Types of Sparkling Wine

Styles and varieties of sparkling wine

Since its somewhat accidental invention by a monk called Dom Pérignon (a name we’re sure you’re very familiar with!) in the late 1600s, sparkling wine has truly revolutionised how we make wine. While attempting to produce a still white wine at the now-famous Hautvillers Abbey, Dom Pérignon was frustrated at the presence of bubbles in his wine and initially thought it to be a fault… until he popped open a bottle and tasted it.

Winemakers across the world have since gone on to create their own versions of Champagne, giving us a variety of different types of sparkling wine that each possess their own flavours and characteristics shaped by where and how they are produced. We explore the most popular types of sparkling wine below.

What are the main types of sparkling wine?

It may come as no surprise that the most popular types of sparkling wine are Champagne and Prosecco. Champagne is the king of ultra-dry, ultra-fizzy bubbly, while Prosecco is the reigning champion of the softer style of sparkling. Read on to learn more about the other most popular types of sparkling wine.

Champagne

Style and structure
Let’s start with the original and most iconic type of sparkling wine on the planet, Champagne. Breaking the mould of traditional winemaking, Champagne was the first wine to be produced in a way that encourages bubbles to form. This was achieved by putting a still wine (which has already gone through a standard fermentation) through a second fermentation once it had been bottled. Yeast is dropped into the bottle to trigger the reaction, and the bottle is sealed to trap the carbon dioxide being produced. This is what causes the intense, pronounced bubbles we find in Champagne.

All Champagne is made using this traditional method, which results in crisp, highly acidic brut wines with lively fizz. All Champagne must also contain a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes in order to be called Champagne, and this combination of grapes influences the palate, too. For Vintage Champagne, the grapes must all be from the same harvest, but for Non-Vintage Champagne, the grapes can be a blend from different harvests.

Wine regions
Now, this is a much simpler explanation. Champagne can only be produced in the Champagne region in France. Other parts of the world may try to emulate it, but won’t be able to call it Champagne.

Flavours and food pairings
Classic Champagne flavours include white peach, citrus fruits, almond, biscuit and bread. Champagne is aged for at least 15 months with yeast particles before the wine is finished and ready to consume, and it’s during this maturation period that the wine develops its trademark bready and toasty notes.

Interestingly, if there is more Chardonnay in a Champagne blend, those bready notes taste more buttery and like brioche. Regardless of whether it’s more Chardonnay-led or Pinot Noir-dominant, Champagne pairs wonderfully with lobster and shellfish served in a buttery sauce. It also has high enough acidity to be a great match for battered fish, as it cuts through the fat to refresh the palate.

Cava

Style and structure
Cava is the Spanish take on Champagne. Made using the traditional method of causing a second fermentation in the bottle to trap carbon dioxide, Cava shares a similar body and structure to Champagne, displaying a dry palate, bright acidity and vivacious bubbles. Although, with Spain being a warmer climate region than northern France, Cava tends to be slightly lower in acidity than its French cousin. It’s also made from different grape varieties, including Parellada, Macabeu and Xarel-lo, which also contributes to the softer acidity.

Wine regions
Cava has been produced in the Spanish wine region of Catalunya since 1872 after a local winemaker was inspired by a trip to France. 95% of all Cava production comes from this region, although you will also find small quantities of it being made elsewhere in Spain, such as Rioja.

Flavours and food pairings
Made from local Spanish grape varieties, Cava is a type of sparkling wine that’s truly unique to its provenance. It tends to have elegant floral aromas on the nose, fruity flavours of lemon, pear and melon on the palate, along with hints of nut and a vegetal quality. The vegetal nuances make it fabulous with peppery dishes, tapas and spicy Spanish cuisine, while the effervescent body makes Cava a great pairing for rich, creamy sauces.

Prosecco

Style and structure
Prosecco is undoubtedly one of the most popular types of sparkling wine on the market in recent years. Unlike most French sparkling wines, Prosecco tends to be a bit softer in body and acidity, with flavours that are true to Italian terroir. Classified as a frizzante (a term used for Italian fizz with gentle bubbles), its lighter bubbles are a result of how this sparkling wine is made. That all-important second fermentation takes place in large steel tanks, which means the fizz is far less aggressive than when the reaction is contained inside a glass bottle.

Prosecco is made exclusively from the Glera grape variety (the only exception being Pink Prosecco, which must be 85-90% Glera and 10-15% Pinot Noir). Although it’s produced to be a dry style of sparkling wine, Prosecco can sometimes taste a little sweet, and that’s due to certain fruity flavours that come through from the Glera.

Wine regions
This popular sparkling vino is mostly made in the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions of northern Italy. It can be produced anywhere in Italy, but it’s certainly the north that specialises in Prosecco.

Flavours and food pairings
The Glera grape offers distinct fruity flavours of pear, honeydew melon and green apple, along with delightful hints of honeysuckle. These flavours can make Prosecco appear sweeter than it actually is, so it can seem tricky to pair with food. But, we promise you, it isn’t! Try a glass or two with a sushi platter or appetizers such as habas fritas, honey-glazed cashews and antipasti dishes. It’s actually very food friendly.

Asti Spumante

Style and structure
Just like Prosecco, Asti Spumante is an Italian sparkling wine that’s produced using the tank method. But the similarities stop there. Spumante is an Italian term for intense bubbles (whereas Prosecco is classified as a frizzante, meaning soft bubbles), and it’s made entirely from Moscato Bianco (aka Muscat Blanc). It’s considered to be slightly sweeter and delicate in flavour than other Italian sparkling wines.

Wine regions
Asti is produced in the southeast of the Piedmont region in Italy, mostly around the towns of Alba and (surprise, surprise…) Asti.

Flavours and food pairings
Expect a fresh and fruity palate of peach, apricot, orange and pear that makes it a fabulous pairing for light, creamy puddings and fruity salads. Be careful not to confuse Asti Spumante with Moscato d’Asti, though, which is much lighter-bodied, sweeter and lower in alcohol. Moscato d’Asti is thought of as more of a dessert wine than a sparkling wine as it sits much higher on the sweetness scale.

Crémant

Style and structure
Crémant is the name for French sparkling wine that’s made outside of the Champagne appellation. Made using the same traditional method as its world-renowned French counterpart, Crémant is another type of sparkling wine that has pretty lively bubbles. It’s also generally made with Pinot Noir, just like Champers. The main difference here is the other primary grapes, which can be anything the winemakers fancies, which is why you’ll often find Crémant that’s made with Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc or Cabernet Franc. It’s a popular alternative to Champagne due to its high quality and lower cost.

Wine regions
Crémant can be made anywhere in France, and is almost completely exclusive to France. The exception being Luxembourg, where winemakers are also allowed to produce Champagne-style sparkling wine and call it Crémant, using local grape varieties such as Riesling.

In France, Crémant is most commonly associated with the Loire region, where the blend typically includes grapes that thrive in the area like Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc.

Flavours and food pairings
The flavours vary slightly depending on where the Crémant is made, and the specific grapes that are used in the blend. Crémant made with Chenin Blanc, for instance, will have hints of honey and chamomile, while an offering from Luxembourg will display notes of green apple. Generally speaking though, Crémant pairs well with seafood and creamy cheeses, and its acidity makes it a refreshing match for battered fish.

English Sparkling Wine

Style and structure
English sparkling wine is the new kid on the block, quickly catapulting from being completely unknown to winning countless accolades and awards, and even recently being granted official PDO status for its Sussex region (meaning you will soon be able to order a “glass of Sussex” from a menu, just as you would Champagne). These parts of England are fortunate enough to share a similar climate and terroir to the Champagne region, which is why English sparkling wine is so goddam good. Adopting the traditional method that the French use, English winemakers produce a type of sparkling wine that’s very similar in style to Champers, so expect a crisp, acidic body with racy bubbles.

Wine regions
The clue’s in the title, here. English sparkling wine is only produced on English soils, in warmer regions of southern England such as Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Hampshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

Flavours and food pairings
English sparkling wine expresses classic Champagne flavours like almond, biscuit and lemon, accompanied by subtle English nuances of red apple and orchard fruit. Just like Champagne, it pairs fantastically with seafood (fresh and deep-fried), rich buttery sauces and soft, creamy cheeses. Its zesty acidity balances out fatty foods very nicely.

What is fizzy white wine called?

This category of wine is defined as sparkling wine, and is also commonly referred to as brut. When it is from a certain region, it will be called something else. The most famous example being sparkling wine produced in the Champagne region in France being called Champagne.

If a sparkling wine can only be produced from certain grapes, then this may affect what the wine is called, too. An example of this would be sparkling wine from Italy that’s made from the Glera grape variety being called Prosecco.

What is the most popular sparkling wine?

Champagne is the most popular sparkling wine in the world, both in terms of reputation and revenue, with a whopping 300 million bottles sold globally every year! Prosecco wins the race in total production and affordability, though, with billions of glasses of Prosecco being consumed every year. We especially love it here in the UK, accounting for over a third of the world’s total Prosecco consumption. So, it’s fair to say the battle of Prosecco vs Champagne rages on!

Is Moscato a sparkling wine?

Moscato is the Italian name for the Muscat Blanc grape, and it’s an incredibly versatile grape that produces bone-dry wines right through to sparkling wines and super sweet fortified wines. So, the answer is yes, Moscato is a sparkling wine, but it can also refer to other styles. Moscato d’Asti is a popular type of sparkling wine and a term you’re likely to come across.

How to store sparkling wine?

You may be tempted to store sparkling wine in your wine rack, but sparkling wine should be kept upright to stop the cork from getting moist and spoiling the precious bubbly within!

Try to keep it away from direct sunlight, radiators, and anything that will make the bottle too warm. Wine expands and contracts with each drastic temperature change, so try to keep it consistent, and only put the wine in the fridge or on ice shortly before you plan on drinking it.

How long does sparkling wine last?

If stored correctly, a non-vintage Champagne can last three to four years, and a vintage Champagne can last up to ten years. Most Prosecco and other lighter types of sparkling wine shouldn’t be stored for longer than a couple of years.

Once opened, sparkling wine loses its fizz quickly so (in the extremely unlikely event of not finishing a bottle of bubbly once it’s been popped) it should be kept in the fridge with an airtight bottle stopper and consumed within three to four days.

What is Italian sparkling wine called?

Italian sparkling wine is called spumante (wines with intense bubbles) or frizzante (wines with gentle bubbles). Asti is a famous example of spumante, while Prosecco is a famous frizzante.

What type of sparkling wine is best?

Well, it all depends whether you prefer the ultra-dry, ultra-fizzy style that’s made using the traditional method (like Champagne, Cava or English sparkling wine), or the slightly lighter styles that are made using the tank method (like Prosecco or Asti Spumante). Of course, it also depends whether you prefer your bubbly to be sweet.

One of the best Champagnes around has got to be Champagne Laurent Perrier La Cuvee, while the Solpiantez Spumante Brut Millesimato is a must-try for anyone who adores Italian sparkling wine.