GrapeLines

A sparkling wine review including the Pol Roger Brut Reserve “White Foil,” the Mionetto, Lunetta, Voveti and Lamberti proseccos, JJ Vincent Cremant, Champalou Vovray Brut, Trapiche Extra Brut, and the J Vineyards Brut Rose and their 25th Anniversary Brut.

Bubbles in wine were once considered a fault, especially when the increased pressure caused the bottles to explode. The early Greeks attributed the presence of bubbles in wine to either astrological influences or malevolent spirits. It is likely that the French monk credited for “discovering” sparkling wine, Dom Perignon, was trying to find a way to prevent the bubbles from occurring. And it is equally likely that the development of stronger glass bottles by the English and their use of cork stoppers is what led to the subsequent success of the French Champagne region.

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Some sparkling wine suggestions for the holidays including Schramsberg, J Vineyards and Gruet.

The versatility and variety of flavors in sparkling wines make them a favorite for the holidays. Sparklers are the result of a secondary fermentation that occurs after the first is completed, usually because some additional sugar and yeast is added to the base wine. The resulting carbon dioxide is dissolved in the wine and appears when the bottle is opened. Techniques utilized to create sparking wines include the traditional, very laborious (and costly) methode champenois where the second fermentation occurs in the bottle and the less-expensive “charmant” where it occurs in a tank.

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Some sparkling wine recommendations.

Resist the temptation to assign unused bottles of holiday Champagne and other sparklers to next year’s festivities and look for reasons to share them now. The balanced acidity of sparkling wines makes them food-friendly, and they come in sufficient styles, flavors and prices to fit most budgets and tastes.

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