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Tyson Stelzer94 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage NV
- Brand Agrapart
- Cellaring 3-5 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.5% Alcohol
Agrapart 'Terroir' Blanc De Blancs Grand Cru Brut Champagne Magnum Nv"A striking biodynamic Champagne of outstanding value. The wine spends four ye..."$485.00 -
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James Halliday97 points
- Variety Chardonnay / Pinot Noir
- Vintage 1998
- Cellaring 5-10 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
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Campbell Mattin92 points
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Josh Raynolds91 points
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Wine Spectator91 points
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Wine Enthusiast91 points
- Variety Chardonnay / Pinot Noir
- Vintage NV
- Brand Champagne Drappier
- Cellaring 1-3 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Champagne Drappier Brut Nature Nv Magnum 1.5L"Only the juices from first pressing – the cuvées - are used. Nose of freshly ..."$160.00 -
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Jancis Robinson17.5* points
- Variety Chardonnay / Pinot Noir
- Vintage 2008
- Brand Champagne Drappier
- Cellaring 1-3 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Champagne Drappier Grand Sendree 2008 Magnum"2008 is one of the highest rated vintages in history for Champagne. Only the ..."$399.00 -
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James Suckling93 points
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Wine Enthusiast91 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage 2013
- Brand Champagne Jacquart
- Cellaring 1-3 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.5% Alcohol
Champagne Jacquart Blanc de Blancs 2013"A finely crafted and wonderfully complex Champagne demonstrating fantastic ri..."$129.99 -
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- Variety Chardonnay / Pinot Noir
- Vintage 2009
- Brand Jacquinot and Fils
- Cellaring Ready, but will Keep
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 13.0% Alcohol
Champagne Jacquinot 'Symphonie Millesime' 2009 Magnum"The nose is built on flavours of candied fruits, vanilla and toast. The train..."$199.00 -
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Vinous93 points
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The Wine Advoca94 points
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Gary Walsh94 points
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Huon Hooke90 points
- Variety Pinot Noir
- Vintage NV
- Brand Vouette
- Cellaring Ready, but will Keep
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Champagne Vouette Et Sorbée Fidèle Blanc De Noirs NV Magnum"Fidèle is a Blanc de Noirs (100% Pinot Noir) that comes from Kimmeridgian-lim..."$300.00 -
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Antonio Galloni91 points
- Variety Chardonnay / Pinot Noir
- Vintage NV
- Brand Gosset
- Cellaring 15 Plus Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 13.0% Alcohol
Gosset 'Grand Reserve' Brut Mv Champagne Magnum 1.5L"Won "Grappe d'Or" in Guide Hachette (Top French Awards) - Best Wine of the ye..."$299.00 -
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- Variety Pinot/Chardonnay
- Vintage 2005
- Brand Louis Roederer
- Cellaring Drink Now
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Louis Roederer Cristal 2005 1.5L"Long-time Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon has produced yet another in a..."$1,129.99
Sparkling Wine
Sparkling wine, is a type of wine that contains bubbles of carbon dioxide. The bubbles are created by a secondary fermentation process that occurs inside the bottle, which gives sparkling wine its characteristic effervescence. There are several different types of sparkling wine, including:
- Champagne: Champagne is a sparkling wine that is produced in the Champagne region of France using specific grape varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier) and winemaking methods. Champagne is known for its complexity and elegance, and it is often considered a luxury product. Click here if you wish to read more about what makes Champagne so special.
- Prosecco: Prosecco is a sparkling wine that is produced in the Veneto region of Italy, it is made from Glera grape variety. Prosecco is known for its fruity and floral aromas, and it is often considered a more affordable alternative to Champagne.
- Cava: Cava is a sparkling wine that is produced in Spain, it is made from the grape varieties Macabeo, Xarel·lo, and Parellada. Cava is known for its dryness and minerality, and it is often considered a good value alternative to Champagne.
Sparkling wine can also be made in other regions, such as England, Australia, and New Zealand. These sparkling wines are known for their fruit-forward flavors and have a wide range of styles, some are made using traditional method similar to Champagne, while others are made using the charmat method, where the secondary fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks.
Sparkling wines can vary in sweetness and dryness, the most common terms used are Brut, Extra Brut, Sec, Demi-Sec and Doux, which indicate the sweetness level. Brut is the driest, Extra Brut is the driest of all, Sec is a medium sweet, Demi-Sec is quite sweet and Doux is the sweetest.
Sparkling wine is created by:
- Grapes: Sparkling wine is typically made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes for Champagne, Glera for Prosecco and Macabeo, Xarel·lo, and Parellada for Cava.
First Fermentation: The grapes are harvested and then pressed to extract the juice. The juice is then fermented in stainless steel tanks or oak barrels, depending on the winemaker's preference. This process converts the sugar in the grapes into alcohol and carbon dioxide. - Secondary Fermentation: The wine is then bottled and a small amount of sugar and yeast is added, this is called the liqueur de tirage. The bottle is then sealed and stored in a cool and dark place, where the secondary fermentation takes place. This process is called the traditional method or Méthode Champenoise. The yeast consumes the added sugar and produces carbon dioxide, which dissolves into the wine, creating the bubbles.
- Aging: The wine is then aged for a period of time, usually several months to several years, depending on the style of sparkling wine. During this time, the yeast cells and sediment settle to the bottom of the bottle, and the wine takes on a more complex flavor and aroma.
- Riddling: The bottles are then placed in a special rack called a pupitre, where they are slowly turned and tilted over a period of several weeks. This process, called riddling, causes the sediment to collect in the neck of the bottle.
- Disgorging: The neck of the bottle is then frozen, and the frozen sediment (called the "lees") is removed by a process called disgorging. The bottle is then topped up with a small amount of wine and sugar, called the dosage, which determines the final sweetness level of the sparkling wine.
- Corking and Labeling: The bottle is then corked and labeled, and it is ready to be sold and enjoyed.
It's important to note that there is another method of making sparkling wine, it is called Charmat method, the secondary fermentation process occurs in a large stainless steel tank rather than in the individual bottles, after this process the wine is then bottled and ready for consumption, this method is faster and less expensive than the traditional method but it can produce less complex wines.
Sparkling wines are typically enjoyed as aperitif, or during special occasions such as weddings, New Year's Eve, and other celebrations. They can also be paired with a variety of foods, including seafood, fruit, and desserts.