Let's talk about bubbles again!

I've said it before - I'm obsessed with bubbles. A lot of my friends are too, and usually when we're out (or even staying in!) someone will order or bring over a bottle of Prosecco. Prosecco is so popular right now and is one of the biggest exports coming out of Italy, but what about all the other bubbles?! The average consumer may not know a lot about the other types of sparkling wines out there, so I thought I'd do a quick post on some other great options.

Franciacorta

If you're a fan of Champagne, Franciacorta is such a great alternative! Here are a few facts about Franciacorta:

• Produced in Lombardia, Italy
• Made in the Traditional Method (or Champagne Method)
• Main grapes are Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, and Pinot Bianco
• Sometimes on the pricier side, but you can find it for as low as $20!
• Less fruity and a bit drier than Prosecco

If you're wanting a budget friendly alternative to Champagne, give Franciacorta a try! 🍾

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Cava

Another great sparkling out there is Cava. Cava is a great value sparkling from Spain. Here are a few key facts:

• Produced in Spain (mostly in the North)
• Made in the Traditional Method
• Main grapes used are Macabeu, Parellada, and Xarel-lo
• Usually around $15-$20, but some can even be under $10
• Typically dry

I'm a big fan of Cavas. They had a bad reputation for a long time, but the ones we're seeing now are pretty darn good!

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Crémant

Crémant is the one I tend to recommend the most if people are wanting bring something for a family dinner or even as a housewarming gift. Why? Because this is a Champagne method sparkling wine made in any other region in France, outside of Champagne. If you have that sophisticated palate, give this a go :)

• Produced all over France - Loire Valley (Crémant de Loire), Alsace (Crémant d'Alsace), Burgundy (Crémant de Bourgogne), etc.
• Grapes differ based on region
• Traditional (Champagne) Method
• Prices tend to be a little steeper, but will still cost you significantly less than Champagne

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Lambrusco

Lambrusco is a sparkling wine that gets overlooked WAY TOO MUCH. I recently took a class in Italian wine and I have to admit, Lambrusco had fallen off my radar for a bit until then. When most people think of sparkling wine, they think white grapes. But Lambrusco is a red sparkling! Yay! Excited? You should be! Even though the quality of these wines has been low for a long time, there are some fantastic ones floating around. With that said, even the average ones are tasty, especially when you pair them with Italian foods like Prociutto de Parma and Parmigiano Reggiano :)

• Red sparkling wine from Emilia Romagna, Italy 🍷
• Made from the Lambrusco family of grapes ie: Lambrusco di Sobara, Lambrusco Salamino, etc.
• Usually dry
• Semi-sparkling, aka 'frizzante'
• Usually made in the Charmat Method (like Prosecco), but can be Traditional Method
• Great patio wine for red wine lovers!

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Sekt

When people think of Sekt, they usually think low-quality, no flavour, cheap bubbly wine from Germany. And to be fair, that's what it was for a long time! There a still some pretty crappy ones out there, but the quality has since grown to include some really great ones. Another thing that people don't realize is that 'Sekt' can be from Germany OR Austria.
Here a few more bits of info:

• Can be dry - very very sweet
• Can be Charmat Method (tank) or Traditional Method
• A variety of grapes are used, the most common being Riesling (Germany) and Grüner Veltliner (Austria)

There is a lot of hope that this sparkling will only grow in quality, so keep your eyes open!

These are just a few options out there for you to try. Always make an effort to try new wines, there's probably a few out there that you don't even know you love yet! ❤️🍷

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to vote and re-steem!

Jen 🥂

image source: winefolly.com