Signature Styles & Characteristics
The best sparkling wines are made from blends of several grape varieties, notably Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier (the classic trio used in Champagne, France). Other secondary grapes include Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, and Muscat. Although any grape can be interpreted in innovative and at times, outlying styles, the below chart/graphic represents the preponderance of what you will find in California:
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Acid (potential)
Sparkling Wine: 100 percent on a scale from Low to High of Acid (potential).
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Alcohol (potential)
Sparkling Wine: 50 percent on a scale from Low to High of Alcohol (potential).
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Body (weight on palate)
Sparkling Wine: 60 percent on a scale from Light to Full of Body (weight on palate).
Dryness/Residual Sugar
Brut Sauvage/Brut Zéro/Brut Nature, Brut, Extra Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec, Doux
| Style (Labeling) | Perception | Approximate Dosage (Sugar as % of 750 mL Bottle) |
|---|---|---|
| Brut zero, Brut Nature, or sauvage | Bone-dry | 0.0 - 0.5 |
| Brut | No sweetness | 0.5 - 1.5 |
| Extra Dry | Off-dry | 1.2 - 2.0 |
| Demi-sec | Slighly sweet | 1.7 - 3.5 |
| Sec | Sweet | 3.3 - 5.0 |
| Doux | Very sweet | More than 5.0 |
- Production Methods
- Traditional Method (aka Méthode Traditionnelle or Méthode Champenoise), Transfer, Charmat (aka Cuve Close), Carbonation
- Styles
- House/proprietary Cuveé, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs, Rosé, Cuvée Prestige/Tête de Cuvée...(all can be either vintage-dated or non-vintage/multi-vintage)
- Texture/ Effervescence
- Volume/force of bubbles: Moderately effervescent to fully effervescent; texturally: prickling to smooth and creamy
- Ageability
- 5 to 15 years, pedigree-dependent; the very best bottles may live even longer
- House/Proprietary Cuvée
- Primarily Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier
- Blanc de Noirs
- Primarily Pinot Noir (exclusively red grapes)
- Blanc de Blancs
- Primarily Chardonnay (exclusively white grapes)
- Rosé
- Primarily Pinot Noir (although white grapes may be included in blend)
- Cuvée Prestige/Tête de Cuvée
- Primarily Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Flavors
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Fruit/Vegetable
Cherry, lemon, lime, peach, apricot, tangerine, melon (green, orange), apple (green, yellow), pear (green, yellow, brown), pineapple, passion fruit, lychee, raspberry, strawberry, cucumber -
Floral/Herbal
Honeysuckle, rose, gardenia, freesia, apple blossom, lime blossom, mint -
Earth
Mineral, chalk, dust, mushroom -
Extended age (tirage)
Toast, brioche, French bread (baguette), biscuit, hazelnut, almond, walnut, vanilla wafer, nougat, gingerbread, dried fruit (fig, raisin), coffee, toffee, white chocolate -
Other
Yeast, dough/raw bread, soy, cream, Vegemite, plain yogurt, vanilla, honey, blond tobacco, melted butter
