Unique Sparkling Wines

Tasting your way through the unconquerable amount of sparkling wine produced each year can take you to all four corners of the globe, giving you the chance to meet so many incredible and talented people within the wine industry, all utilising their own knowledge, skills and tradition to produce their sparkling wines.

With so much competition, innovation is ultimately born, breaking away from the norm and forging their own new ventures, whether it’s different labelling, bottle design, grapes, ageing length, methods, blends or technology, you can uncover some true gems, some unique sparkling wines that end up standing out in your mind as a great taste experience.

The following list of ‘unique sparkling wines’ were tasted by Olga Sofia Schiaffino, one of Glass of Bubbly’s Amazing Writers, and the incredible mind behind the ‘Sons Of A Lesser God‘ series, where she explores almost unknown grape varieties used in the production of sparkling wines.

• De Sousa: Tradition brut ( 50% Ch, 40% Pn, 10% Meunier), 36 months on the lees, very good quality and Demeter certification. Can’t miss the sparkling wines with the little shell on the label!

• Champagne Larmandier: the descendants of the founder Jules devoted themselves to Chardonnay, grown in the Grand Cru vineyards classified in Cote de Blancs. Elegant, creamy and silky with a long finish the Special Club vintage 2015!

• Gonet Sulcova: the grapes come from the two chalky territories in Champagne, Mesnil sur Ogier and Montguex in the Aube. Expression Initiale Brut (60% Pn and 40% Ch) is definitely an excellent value for money, perfect to start a dinner. Expression du Mesnil Grand Cru Brut Millesimo 2012 is just amazing.

• Champagne Petite Vallée: This new brand was born recently, thanks to the partnership beetwen Bruno Bolfo, owner of the Vallepicciola winery in Tuscany, and the maison Forget Brimont, which owns about 6 hectares in Montagne de Reims area. It was a great emotion to taste 3 vintages of the same champagne, a blend of 50% Pn and 50% Ch, 10 years on the lees: Millesime 2011 Premier Cru Brut, a sparkling wine that, despite the bad weather conditions of the year, is very interesting for its character; 2012 is silky, creamy and very elegant and 2013 has really a dynamic sip!

• Champagne Yannick Prevoteau: The Prevoteau family has been producing sparkling wine for 5 generations in Damery; Marius Brut Nature (35% Pn, 35% Meunier, 30% Ch) is sumptuous, 20 months on the lees, while Perle des Treilles Brut Nature is a “coup de coeur”, 40 months on the lees, 60% Pn and 40% Ch.

• Quentin Beaufort: Jacques’son expresses the territory of Polisy in Aube and the character of Pinot Noir in a sparkling N13 Millesime 2019, in which 10% Chardonnay is added. Dosage 3gr/l, 37 months on the lees and organic management in the vineyards. Beautiful.