Champagne is one of my favorite things to drink; not just during the holidays or special occasions but any time. One may think that champagne can be pricey but for good reason. If you explore a bit of the history and production of Champagne, you’ll realize the incredible amount of hard work that goes into each bottle… making Champagne is simply an art!
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Now, Champagne is the name of the world-famous sparkling wine we all know and love, but it is also the name of the region where this wine is made in northeastern France. In order for a wine to be labeled as Champagne, it needs to come from that specific region. You’ll be surprised to learn that other regions in France produce great sparkling wine as well, but they can’t label it as Champagne!
I want to share with you some great alternatives to Champagne that are equally spectacular and won’t break the bank.
Bubbly Wines of The World
CAVA
I’m starting off with Cava because aside from Champagne, this is my personal favorite bubbly wine. In the 1800s there was a Spanish gentleman by the name of Josep Raventos who spent many years in France and learned the art of making Champagne. He decided to go back to his native region of Catalunya, Spain and in 1872 produced the first Spanish Sparkling wine… Cava!. Cava is produced in the traditional method used to make Champagne. One of the main differences between the two are the grape varieties. Cava is produced with Spanish native grape varieties (Xarello, Macabeo and Parellada) while Champagne is made with French ones. It is a sparkling wine packed with beautiful aromas of citrus and stone fruit, high acidity and elegant bubbles! This wine goes absolutely perfect with everything and at any given time, not just for celebrations!.
PROSECCO
Aside from Champagne, Prosecco is the most famous sparkling wine in the world! Prosecco is Italian, specifically from the northern region of Valdobbiadene in Veneto. The wines are made with different grape varieties and a different method than the one used in Champagne and Cava known as the Tank Method. The main grape variety used is called Glera.
If you’re looking for a fruity sparkling wine that can transport you to a beautiful spring day in the streets of Italy and you like the aromas of melons, pears, and honeysuckle, Prosecco is an excellent option!
FRANCIACORTA
Franciacorta is also an Italian sparkling wine, but in comparison to Prosecco, Franciacorta is produced using a more similar method to Champagne. It can only be produced in the northern province of Lombardy, with particular grape varietals and following stringent regulations to guarantee the quality of the wine.
In terms of the overall flavor profile, Franciacorta is closer to Champagne than it is to Prosecco. It is a complex wine, that tends to have aromas of citrus fruit, toast and nuts, with high acidity and beautiful consistent bubbles! The price is also higher than that of Prosecco, but in terms of value… it makes absolute sense!
FRENCH CRÉMANT
The term “Cremant” is given in France to sparkling wines that are made using the Traditional Method, the same as Champagne, but because they are not produced in the Champagne region, they can not be labeled as Champagne. The three most famous French Crémant are: Crémant de Loire, Crémant de Bourgogne and Crémant d’Alsace. These sparkling wines are from specific regions in France, most of them use the grape Chardonnay as the base but then blend in a grape variety that is native to their region. These sparkling wines truly showcase each region’s unique terroir. If you like Champagne you can’t miss these other French sparkling wines!
Cava, Prosecco, Franciacorta and the French Cremants are all great sparkling wines, but these are not the only ones! Countries like the US, Australia, Slovenia, Argentina, Australia, Chile, UK, and even Mexico all produce deliciously bubbly wines! Pretty much every wine country in the world produces their own variety of sparkling wine. Champagne is always an excellent choice, but I hope I have sparked your curiosity to pop open other bubbly wines from all around the world!
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