Traditional Method Sparkling wines

If a sparkling wine doesn’t come from the Champagne region in France it cannot be called Champagne. Although place and grape varieties are important to the finished wine, the method through which a sparkling wine acquires its bubbles is equally important and factors into the cost of the wine.

This method is called traditional method and is defined by a second fermentation that takes place in the bottle, producing the characteristic bubbles we love to drink.

After this second fermentation has taken place, the wine will rest on it lees (dead yeast cells) for a required amount of time. For non vintage champagne (think Veuve Cliquot or Moet and Chandon), this time is at least 15 months, though it is often much longer.

For vintage dated champagne the wine has to spend at least three years on its lees.

This time gives the wine its yeasty, biscuity or autolytic character that is coveted in traditional method production.

With entry level champagne such as Veuve Cliqout at $86 and $79 for Moet Chandon, this price point can seem prohibitive for many. As the holidays roll around and the desire for sparkling wine increases (though this is the perfect wine for any occasion at any time of year) you may want something similar to champagne without the hefty price tag.

One such wine is called crémant. These are wines made in the traditional method in France, but outside of the Champagne region. They are often made with the same grape varieties as champagne (chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier), and are usually half the price.

In Italy, a high quality traditional method sparkling wine made in the Lombary region is Franciacorta. Here, chardonnay and pinot noir are the dominant grapes and more recently erbamat. Due to them being grown in a warmer region than Champagne they are often richer and fuller in body, and starting around $40 can be an exceptional way to introduce friends and family to higher quality traditional method sparking wine.

Another place to look for traditional method wines is in Spain, specifically the Penedès region of Catalonia near Barcelona. Here you will find a wine called Cava. Of course price does depend on quality and while you can find traditional method Cava for around the $20, you can also find them for $50 and higher.

Cava is made from local indigenous grape varieties macabeo, parellada and xarel·lo. Increasingly, chardonnay is being added to some of these wines.

Down in South Africa, traditional method sparkling wines go by the name Cap Classique or Méthode Cap Classique and are based on chardonnay and pinot noir, though a few others are allowed too.

Even though there is traditional method sparkling wine made all around the world, no regions apart from those described have specific names for them. But you’ll know when they are made in this way as they are usually labeled as such. And if not, you’ll know by the taste.

Here in the county, you can find them at Hinterland, The Grange, RoseHall Run, Trail Estates, Broken Stone and LightHall Vineyards, to name a few.

Whatever you choose and wherever it is from, sparkling wine is the best gift for any holiday gathering or simply to share at anytime of year.