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- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage NV
- Brand Champagne Autréau
- Cellaring Ready, but will Keep
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Champagne Autreau Brut Blanc De Blancs Grand Cru NV"100% Chardonnay Grand Cru fruit sourced from the "White Hillside" Vineyards o..."$99.99 -
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Alistair Cooper94 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage 2018
- Brand Champagne Delavenne
- Cellaring Ready, but will Keep
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.5% Alcohol
Champagne Delavenne Nature Grand Cru Brut Nature NV"Champagne Delavenne are set to be superstar Grower Champagne producers. In Fr..."$115.01 -
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Alistair Cooper95 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage NV
- Brand Champagne Delavenne
- Cellaring Ready, but will Keep
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Champagne Delavenne Original 60/40 Grand Cru Brut Tradition NV"Champagne Delavenne are set to be superstar Grower Champagne producers. In Fr..."$95.00 -
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- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage 2015
- Brand Louise Brison
- Cellaring Ready, but will Keep
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.5% Alcohol
Champagne Louise Brison Chardonnay de la Côte des Bar 2015"Champagne Louise Brison is a tiny Organic and Biodynamically farmed vineyard ..."$139.99 -
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Roger Voss90 points
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Tom Cannavan91 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage NV
- Brand Vranken-Pommery Monopole
- Cellaring 1-3 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.5% Alcohol
Champagne Pommery Brut Royal NV"Pommery Brut Royal is the essence of the Pommery style: liveliness, fresh, fi..."$88.99 -
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The Wine Advoca92 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage NV
- Brand Champagne Suenen
- Cellaring 5-10 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Champagne Suenen Oiry Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV"Aurélien’s Oiry Blanc de Blancs is drawn from just 1.5 hectares split between..."$240.00 -
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Falstaff Magazi95 points
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Robert Parker's94 points
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James Suckling94 points
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Decanter94 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage 2014
- Brand Delamotte
- Cellaring 5-10 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Delamotte Blanc De Blancs Champagne 2014"With a history of more than 250 years, Delamotte is the 5th oldest champagne ..."$224.99 -
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James Suckling93 points
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Jamie Goode92 points
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Wine Enthusiast93 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage NV
- Brand Delamotte
- Cellaring 1-3 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.5% Alcohol
Delamotte Blanc De Blancs Champagne NV""Delamotte has always been somewhat of an insider’s house, producing high qua..."$129.00 -
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Sam Kim92 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage NV
- Brand Henri Rousseau
- Cellaring 1-3 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Henri Rousseau Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay Brut NV"Made from 100% Chardonnay grapes. The house was founded in 1898 in the esteem..."$24.99 -
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- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage 2020
- Brand Hero Of Zero
- Cellaring 3-5 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.5% Alcohol
Hero of Zero Blanc de Blancs NV"Summary: The Hero of Zero wines are hand-crafted from the best quality fruit ..."$17.99 -
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Decanter97 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage 2015
- Brand Moet n Chandon
- Cellaring 15 Plus Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.5% Alcohol
Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage 2015 (Gift Boxed)"Crafted from the finest grapes of the 2015 vintage, it offers a harmonious bl..."$144.99 -
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Sam Kim96 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage 2017
- Brand Riversdale Estate
- Cellaring 5-10 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.5% Alcohol
Riversdale Estate Blanc de Blanc 2017"All our Sparkling wine are made in the traditional French method with seconda..."$50.00 -
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- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage NV
- Brand Riversdale Estate
- Cellaring 5-10 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.5% Alcohol
Riversdale Estate Limited Release Ocean Aged Sparkling NV"All our Sparkling wine are made in the traditional French method with seconda..."$149.99 -
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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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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 Nv"A striking biodynamic Champagne of outstanding value. The wine spends four ye..."$145.00 -
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The Wine Advoca95 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage 2006
- Brand Agrapart
- Cellaring 15 Plus Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Agrapart Mineral Extra Brut 2006"One of the highlights in this set of new releases, the 2006 Extra Brut Blanc ..."$339.99 -
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Antonio Galloni95 points
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The Wine Advoca95 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage 2012
- Brand Agrapart
- Cellaring 5-10 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Agrapart Mineral Extra Brut Blanc De Blancs Grand Cru 2012"Minéral is blended from two adjacent vieilles vignes plots (50+ years old) of..."$250.00 -
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Antonio Galloni95 points
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The Wine Advoca95 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage 2015
- Brand Agrapart
- Cellaring 5-10 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Agrapart Mineral Extra Brut Blanc De Blancs Grand Cru 2015"Disgorged July 2021. Minéral is blended from two adjacent vieilles vignes plo..."$269.01 -
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Antonio Galloni95 points
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The Wine Advoca95 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage 2017
- Brand Agrapart
- Cellaring 5-10 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Agrapart Mineral Extra Brut Blanc De Blancs Grand Cru 2017"Disgorged June 2023. Minéral is blended from two adjacent vieilles vignes plo..."$310.00 -
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- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage None
- Brand Armand-de-Brignac
- Cellaring 1-3 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Armand De Brignac Silver 'Ace Of Spades' Blanc De Blancs Nv"Ace of Spades is a highly regarded label that is almost impossible to find"$1,260.00 -
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Wine Enthusiast93 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage 2012
- Brand Ayala
- Cellaring 15 Plus Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Ayala Le Blanc De Blancs 2012"Le Blanc de Blancs is produced in small quantities in exceptional years only ..."$109.99 -
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Wine Enthusiast94 points
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage 2014
- Brand Ayala
- Cellaring 15 Plus Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.0% Alcohol
Ayala Le Blanc De Blancs 2014"Le Blanc de Blancs is produced in small quantities in exceptional years only ..."$109.99 -
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- Variety Chardonnay
- Vintage NV
- Brand Bimbadgen
- Cellaring 1-3 Years
- Wine Type Sparkling
- Alcohol Percentage 12.5% Alcohol
Bimbadgen Hunter Valley Cuvee NV"A new wine in the Sparkling range. The chance to blend Hunter Semillon with C..."$22.00
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.