There are a few things less refreshing in the summer heat than a cold bottle of bubbles. The bright fruit and biscuit aromas seem to take us to an exciting location in our minds, and the playful flavors on our tongues from the bubbles and acidity can cool you off with what feels like a gentle breeze across your body. But for all that is great about sparkling wine, there are some things we assume about the tasty beverage we want to debunk. 

  1. Not all sparkling wine is Champagne. Sparkling wine can be made worldwide, from North America to New Zealand. Champagne comes from the AOC of Champagne in France. And, to be approved by the Comite Champagne, there are rigorous rules around pruning the vines, the height of the vines, harvesting, pressing of the grapes, course aging, and labeling. 
  2. Champagne is the best, so don’t drink anything else. This thought could not be farther from the truth. Champagne houses do an excellent job marketing their products with celebrity endorsement, red carpet product placements, and flashy bottles. There is no contesting their marketing genius. But, some regions of the world produce extremely high-quality sparkling wines. Consider the neighbors from Bordeaux and the Loire Valley who make exceptional examples of sparkling wine using fruit varietals like Cabernet Franc, Semillon, or Cabernet Sauvignon. Consider these a great option if you want something of high quality at reasonable prices.
  3. When opening the bottle, pop that cork! Yeah, we get it. It’s cool and creates a show. It also can cause a huge mess, loss of yeast cells in the remaining bottle of wine, and you’ll have flat wine and could hurt your buddy you aimed the bottle at. The proper method of opening the bottle is to keep one hand on the bottle and the other over the top. Loosen the cage and gently turn the bottle back and forth to slowly release the cork from the bottle. It allows the cork to be safely out of the bottle and not waste any precious juice or bubbles.

If you want to learn more, stop by our store and see the team. They’re here to help you pick out a wine but also help you learn proper techniques of opening for the most enjoyment.