Have you tried Red Sparkling Wine?

When it comes to still wines then both red and white would be the most popular styles in our minds and experiences with rosé not too far behind. Though, if we add bubbles to our wines then our thought process changes and we are strictly familiar with white and rosé, but fizzy reds???

Many times when I am speaking with people trying to increase their knowledge of wines, red sparkling will usually be something new and certainly intriguing to them – “I didn’t know there were any red sparkling wines” or “I have never tried red sparkling wine before” will be common responses. I like to say, “you do not know what you have been missing“…

My introduction to red sparkling wines was via Marin Berovic and those which can be found in Slovenia – For me, some of the best fizzy reds originate from this popular winemaking country that holds many unknown and to be discovered wineries from its three main wine growing regions. With 28,000 winemakers across its 20,271 square kilometres and amongst its 2.1 million population, Slovenia is very much a wine nation in my view.

 

Red grapes make red sparkling wines (at least one example must be present per label) in order to obtain the required colouring from the skin. Normally red sparklers will be made from grapes such as Merlot, Shiraz, Brachetto, Pinot Noir. Though not well known thus popular, there are an increasing amount of varieties to choose from and importantly of increasing quality also.

What does a red sparkling wine taste like?

Styles that you are likely to see will include Dry (Secco) and Sweet (Dulce) with plenty of flavours such as raspberry, dark cherry, spices including black/white pepper, blueberry, rhubarb, herbs, tobacco and much more. Most times the wine will be heavy in style, though I am increasingly seeing lighter styles.

Traditional method will be the most likely style though watch out for Charmat method and also triple fermentation examples.

Another positive is that prices are very competitive, in most cases the red sparkling wines will not demand expensive prices.

The best way to serve and enjoy a red sparkling wine is very well chilled from 4-6°C.

Vina Kobal

Located in the Karst region (Štanjel), towards the border with Italy (Trieste), and gaining influence both from the not too far away Alps and the Mediterranean Sea, the winery Vina Kobal sits within the region of Primorska.

“The Vina Kobal brand presents wines from selected vineyards in the Karst, more precisely from the oldest village in this area, Štanjel, a space that our ancestors created through hard work. A place where the centuries-old heritage of viticulture and winemaking is written in every piece of land. A place whose story is captured in every glass of our wines.” source https://vinakobal.com/en/

 

We taste two red sparkling wines from Vina Kobal:

Red sparkling wine Tera – Tasting notes: “Blackberry fruits on the nose with a silky expression. Touch of dark red rose petals too. Blackberry fruits once again in flavours, more velvet style in the palate. Quite dry in style with a mouth-watering close.” Silver Medal winner at the 2020 Glass of Bubbly Awards in the category of ‘Meditation’.

Red sparkling wine Gala – Tasting notes: “Summer berry fruits, dark red floral notes on the nose. Fresh and fruity with added minerals, forest floor touch too.” Silver Medal winner at the 2020 Glass of Bubbly Awards in the category of ‘Gastronomic’.