Learning the Lingo of Sparkling Wine

A cheat sheet for deciphering labels

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Rosé sparkling wines

Rosé sparkling wines are pink to quite red wines, much like the still versions. There are two ways to producing a rosé. The first involves leaving the juice in contact with the skins of the red grapes for a period of time. It is also possible to produce a rosé by blending red wine and white wine. Rosés can be among the richest of sparkling wines and have fruit flavors that lean decidedly in the berry direction.

The terminology used to indicate the sweetness or dryness of a sparkling wine can be confusing, but at least they are consistent across most countries.

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Tags: how to, sparkling wine, Wine Label, Champagne, wine tips, Wine Education, wine words, Gregory Dal Piaz

Comments

LucyPH

611783 4

Recently I had a "VERY slightly sparkling" red table wine in the Piemonte region (Traversa, LaGiovincella) and can't find it here. It was dry and tasted like a cross between a pinot noir and a chianti. Any recommendations? Everything I've tried here is way too sweet for me.

Dec 30, 2010 at 1:04 PM
JD Colmar

473511 2

The Cavas you reviewed are all very mainstream. There are many which exceed the quality of those mentioned and are huge values, Pares Balta and Gran Pasion for instance. There are also some made totally from Chardonnay and some from Chardonnay and Pinot which come from the Penedes region. They are fantastic wines!

Dec 30, 2010 at 1:16 PM
mmozell

277312 8

Gee, thanks for the clear and concise definition of "Méthode Champenoise!!" Easy to describe, but lengthy, why not give it a shot? You must know that this would create yet another page for us to look at and increase your SRO! (I am growing so tired of being your pawn to a greater web presence!) Gee whiz, Gregory.....!!

Dec 30, 2010 at 3:39 PM
joewinetra-
veler

610411 17

We were in the Champagne region of France for one full week in October of 2010. We visited several small producers including Manuel Janisson. This guy has his own Champagne House (3rd generation) but I discovered that he makes the Costco Kirkland Champagne. See my article on GoodCheapVino.com http://bit.ly/gp8A88

Dec 30, 2010 at 5:03 PM
Flying 44

697996 20

Interesting article. However you fail to mention the fact that Australia produces a sparkling RED wine! Mostly it's shiraz but some wineries also make their sparkling wine with pinot noir. Oviously, sparkling red has quite a bit more body than a sparkling rosé or a sparkling white, but the taste is more than interesting! I've served it with BBQed meats and it's GREAT!

Dec 30, 2010 at 6:23 PM
kincaid

166137 26

one of those is the Mateus Rosé Sparkling... a good choise to celebrate 2010/11.

Dec 31, 2010 at 5:00 AM
apps

370206 4

thant for the new web site goodcheapvino.com

Dec 31, 2010 at 7:55 AM
Flying 44

697996 20

Reply to Kinkaid,
NOOOO! I wasn't talking about Rosé bubblies...but RED sprarkling wines. The Australian RED sparkling wines are made with shiraz or pinot noir grapes and the result is truly RED! Nothing to do with the Portuguese rosé such as Mateus. BTW, that particular wine is on the sweet side.

Jan 01, 2011 at 1:42 PM
EBGB

902774 23

LucyPH - sounds like you're talking about Lambrusco. Try wine-searcher.com for a retailer in your area. A lot of it isn't very exciting, but the good ones are lovely.

Dec 31, 2012 at 12:06 PM