moment that’s worth tracking.
