Sparkling Wine News
Consider Cava
In the ancestry of sparkling wine; let’s consider Cava, Champagne’s distant cousin. Cava is made by the traditional method, the same as Champagne and spends at least nine months on its lees. Most Cava is non-vintage with lower acidity than Champagne. The Spanish grapes used to make Cava are Macabeu, Xarel-lo, and Parellada for the…
There’s more than one way to Fizz a Wine!
French Ancestral Method is alive and well in Spain. Contrary to popular belief, Dom Pérignon did not invent sparkling wine. Adding sugar to a bottle of still wine, thus provoking a second fermentation, was in fact first performed by an Englishman, Mon Dieu! Indeed Christopher Merret’s experiment occurred some years before the much vaunted Dom…
Barack Obama Celebrates Visit to Milan with Ferrari Trentodoc’s Bubbles
“Really Delicious!” said Barack Obama about the Ferrari Trentodoc served during the gala dinner hosted on May 8th in Milan by the Obama Foundation, in the glamorous rooms of Palazzo Clerici. The former US president set the stage of its first public appearance abroad after the end of his term in Milan, welcoming the invitation…
2017 International Alsace Varietals Festival featuring Crémant d’Alsace
Planet Grape Wine Review presented recently during the sold out Educational Session at the 2017 International Alsace Varietals Festival, held at the Mendocino Fairgrounds in Boonville amidst the rolling hills and meadows of California’s Anderson Valley. Dr. Liz Thach MW and Fred Swan Diploma WSET joined me for a lively panel presentation of the sparkling wines of…
Romania’s Wine Revolution
Few people think of Romania when it comes to wine, but according to OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine), as of 2016, Romania was the 13th largest wine producing country in the world! Romania’s wine industry was severely impacted by the country’s politics and is, to some degree, still felt today, due largely to…
A Snowball’s Chance
Putting eggs in any shape or form into sparkling cocktails isn’t the most obvious thing to do. The bubbles turn to froth. The result is opaque. The bubbly’s acidity is muted. Additional coloured ingredients tend to produce something resembling ditch water. All the same, eggs-and-bubbly mixes, though always rarities, do have a history. They are…
Don’t Let Age Stop You Enjoying a Lovely Glass of Bubbly!
When it comes to alcohol, we’re sure you’ve heard many warnings about it. But, in moderation, having a ‘drink’ is an enjoyable activity that can also have some surprising benefits. And, as you get that bit older, experience means you naturally tend to be a little more sensible and are happy enjoying an occasional drink…
What’s happening in English Sparkling Wine?
The 2016 production figures from England and Wales released today, reveal a dip in overall volume, but a high-quality vintage. The overall production figures show that 31,116 hectolitres were produced, equivalent to 4.15m bottles. This volume is below the current ‘average’ annual production of 5m bottles. 2016 got off to a slow start but finished…
Add Edible Rose Gold Glitter to your Prosecco
Glam and glitz up your Prosecco for any occasion with an iridescent rose gold shimmer. With a raspberry flavour and heart-shaped flakes of gold simply add half a spoonful of raspberry shimmer popaball for Prosecco available from Lakeland to a glass of Prosecco and watch it fizz and cascade down the flute, leaving behind a lovely…