TO:US!
SPARKLING WINE
'mini guide
level of
sweetness
Wines are labeled "dry" when they include no
It may be the best known, but Champagne isn't the only
sparkling wine available.
residual sugar. Here are standard categories:
BRUT NATURE (also called Brut Zero or Ultra
CHAMPAGNE This
SEKT Often made with
Brut) = bone dry, no sweetness.
sparkling wine can only be
Riesling grapes, this
made within the region of
sparkling wine comes from
EXTRA BRUT little to no sweetness.
Champagne in France and
either Germany or Austria.
BRUT = the most common style with very little
to no detectable sweetness; 95% of Champagne is
labeled Brut.
must follow a strict set of
It tends to have elevated
rules on what grapes are
used and how they are
acidity and slightly lower
alcohol for a tart,
raised and harvested. There
fresh, crisp and clean
EXTRA DRY (or Extra Sec) = just a hint of
are also specific rules on
quality and aromatic
sweetness, residual sugars barely perceptible; some
how the wine is made in
fruit characteristics.
might say "off dry."
the traditional method of
ASTI A popular sparkler
DRY (also called Sec) = noticeable, but lightly sweet.
secondary fermentation.
from the Asti region in
The mineral-rich soils and
DEMI-SEC = semi-sweet to moderately sweet, but
northwestern Italy is Asti
cooler climate of northern
France give Champagne
a distinct flavor profile
not a true dessert wine.
Spumante. Made with
Moscato grapes, it is light,
DOUX = the sweetest, but rarely produced or sold
fruity, sweet and tends to
commercially anymore.
and crispness.
be lower in alcohol.
PROSECCO A popular
LAMBRUSCO
Italian sparkling wine, it is
LABELS 101
Featuring Lambrusco
made primarily with Glera
grapes from northern Italy,
grapes and is fruitier than
these red wines are fruit
Champagne. There is also a
Founding
date of
producing
forward, low alcohol and
From the
rosé Prosecco.
semi-sparkling. They range
from dry to very sweet.
region
grown/
CAVA This Spanish
sparkling wine has a fresh.
house
produced
ROSÉ A fruity sparkling
A blend of
Level of
citrusy character that takes
sweetness
wine, rosé has developed
Producer
grapes or
on different undertones,
or house
barrels
a reputation for being
depending on the grapes
super easy to pair with
different foods.
used, primarily Macabeu,
Xarello or Parellada.
EGALE
LA CUVEE
CHAMPAGNE
(Laurent-Perrier
MAIRON FONUS
IR12
DRUT
lyVee. SEASONS I hy-vee.com
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