Sparkling wines start from just under-ripe grapes - that are still high in acid but have developed varietal characteristics, this is why many of the best sparkling wines are made in cool climate regions. There’s more to sparkling wine than just popping a cork and toasting, in this article, I delve into the world of sparkling wine, exploring its production methods, key countries, appellations, styles, and more.

What are the main sparkling wine production methods?

But first, lets summarise the main sparkling wine production methods and their differences:

Production MethodBottle Fermented?Times Fermented
Méthode AncestraleYes1
Méthode ChampenoiseYes2
Méthode TraditionnelleYes2
Transfer MethodYesRebottled
Tank / Charmat MethodNoN/A

Here’s a short explanation of each method:

Méthode Ancestrale and Pét-Nat Pétillant-Naturel

Starts with partially fermented (base) wine, which is then bottled and fermentation completes - hence a single ferment - this is more likely to be for Pét-Nat wines. With this approach, you’re likely to have less fizz and won’t know if the ferment completed til you open it. The resulting wine can be Dry to Off-Dry / Medium-Sweet.

There is also a method where the base wine is bottled, liquer de tirage is added, then the bottle is sealed and the resulting wine will have more fizz then the first approach. Some wine makers may also disgorge the yeast plug resulting in a clearer wine that is less likely to froth everywhere. This is where some of the Cremant sparkling wines can get really interesting.

Traditional Method / Méthode Champenoise

Glass of Billecarte-salmon vintage champagne from France

Starts from a still base wine, which is blended and bottler for a second fermentation before laying the down the bottles to do the magic stuff (sparkling wine). When ready, they are disgorged, topped up with dosage and inserting a cork - then ready to be shipped out to sell.

Transfer method

This is much like traditional - except follwing the second ferment, the bottles are emptied under pressure into a sealed tank. The now sparkling wine is then filtered, bottled, dosage is added and then it is and ready to sell (no ageing). This is a cheaper production method - less labour intensive.

Tank method / Charmat

Has second fermentation in a stainless tank and then sparkling wine is filtered and bottled ready to ship out (with no ageing) - this is also used for wines like sparkling Asti and Prosecco as well as high volume wines from the New World

Carbonation

This is for high volume wines and is cheap and quick - a still wine (usually aromatic) is carbonated in the bottle, packaged and then is ready to sell. Think Alcopops - the major discount supermarkets probably sell this stuff.

Key Sparkling Wine Countries and Production Methods

Table below sets out key Wine Producing Countries, Appellations and sparkling wine production menthod along with key grapes

Country (Region)Key AppellationProduction MethodKey Grapes
EnglandEnglish Quality Sparkling WineTraditional MethodChardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
France (Champagne)ChampagneMéthode ChampenoiseChardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
France (Alsace, Loire, Limoux, Bourgogne, etc )CrémantTraditional Method
Méthode Ancestrale
Varies by region (e.g. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, etc.)
GermanyDeutscher SektTraditional MethodRiesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay
ItalyFranciacortaMetodo classicoChardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco
ItalyAstiCharmat MethodMoscato
ItalyProseccoCharmat MethodGlera
ItalyTrentodocMetodo classicoChardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc
New ZealandMarlboroughMéthode TraditionnelleChardonnay, Pinot Noir
South AfricaCap ClassiqueMéthode Cap ClassiqueChardonnay, Pinot Noir
SpainCavaTraditional MethodMacabeo, Parellada, Xarel-lo
USASparklingMéthode ChampenoiseChardonnay, Pinot Noir
AustraliaSparkling
Pet Nat
Traditional Method
Ancestrale Method
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
varies for Pet Nat

Styles of Sparkling Wine

Non Vintage

Made from a blend of several vintages - good for consistency in style and quality

Vintage

Made from wine only from that year - has to be an exceptional quality - some will have extra bottle ageing as well as more expression of tastes from that year.

Blanc de Blanc

White from white grapes - means the wine was made using only white grapes.

Blanc de Noir

White from black grapes

Other Sparkling Wines

Cremant

Bottle of Cremant d'Jura a sparkling wine from France Jura region

Is anything sparkling in France but not from Champagne region. In the past, Cremant referred to sparkling wine and the atmospheres of pressure in the bottle. Here are some good Cremants to know:

  1. de Alsace - can be made from a variety of grapes - just not aromatics like Gewurz.
  2. de Bourgogne -
  3. de Jura -
  4. de Loire - AOP for any sparkling in Loire.
  5. de Limoux - will be ancestrale methode - Historical importance as one of the first places to make sparkling wine
  6. Clairette de Die / Cremant de Die - ancestrale method - likely to be off-dry

You’ll also find quality sparkling from the Loire that will be labelled

  • Vouvray 100% Chenin Blanc or
  • Saumur (a combination of grapes including Chenin, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir)

So to summarise … sparkling wine has a long history and made by many countries. It’s popularised by Champagne, Prosecco - but there are several key production methods and the resulting sparkling wines are can vary in style from vintage to vintage or have a reputation of great quality and consistency.

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Meet the author

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Damien Saunders
WSET3 award - Has been on a journey to learn more about wine, viticulture since I started travelling. Every country has something to drink.
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