Spring is here with multi-colored blossoms and wildly changing temperatures. Celebrating the beauty of this season calls for a sparkling wine. Sparkling wine is not just a drink for rare occasions, bubbles make anything better. We will share our favorite bubbles (from France, Italy and USA), what we pair with them, how we make them festive and what glasses we use.
Sparkling wines from the Champagne Region of France are some of my favorites and are the only sparkling wines that can legally be called “champagne.” Let’s start our journey with a woman who, in the 1800’s, established a global business and made champagne cool.
Intrigue, Girl Power and Champagne in early 1800’s France
When Barbe-Nicole Clicquot’s husband died in 1805, she took their business and focused it entirely on champagne production, developing a process still used today for high-end (“Prestige Cuvees”) champagnes. French leader Napoleon Bonaparte dissed Barbe-Nicole by personally promoting her two competitors. One he openly praised and promoted (Moet) and the other (Jacquesson) he asked to supply the champagne for his second wedding, pointedly excluding Barbe-Nicole and her champagne. But, even on the brink of bankruptcy, she did not give up.
During that time period, there were very few markets to sell champagne outside of France because Napoleon’s wars meant countries were retaliating by putting up champagne blockades. She gambled everything that peace would soon be declared (because of Napoleon’s upcoming marriage) and smuggled her whole champagne stock onto a ship heading for blocked Russia. When peace was declared and the blockades lifted, her ship was first into Russia, beating out the competition. Russian Tsar Alexander announced that Veuve Clicquot was the only champagne he would drink and that is how ingenuity and perseverance wins out.
Sparkling Wine Picks from France
- Veuve Clicquot Champagne In French “veuve” means widow hence Veuve [Barbe-Nicole] Clicquot. Tasting notes of yellow and white fruits, vanilla, and toasted brioche ($59)
- Billicart Salmon Brut Rose Champagne Tasting notes of red berries and plums with notions of peach, dried flowers and orange rind ($89)
- Domaine Riefle Cremant Sparkling Wine (made in Alsace, France) Tasting notes of berries, burnt cherries, red apple with hints of baking spices ($22) Thanks Jen for the recommendation!!
Sparkling Wine Picks from Italy
I
taly produces more different kinds of sparkling wines than any other country. But I am going to focus on my favorites, Prosecco and Franciacorta. Like France, Italy has rules on what sparkling wine can be called Prosecco or Franciacorta. Franciacorta must be produced in the Franciacorta region of Lombardy and is made in the traditional champagne method. Prosecco is produced in the Provence of Friuli Venezia Giulia and Veneto. Unlike Franciacorta (and champagne), it is fermented a second time in a steel tank instead of in the bottle.
- Adami Vigneto Giardino Prosecco Tasting notes of almonds, pears, hazelnuts with a hint of stone fruit ($19)
- Bianca Vigna Superiore Prosecco Tasting notes of apricots, apples, white fruit with a hint of lemon ($19)
- Ca’ del Bosco Cuvée Prestige Brut Franciacorta Tasting notes of citrus, orchard fruit with hints of toast ($40)
Sparkling Wine Picks from the USA
In the US, wineries use European sparkling wine production methods. Here are some favorites. Each one is produced using the French Champagne method.
- Gruet Vineyards Blanc de Noirs Tasting notes of berry and pear, finishing with a layer of cream ($16). Laurent Gruet left France to scour the US for land perfect for producing his award-winning sparkling wine and settled on New Mexico. Thanks Jen for the recommendation!
- Domaine Carneros by Taittinger Tasting notes of elegant pear, brioche and strawberry blossom ($39). Domaine Carneros is known for its small grower-producer vineyards and beautiful château where you can sit on the terrace, taste wine and have a lovely lunch.
- Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc Tasting notes of apples, citrus and wheat toast, intermingled with hints of pineapple and toasted almonds ($49). Schramsberg is the oldest sparkling wine producer in the US.
Food Pairing Suggestions
While I feel everything goes with sparkling wine, here are a few suggestions:
Deviled eggs (Try adding black truffles (instead of pickles) to the egg mix or as a garnish)- Melon: Melon gazpacho or sliced melon with Parma ham
- Cheese: Comté, Gouda, Monchego, and Tomme de Montagne (Put on crackers/bread, in a grilled cheese or in mac and cheese)
- Seafood: Lobster rolls, seared tuna, grilled salmon or oysters
- Chicken: Fried or roasted chicken
- Dessert: Chocolate truffles, chocolate mousse and all berries
Finishing Touches and Tips
All bubbles taste better consumed in a festive glass. Chose the stemware that makes you feel good. Long narrow crystal glasses allow the bubbles to stay contained the longest. Coupes are no longer the fashion because the wide surface makes the wine flatter faster (and is easier to spill) but I love them because they add glamour to the moment.
Serving sparkling wine at a bridal shower or brunch? Drop a raspberry into the glass or add a strawberry to the side of the glass and it is instantly festive.
One final thought – scientific journal, Antioxidants & Redox Signaling, found a link between drinking champagne and preventing memory loss. I am not sure if this has been further validated but…Cheers!!
Avery Tip: Drinking sparkling wine can also be therapeutic. Quietly watch the tiny golden bubbles gather at the bottom of your glass and then watch them as they race upwards to pop when reaching the surface. This is its own form of relaxation.
