Whoever alludes to the characteristics of the sparkling wines possibly it will begin by specifying, that these wines are all those that have an overpressure of carbon dioxide (CO2) generated during fermentation. This carbon dioxide remains dissolved in the wine, given the tight closure of the bottle and will only emerge in the form of bubbles when it is unlocked.
In addition the bottle of sparkling wine must be made of glass and be closed with a mushroom-shaped stopper held by a clip; this kind of closure is not imposed in small formats (20 cl or less). Importantly, the term "sparkling" has a somewhat pejorative connotation (when associated with a cheap drink or of dubious quality). There are those who therefore prefer to call it Crémant or Champagne.
All the information about the characteristics of Sparkling Wines will be broken down in Cosme Vins, with the help of our experts from the wine world.
Table of Contents
Characteristics of Sparkling Wines according to their manufacture
Starting from the process used to get the bubbles, we can classify sparkling wines into two large groups: those that are manufactured by the industrial process and those that are made with the same wine through a natural process:
Natural procedure
The characteristics of Sparkling Wines made from the natural procedure are different, especially because they go through various techniques and organic processes, physical or biological, which make the bubbles are obtained from the wine itself.
To obtain the bubbles from the wine itself, several forms are used, but most cover the start-up of two processes of alcoholic fermentations:
- First fermentation. You get a still wine known as a base.
- Second fermentation. By giving birth to the wine itself, carbon dioxide is obtained, the component responsible for producing the bubbles.
It should be noted that natural sparkling wines have been made for years, in an infinity of geographical areas and with a variety of grapes. Given the plurality of climates, terrains and production areas we can find wines of different characteristics.
Industrial process
Sparkling wines obtained from the industrial process constitute a process of gasification of a still wine through the incorporation of CO2 of chemical origin, in a pressurized tank. Normally, wines that are manufactured with this procedure are known as aerated sparkling wines and tend to have a lower quality.
Differences between natural sparkling wines
As we discussed, the characteristics of Sparkling Wines derive from the procedures used to create and dissolve CO2 in the wine. They determine in fact the different qualities and prices in this type of wines. That is, the difference in volume, texture, consistency and persistence of the bubbles generated by the carbon dioxide diluted in the wine, will define the profile of the wine.
Sparkling wines made by the natural procedure are distinguished from each other by the features they presenthow:
- Its color. They are usually white, sometimes made with different red grapes, but they can also be made from some reds.
- The degree of residual sugar (dosage). The level of sugar that establishes its sweetness can range from 0 grams per liter (totally dry) to more than 50 grams per liter that are very sweet.
- The amount of carbon dioxide added in wine that can sometimes reach up to 7 grams per liter.
- The pressure to which CO2 is subjected dissolved in the wine also influences the final result. There are wines that are made at pressures of 3.5 atmospheres (each atmosphere is equivalent to 1 bar), however, other wines reach 6 atmospheres.
This last process is of vital importance, because according to the method used to achieve that pressure, there are huge differences in the production costs of this type of wine.
Methods for obtaining sparkling wines
It's simple; the methods used shall define the characteristics of Sparkling Wines, including their prices, so there are several ways to obtain this type of wine. These would be:
The traditional method
It is a method that allows to obtain most of the sparkling wines in denominations. It's called Cava and follows three stages: The vinification of a still wine. After clarification, mixing and tartaric stabilization, and in this way the wines are ready for the second fermentation and the final stage, maturing into slats.
The Champagne method
In fact it is the same type of elaboration as the traditional method with second fermentation in the bottle. The name Champagne Method can only be used for Champagne wines.
The ancestral method
Also it is called rural or artisanal method depending on the region. This is the original method of making a sparkling wine, since it is done by spontaneous fermentation; a very delicate method of mastering.
The Dioise method
Unlike the ancestral method, this method, after the second fermentation consists of emptying the bottles in cold to filter the yeasts, without adding liquor dosage. This filtration is carried out between two isobarometric tanks that keep the wine at the initial pressure. Cold and filtration are the two means of regulating the work of yeasts.
The closed tank method
It was invented in 1907 at the University of Wine in Montpellier by Auguste Charmat, hence its other name of Charmat method. Unlike the Champagne or traditional method, it is not made in bottles, but in a pressurized steel tank that can hold several hundred hectoliters. It is used in particular for the preparation of German sekts.
List of sparkling wines available at Cosme Vins
There are many sparkling wines that you can find in the market with different qualities and characteristics, in Cosme Vins you can find a variety of sparkling wines. Here are some of the bestsellers:
- Laieta Rose
- Veuve Cliquot Brut
- Moet & Chandon Brut
- Bertha Brut Nature
- Taittinger Brut
- Recaredo Terrers brut nature
- Parxet bru nature
- Agusti Torrello Mata Trepat}
- Parés Baltá brut nature.
Conclusions
The characteristics of sparkling wines are erected as a result of different factors, but all these types of wines have something in common: they must be elaborated through the execution of techniques that, under pressure, dilute the carbon dioxide in the wine. In addition, for all the processes described in this article, sparkling wines are listed as the most technical and complex to produce in the world of oenology.
You know, in Cosme Vins we have a catalogue of sparkling wines that meet the quality standards demanded by the most demanding palates. Just make a few clicks and you can buy the wine you want. What are you waiting for? You take a look at our offers.