Only sparkling wine made in Champagne can be called champagne. They're pretty fussy about that. We used to see the term "methode champenoise" on a bottle of sparkling from elsewhere, but now the most that's allowed is "methode traditionelle", or possibly "methode classique". Funny thing is, much fizz from around the world is made in exactly the same way as champagne, and often with the same grapes - Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay - or some variation of these. And a lot of it is excellent stuff, rivalling the genuine article.
Take English sparkling wine for example. Much of the geology of southern England is just the same as in Champagne, and the climate's not dissimilar. They're making some top quality fizz now, and in recent international blind tastings have been winning plenty of awards - in competition with champagne. Recommended wines: Nyetimber, Ridgeview, and Camel Valley. Or how about a Cremant de Bourgogne - same grapes, slightly lower bottling pressure (hence Cremant), soft and delicious. Recommended wine: Louis Bouillot Perle de Vigne Grand Reserve. And another Old World favourite,at a great price, Cava from Spain. Usually different grapes, but some with the same varieties, and all made in champagne method. Recommended wine: Codorniu Reserva Raventos (chardonnay, from the oldest cava making house in Spain).
The New World makes some stunners too - particularly Lindauer from New Zealand, their Brut and Rose being outstanding value. And you could have a look at South Africa - Graham Beck being a good starting point.
These are just a few suggestions - there are many others (and indeed fizz made by other methods which are also great, eg Prosecco). The thing is, if you tried blind tasting a few, could you tell the difference? And could you guess the price points? A high quality vintage champagne may stand out, for various reasons (style, intensity of lees aroma, length), but try a few NVs against competition from around the world and see how you fare. You might be surprised.
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1 comment:
Interesting reading!! My favorite sparkling wine is actually made of 100% Cabernet. The winery is located in Napa, if you can’t visit I would recommend you to check out their homepage www.sjoeblom.com . You can place orders there too, you will looove it;-) Thanks for a good blog
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