What Is Sparkling Wine?

Synonymous with celebrations of all kinds, sparkling wine always feels like the perfect accompaniment to any special occasion. But don’t let the bubbles deceive you—a refreshing sparkling wine can be enjoyed all year round and is ideal as a pre-dinner drink or simply chilled on its own.

The most famous sparkling wine in the world is Champagne. However, there is a fantastic variety to be discovered in sparkling wines from across the globe, from Cava and Prosecco to Crémant and Sekt.

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But what is sparkling wine? How does it get its bubbles? And what’s the real difference between Champagne and other types of sparkling wine? We’ve assembled the ultimate sparkling wine guide to answer your bubbling questions.

What Is Sparkling Wine?

Sparkling wine is a wine with bubbles and can be made from red, white and rosé wine varieties—although white and rosé sparkling wines are more common. Carbon dioxide gives the wine those lively little bubbles.

Like still wines, sparkling wines come in various styles and flavors, depending on factors including the type of grape used and the winemaker’s production processes.

How Is Sparkling Wine Made?

There are three main methods to create sparkling wine—the Traditional Method or “Méthode Traditionalle,” the Tank or “Charmat Method,” and the Conventional or Ancestral Method.

Traditional Method: The Traditional Method produces high-quality sparkling wines, such as Champagne, Cava and some Crémant wines. A secondary fermentation process involves adding a mixture of sugar and yeast (liqueur de tirage) to the wine, which causes carbon dioxide to be produced within the bottle, creating the bubbles. The wine is left to age on its lees (the dead yeast cells), which impacts the sparkling wine’s aromas, flavors and texture, giving it a creamier texture and bready/toasty flavor. This method is also known as “Méthode Champenoise.”

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Tank: The Tank Method (also known as the “Charmat Method”) is a faster alternative to the Traditional Method and is typically more economical. It is used for producing Prosecco and some other sparkling wines. After its first fermentation, the wine is moved to a large, pressurized stainless steel tank. There, it undergoes a secondary, carbon dioxide-creating fermentation. Sparkling wine produced this way spends less time on the lees, so it’s typically lighter and more fruit-forward in flavor.

Each of the above two methods produces a unique style of sparkling wine, with the Traditional Method often yielding more complex and nuanced flavors. In contrast, the Charmat method is typically used for fresher, fruitier wines.

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Ancestral Method: Perhaps the oldest way of producing sparkling wine, the Ancestral Method sees winemakers use icy temperatures to pause the fermentation process mid-way. The wine is then bottled to trap the carbon dioxide bubbles inside as it ferments, producing lightly sparkling wines.

There are other methods used to create sparkling wine, including carbonization. This is where carbon dioxide is injected directly into the wine. The wine is then bottled under pressure to preserve the fizz—it’s the same way bubbles are added to soda!

Types of Sparkling Wine

Champagne

When it comes to the most famous sparkling wine, it’s important to remember that all Champagnes are sparkling wines, but not all sparkling wines are Champagne.

Produced only in the Champagne region of France, Champagne—known for its high acidity, creamy texture and complex flavors—is a blended sparkling wine. It can be made with several grape varieties, the most common being Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. It’s typically dry and can range from light- to full-bodied, depending on the grape ratio, with subtle citrus and almond flavors. Older Champagne wines develop toasted flavors like brioche.

Champagne adds luxury to any occasion and pairs well with white seafood, fried or battered vegetables like tempura and sweet berry dishes.

Prosecco

Named after a village in Trieste, Italy, Prosecco is often considered a luxury-on-a-budget sparkling option, as it’s usually far more affordable than Champagne. You might also see it labeled “spumante”—the Italian term for sparkling white wine.

Prosecco is typically a dry (or “brut”) sparkling wine, and it comes in various styles, from lightly fizzing to fully sparkling. Its medium to high acidity and citrusy, white fruit flavors make it a refreshing, fruity treat.

This sparkling wine pairs perfectly with fragrant Thai dishes, mild cheeses, cured meats and fleshy fruits like strawberries and peaches.

English Sparkling Wine

Also known as “British Fizz,” English sparkling wine takes notes from Champagne, using the same three main grape varieties and the same traditional production method.

Style and flavor will vary, depending on the area in which the sparkling wine is produced and also the winemaker’s style, but many similarities can be drawn between English sparkling wine and Champagne. Familiar flavors across both can be found, such as almond and brioche, with unique flavors including honey, orange zest and apple pear (or “Asian pear”).

British seafood like crab, Dover Sole and pan-fried scallops with plenty of butter make a hearty, luxurious pairing with this British export.

Cava

A Spanish sparkling wine, Cava (like Champagne) is made using the Traditional Method but with Macabeu, Mataro, Xarel·lo, Chardonnay and/or Parallada grapes. Cava is famous for its smaller bubbles and balance of freshness and creaminess.

Cava styles range from white to rosé, very dry to sweet, with flavors like citrus, apple, almond, pear and blossom. It has a light body, medium alcohol content and a tart acidity—all of which make it refreshing and thirst-quenching.

Its citrus flavors and bright acidity mean it’s the ideal sparkling wine to serve with tricky greens like asparagus and artichokes, aged cheeses like Parmesan and Manchego, fried fish, seafood paella and tapas dishes like tortilla and jamón.

Sekt

A German term for sparkling wine, Sekt is made using various methods, depending on how premium the wine is and the location. Premium Sekt isn’t typically exported but enjoyed locally instead.

Premium Sekt is made from Riesling, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir grapes, although the Sekt produced in Austria is commonly made with Grüner Veltliner grapes, giving the wine a warm, golden hue. A sweeter sparkling wine variety, it’s typically produced using the Tank Method.

Because Sekt is characteristically sweet, it works well as a dessert-pairing wine, with soft, creamy cheeses like Brie or poultry dishes like turkey and chicken.

Moscato d’Asti

The name of this sparkling wine is as self-explanatory as Champagne—it’s a sparkling wine made from Moscato grapes in the Asti province of Italy. Moscato d’Asti has a unique production process, with the grapes being gently pressed straight after harvesting to keep their delicate flavors, and no secondary fermentation.

Its low alcohol content, natural sweetness and light frizzante sparkling style make it one of the most accessible sparkling wines. Moscato d’Asti is loved for its peach, orange blossom, sage and elderberry flavors.

A sweeter wine demands to be paired with sweeter dishes, so plain sponge cakes and fruit tarts are a great match. Due to its lively bubbles, Moscato d’Asti can partner with savory plates, especially those with salty, earthy flavors like salami, roasted nuts and hard, aged cheeses.

Crémant

Crémant sparkling wines are produced across France and are held to strict production criteria. Their name comes from the French word for creamy, as the lower carbon dioxide pressure makes them feel more creamy than fizzy on the tongue.

As with Champagne and Cava, they are made using the Traditional Method. Most Crémant wines are from the Loire Valley and are a blend of Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc grapes. This combination creates a dry, gentle-tasting sparkling wine with citrus, pear, chamomile and honey flavors.

Crémant de Loire is the ultimate sparkling wine for a seafood pairing—scallops, giant prawns and shrimp. Like Cava, it pairs well with a number of tapas dishes, as well as sweet dishes like strawberry tart.

How to Serve Sparkling Wine

A flute is ideal for serving sparkling wine, as its tall, slender glass and narrow rim will help concentrate the aromas and bubbles.

You’ll also want to serve your sparkling wine chilled. That way, you enhance its flavors and bubbles, making it lighter and more playful than it would be served at room temperature.

See our guide to wine serving temperatures

How Long Can I Keep Sparkling Wine?

When it comes to storing your sparkling wine, how you do it will differ depending on the variety. Champagne should be stored on its side to keep the cork moist, while other sparkling wines should be stored upright with the cork kept dry to stop it from spoiling.

After popping the cork, you have 3-5 days to enjoy sparkling wine. To get the most out of this time window, use a sparkling wine stopper between servings to keep the bubbles and flavors lively and refrirgerate overnight.

Sparkling wines should be stored in a cool, dark environment, away from direct sunlight, to stop them from popping early. However, Champagne should be kept at room temperature instead and only be chilled briefly before serving to prevent it from drying out.

From sparkling to white, red and rosé, browse our full range of wines now.

Reanna, Wine Advisor Team Director

Originally from England, yet born in India, now living in the States, I have had a rather colorful life—with most of it being in all the shades, pigments, perfumes & plethoras of wonderful wine.

WSET – Level 3 Wines & Spirits Certified
Sake Level 1 Certified

Oaked Sauvignon Blanc • Aged Sémillon • Spicy Shiraz/Syrah • Tuesday night Etna Rosso • Vintage Champagne!

reanna@laithwaites.com | (203) 523-2161

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What Is Sparkling Wine?

What Is Sparkling Wine?

How Is Sparkling Wine Made?

Types of Sparkling Wine

Champagne

Prosecco

English Sparkling Wine

Cava

Sekt

Moscato d’Asti

Crémant

How to Serve Sparkling Wine

How Long Can I Keep Sparkling Wine?

Other Wine Knowledge Articles You May Be Interested in

Reanna, Wine Advisor Team Director