Sparkling wine 101: learn the basics
Sparkling wines aren’t just for weddings and New Year’s Eve. Lucky for us, they have a casual side, too! Versatile and delicious, sparkling wine is great with your favorite snacks or in a glass on its own.
Champagne, Prosecco, Brut, Fruit – let’s check out the world of sparkling wine and learn how it’s made, the many types of sparkling wine and some great food pairings for your next gathering.
Let’s dive in!
WHAT IS SPARKLING WINE?
Sparkling wine is a catch-all term for wine that is carbonated. Both sparkling and still wines go through a fermentation process where yeast is added to grapes (or their juice). The yeast consumes the natural grape sugars and converts them into alcohol. But here’s what sets sparkling apart. Sparkling wine goes through a secondary fermentation process (meaning yeast and sugar are added) to create the wine’s bubbly character.
Where do the Bubbles Come From?
The “sparkle” in sparkling wine refers to the carbon dioxide gas (CO2) that tickles our tongue and gives the characteristic “pop” when we pull the cork. It’s a natural byproduct of fermentation: carbon dioxide creates bubbles, and bubbles = Cheers!
Fun Fact
Have you ever “proofed” baker’s yeast to make bread? You add warm water to activate the yeast, and it starts to bubble. That’s carbon dioxide gas in action, and it’s a sign that the yeast is working and fermenting. Hooray!
how is sparkling wine made?
There are two principal methods for making sparkling wine: the Traditional Method (aka Méthode Champenoise if it’s Champagne) and the Charmat Method (sometimes called the Prosecco Method). These production techniques are defined by the container that holds the wine while it undergoes its secondary fermentation. In the Traditional Method, it occurs inside the bottle, and in the Charmat Method, it happens in a tank before it’s bottled. Barefoot Bubbly is made using the Charmat Method to provide consistent quality and accessibility.
Let’s Be Natural
Whether Traditional or Charmat, the wine retains its natural CO2 from fermentation in a closed environment (i.e., the bottle or the tank). These two methods of trapping the natural bubbles add a delicious flavor profile and complexity to your sparkling wine because it rested on its spent yeast cells. It’s NOT injecting CO2 into the wine, like what you’d find in a can of soda or a bottle of fizzy water.
What are the types of Sparkling Wines?
Any region that produces wine can (and usually does) produce sparkling wine. In the Champagne region of France, they produce – you guessed it – Champagne. Spain makes Cava, Italy makes Prosecco, and Germany makes Sekt. All over the world, many other sparkling wines go by different names – typically named for the region where the grapes are grown. Here at Barefoot, we call ours Bubbly California Champagne.
From Dry to Sweet Sparkling Wine
With Champagne, the sweetness level varies from dry (brut) to sweet (doux), and the same is true for all sparkling wines. Our Barefoot Bubbly Brut Cuvée is our driest sparkling wine. Made with Chardonnay grapes, it adheres to the EU standards of Brut, meaning it’s a dry wine with very little residual sugar. If you like your sparkling on the sweet side, give Bubbly Pink Moscato or Bubbly Peach a try.
Fruit-Flavored Sparkling Wine
Fruit-flavored wines are growing in popularity, with many wineries producing a wide range of fruit-based and naturally flavored wines. Check out fruit-flavored wines for a sweet, lighter-bodied, (dare we say fruity?) alternative to traditional sparkling.
SNACKING WITH SPARKLING
The bubbles! The crisp acidity! The bright fruit notes! Sparkling wine is a great partner to food, so don’t limit it to celebrations and special occasions – enjoy sparkling wine on the fun and casual side! Here are some of our faves:
Potato Chips & Brut Champagne: The salty crunch of potato chips pairs well with the lively sparkle and acidity of California Champagne, like our Brut Cuvée.
Fried Chicken & Brut Rosé: We love the taste sensations of this iconic combo, and TBH, fried chicken and any type of sparkling wine make a great match, but a glass of Brut Rosé makes the savory flavors of fried chicken sing.
Fruit Salad and Fruit-Flavored Sparkling: Mix up a fresh fruit salad or buy a container at the grocery store. Try experimenting with different fruits to find your preference for what pairs best. You might lean towards high-acid fruit like pineapple, grapefruit and oranges, or go wild on berries because blueberries, raspberries and strawberries work equally well.
POP QUIZ TIME!
Just kidding.
While sparkling wines have a reputation for lavish parties and big events, we believe there are no rules when it comes to popping your favorite bubbly wine. Pour a glass tonight with friends and impress them with a sparkling wine fact or two. Cheers!
