Sparkling and Champagne

Sparkling - Champagne

Wine Types

There are many Sparkling wines and Champagnes to choose from. Almost all wine regions make a Sparkling white, and some make Sparkling Rose. Champagne is also popular, the most well known region for Champagne production is Champagne, France. Champagne is a region of France and it has strict wine making laws. The name Champagne is only allowed to be on labels of Champagne from the Champagne region of France. That is why most bubbly wines are called Sparklings.

The best bubblys come from Spain- Cava, Italy - Prosecco, and the Loire Region of France make Cremants. Many Sparklings are made using the same method as Champagne, known as the Method Tradionelle or Traditional Method. This method involves fermenting the wine for a second time which helps to make those nice bubblys.

Wines can be white or rose for Sparkling and for Champagne. Not all Country's make both, but some do. Dom Perignon, one of the most expensive Champagnes, has a white and rose selection.

Blending Grapes

The grapes used in Sparklings and Champagne, are usually Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. It is often 50/50 for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and less of Pinot Meunier. Some makers do not blend the wines; they use 100% Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, while others use different blend percentages.

Some regions use different grapes for their Sparklings. Cremants from France are made with Chenin Blanc, a very good tasting grape, and it is also the grape used in still white wines from the same region; the Loire Valley region of France with the wine label name of Vouvray - Chenin Blanc

Spain makes a Sparkling Cava with Macebeo and Xarel-lo grape varieties. Freixenet makes a Sparkling Rose with the Grenache and Chardonnary grapes. Germany's Sparkling - Henkell Trocken, is made from a white blend. Cook's Sparkling also makes theirs from a white blend.

Usually, Sparklings made with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Chenin Blanc, or Macebeo grapes are better quality. Most Champagnes are made with Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, or a blend of both.

Wine Style

Sparkling styles can vary; but common ones include Rich and Complex, Crisp and Light. Since Sparkling have bubblys most are somewhat crisp tasting. Their uniqueness is in the blending of the grapes, and their sweetness. Sweetness can be brut, xdry, dry, medium dry, semi sweet or sweet. How they are fermented determines their sweetness and overall character.

Rose sparkling tend to be more sweet with notes of rose flavoured fruits like strawberry, raspberry, cherry, and may also have lime, lemon, pear, citrus. White Sparkling tends to be moreso white fruits like lemon, lime, citrus, pear, peach, apricot.

Wine Drinking Temperature

Sparkling and Champagne are served at ice cold temperature. Put your bottle of bubbly in the freezer 30-40 minutes before serve time, or you can use an ice bucket.

Browse popular Sparklings and Champagnes
Wine prices may vary from time to time, and may vary by Country, by State, Province. Prices shown are Canadian dollars.

For Those Wines We Tasted,
We Added Our Own Taste Note; Just Good, Good, Very Good, Excellent.

Jacobs Creek Sparkling
Style: Crisp and Light, Medium Bodied - Dry
Varietal: Chardonnay Pinot Noir Country: Australia
Flavours-Aromas: Lemon Lime, Peach, Citrus, Mineral
Sugars:10g/L
Food Pairings: Shellfish, Fresh Cheese, Apertif
Price:$13.99 750ml Taste Note: Very Good

Yellow Tail Sparkling Bubbles
Style: Crisp and Light , Light Bodied - Medium Dry
Varietal: Sparkling Chardonnay Country: Australia
Flavours:Citrus, Tropical
Sugars: 19g/L
Food Pairings: Dessert, Salads, Apertif
Price: $13.99 750ml Taste Note: Good

Yellow Tail Sparkling Bubbles Rose
Style: Light and Fruity, Medium Dry
Varietal: Rose Country: Australia
Flavours:Cherry, Sweet Spice, Clean and Crisp Finish,
Sugars: 20g/L
Food Pairings: Fresh Cheese, Fresh Fruit, Apertif
Price: $13.99 750ml Taste Note: Very Good

Wolf Blass Yellow Label Sparkling Brut
Style: Medium Bodied, Dry
Varietal:Chardonnay/Pinot Noir Country: Australia
Flavours-Aromas: Stonefruit and lemon aromas, balanced sweetness, delicate mousse
Sugars: 13g/L
Food Pairings: Shellfish, Fruit Desserts
Price: $16.99 750ml Taste Note: Very Good

YellowGlen Pink Sparkling
Style: Crisp and Light, Medium Dry
Varietal: Chardonnay/Pinot Noir Country: Australia
Flavours-Aromas: Light and fruity, citrus fruit, and strawberries.
Sugars: 22g/L
Food Pairings: Fresh Cheeses, Desserts, Apertif
Price: $14.99 750ml Taste Note: Very Good

Henkell Trocken Sparkling
Style: Crisp and Light, Dry Country: Germany
Varietal: White Blend Country: Germany
Flavours-Aromas: Lemon and Fruit
Sugars: 22g/L
Food Pairings: Apertif, Sushi, Shellfish
Price: $14.95 750ml Taste Note: Good

Freixenet Carta Nevada Brut Sparkling
Style: Light and Fruity, Dry
Varietal: Xarel-Lo (Cava) Country: Spain
Flavours-Aromas: Apple, Citrus, Soft balanced acidity, Floral finish
Sugars: 10g/L
Food Pairings: Oysters, Apertif
Price: $18.99 750ml Taste Note: Good

Freixenet Brut Vintage
Style: Rich Body, Crisp Country: Spain\nVarietal: Macabeo, Xarel-lo
Flavours-Aromas: Apple, Citrus, Refreshing, Dried Fruit
Food Pairings: Fresh Cheese, Grilled Fish
Price: $18 750ml

Freixenet Cordon Rosado Sparkling
Style: Light and Fruity, Medium Body, Crisp Country: Spain
Varietal: Grenacha/Sparkling(Cava)
Flavours-Aromas: Floral, Red fruit, Fresh light taste
Sugars: 10g/L
Food Pairings: Poultry, Pork, Desserts
Price: $15.99 750ml Taste Note: Good

Bouvet Brut Sparkling Samur
Style: Crisp and Light, XDry(Brut) Country: France - Samur Region
Varietal: Chenin Blanc
Flavours-Aromas: Floral, Citrus, Mineral
Sugars: 7g/L
Food Pairings: Shellfish, Pasta
Price: $21 750ml Taste Note: Very Good

Sauvion Cremant De Loire
Style: Crisp and Light, Dry Country: France- Loire Valley
Varietal: Chenin Blanc
Flavours-Aromas: Floral, Citrus, Mineral Sugars: 7g/L
Food Pairings: Shellfish, Apertif
Price: $23 750ml Taste Note: Very Good

Cremant D\'Alsace Brut
Style: Crisp and Rich, XDry Country: France, Alsace
Varietal: Sparkling Cremant
Flavours-Aromas: Citrus, Yellow Plum Fruit
Price:$25 750ml

Beblemheim Cremant Prestige
Style: Crisp and Light Country: France, Alsace
Varietal: Pinot Noir\nFlavours-Aromas: Citrus, Red Fruit
Food Pairings: Oysters, Shellfish, Apertif
Price: $23 750ml

Oyster Bay Sparkling Cuvee
Style: Crisp and Light, Dry Country: New Zealand
Varietal: Chardonnay
Flavours-Aromas: Citrus, Floral, Orchard Fruit, Biscuity
Sugars:11g/L
Food Pairings: Oyster, Salmon, Lobster
Price: $24 750ml

Fresita Strawberry Sparkling
Style: Light and Fruity, Medium Body - Sweet Country: Chile
Varietal: Strawberry
Flavours-Aromas: Strawberry, Cherry, and Citrus, Well Balanced
Sugars: 68g/L
Food Pairings: Fresh Fruit, Mild Cheeses, Dessert
Price: $16 750ml
Tasted Note: Good

Graham Beck Brut NV
Style: Crisp and Light, Medium Body Country: South Africa
Varietal: Chardonnay/Pinot Noir
Flavours-Aromas: Apple, Citrus, Fresh Bread Sugars: 6g/L
Food Pairings: Oysters, Shellfish, Apertif
Price: $19 750ml

CHAMPAGNE

Deutz Brut Champagne NV
Style: Crisp and Light, XDry(Brut) Country: France
Varietal: Pinot Noir/Chardonnay
Flavours-Aromas: Floral, Citrus
Sugars: 4g/L
Food Pairings: Shellfish
Price $64 750ml

Victoire Brut Prestige
Style: Medium Body, Dry Country: France, Champagne
Varietal: Chardonnay/Pinot Noir
Flavours-Aromas: Apple, Pear, Brioche, Dry Fruit, Mineral Notes Sugars: 12g/L
Price: $39 750ml

Tribaut Schloesser Brut Champagne
Style: Rich and Complex, XDry Country: France, Champagne
Varietal: Chardonnay/Pinot Noir/Pinot Meunier
Flavours-Aromas: Apple, Bread Dough, Nutshell and Smoke, Sweet and Tart Finish
Sugars: 8g/L
Price: $39 750ml

Bollinger Special Cuvee
Style: Rich, Complex Country: France, Champagne
Varietal: Champagne
Flavours-Aromas: Apple, Lemon, Peach
Sugars: 8g/L
Price: $45 375ml

Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne
Style: Rich, Complex Country: France, Champagne
Varietal: Champagne
Flavours-Aromas: Apple, Light Biscuit and Citrus, Toasty Notes
Sugars: 11g/L
Price: $49 750ml

Taittinger Brut Reserve Champagne
Style: Rich, Complex - Dry Country: France: Champagne
Varietal: Champagne
Flavours-Aromas: Apple, Lemon Stonefruit, Honeycomb Aromas, Crisp Acidity
Sugars: 12gL
Price: $61 750ml

Duval Leroy Brut NV Champagne
Style: Rich, Complex Country: France, Champagne
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Flavours-Aromas: Apple, Lemon, Nutty
Price: $60 750ml

Piper Heidsieck Champagne
Style: Rich, Complex Country: France, Champagne
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Flavours-Aromas: Citrus, Floral
Price: $65 750ml

Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve
Style: Rich and Complex, XDry Country: France, Champagne
Varietal: Champagne
Flavour-Aromas: White Fruits, Rich
Sugars: 11g/L
Price: $69 750ml

Moet and Chandon Brut
Style: Rich and Complex, XDry Country: France, Champagne
Varietal: Champagne
Flavours-Aromas: Apple, Pear, Citrus, Clean Mineral Finish
Sugars: 10g/L
Price: $67 750ml

Moet and Chandon Rose Brut
Style: Rich and Complex, XDry Country: France, Champagne
Varietal: Chardonnay/Pinot Noir
Flavours-Aromas: Strawberry, Citrus, Rose Pedal, Fine Textured Mousse, Good Acidity
Sugars: 11g/L
Price: $82 750ml

Deutz Rose Brut Champagne NV
Style: Rich and Complex, Dry Country: France, Champagne
Varietal: Champagne\nFlavours-Aromas: Raspberry, Cream, Chaulky, Mineral
Sugars: 11g/L
Price: $80 750ml

Dom Perignon Brut Vintage
Style: Rich and Complex, XDry Country: France, Champagne
Varietal: Chardonnay
Flavours-Aromas: Bread, Apple, Pear, Mineral Notes Sugars: 7g/L
Price: $230 750ml

Dom Perignon Rose Champagne
Style: Rich and Complex, XDry Country: France, Champagne
Varietal: Rose Champagne
Flavours-Aromas: Floral, Orchard Fruit, Redcurrant, Finesse, Freshness
Sugars: 6g/L
Price: $280 750ml

Deutz Rose Brut Champagne NV
Style: Rich and Complex, Dry Country: France, Champagne
Varietal: Champagne
Flavours-Aromas: Raspberry, Cream, Chaulky, Mineral
Sugars: 11g/L
Price: $80 750ml

DID YOU KNOW?
The sugar in wine is known as Residual Sugar; meaning it is sugar from the grapes themselves; not added granulated sugar. Granulated sugar is sometimes added to cheaper wine brands.