Beginner's guide to sparkling wine 

Sparkling Wine: A Brief Introduction

While Champagne might be the most famous, there are so many types of sparkling wine for the fizz lover to discover. Different styles from across the globe await, including Cava, Prosecco, Crémant and Sekt.

So, what is sparkling wine? How does it get those signature bubbles? What’s the difference between Champagne, Prosecco and Cava?

At its simplest, sparkling wine is a wine with bubbles produced by the carbon dioxide created during the winemaking process. It can come as red, white or rosé – although white and rosé versions tend to be best known. 

Like still wines, sparkling wine comes in various styles and tastes, shaped by things like the grapes used and the winemaker’s techniques.

Champagne

While all Champagnes are sparkling wines, not all types of sparkling wines are Champagne.

Originating exclusively from the Champagne region in France, Champagne is a blended sparkling wine distinguished by its crisp acidity, velvety texture and complex tastes. It is made from various grape varieties, with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier being the most common. It’s typically dry in style and can range from light to full-bodied, depending on the grape combination. Matured Champagne wines evolve to encompass toasted bread notes, reminiscent of brioche.

Champagne elevates any event, making a delightful pairing with white seafood, fried dishes like tempura, and fruity desserts featuring berries.

Prosecco

Named after a village in Trieste, Italy, Prosecco is often considered just a budget-friendly alternative to Champagne, but it actually has its own unique flavour profile thanks to the tank method.

Prosecco usually falls under the dry (or “brut”) category of sparkling wines and comes in various styles, from a gentle fizz (look for “frizzante” on the label) to full bubbles (known as “spumante”). Its medium to high acidity paired with zesty, white fruit flavours offers a vibrant, fruity, easy-drinking glass.

This sparkling wine is a match made in heaven for aromatic Thai cuisine, subtle cheeses, charcuterie, and fruits like strawberries and peaches.

Cava

A sparkling gem from Spain, Cava is produced like Champagne using the Traditional Method but with grapes like Macabeu, Mataro, Xarel·lo, Chardonnay and Parallada. Cava is known for its delicate bubbles and, similar to Champagne, that blend of zestiness and creaminess.

Cava styles vary from white to rosé and from very dry to sweet, often boasting flavours of citrus, apple, almond, pear and blossom. Light-bodied with medium alcohol content and lively acidity, Cava is a refreshing – and often great value – glass for most occasions.

Its citrus flavours 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.

Crémant

Though Champagne is still France’s most famous sparkling wine, Crémant is the wine lover’s “hidden gem.” It’s the name given to wines produced outside the Champagne region that use the Traditional Method. In short, you can enjoy all the flavour of Champagne … without the price tag. In fact, Crémant can sometimes offer a slightly richer, creamier texture than Champagne, making it ideal for leisurely aperitif sipping.

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 peach, lemon peel, green apple, almond, and honey. 

This wine goes beautifully with starters such as charcuterie and olives, as well as sweet dishes like strawberry tart.

Moscato d’Asti

It’s hard not to love Moscato d’Asti, the sparkling wine made from Moscato grapes found in Italy’s Asti region. It uses a unique production method, where the grapes are softly pressed right after being picked to retain their fruity flavours and bubbles come from primary fermentation in a tank rather than any secondary fermentation.

Floral, fruity and fun, Moscato d’Asti is loved for its peach, orange blossom and distinctly grape-y flavour. With its low alcohol content, sweetness and gentle fizz, it’s perhaps the most easy-drinking of the sparkling wines (if not of wines in general). 

An ideal glass on a hot summer’s day, it’s also perfect when served alongside desserts, like sponge cakes and fruit pastries or salty salami, roasted nuts and hard, aged cheeses.

Sekt

A German term for sparkling wine, Sekt is made using various methods, depending on how premium the wine is and the location. You’d be forgiven for not immediately recognising this fizz style – most premium Sekt is snapped up by the locals.

Premium Sekt typically uses Riesling, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir grapes. In contrast, Austrian Sekt often favours the Grüner Veltliner grapes, giving the wine its warm, golden hue. Generally made using the Tank Method, it leans towards the sweeter side of the sparkling wine spectrum.

With its sweet character, Sekt complements desserts, velvety cheeses like Brie and even chicken.