We’re under the impression that you don’t need to be celebrating to pop open a bottle of bubbly. The right choice in sparkling wine can elevate any old day into something special. With some of Australia’s finest giving the Champagnes a run for their money, we thought we’d help you navigate your way through the wonderful but sometimes overwhelming world of sparkling. And we promise, pick the right one, and the wine itself will be reason enough to celebrate.

Number one fact about sparkling wine? Sparkling wine can only be called Champagne if it was made in the French region of Champagne. So be careful what you ask your server for the next time you’re celebrating at dinner. Even the cheapest Champagnes can cost a pretty penny over this side of the world. But the important question is, what are the different kinds of sparkling wines and which one is right for you?

Blanc de Blanc

The mother of the sparkling wines, Blanc de Blanc is made purely from the Chardonnay grape, adding a freshness, finesse and delicateness to the wines. You might find some flowery and citrus notes here. Plus, Blanc de Blancs age beautifully so if you’re building your cellar, look no further. Try House of Arras for a beautiful, homegrown Blanc de Blanc from Tasmania.

Blanc de Noir

Our personal favourite, a Blanc de Noir is made from Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier grapes. Pinot Noir will give you a wine with a backbone. You’ll find a complexity of flavours here where red berries are present. Pinot Meunier on the other hand, will add roundness to the fruity wine and tends to age quicker than its counterparts. We recently enjoyed a tasty bottle of Benoit Lahaye Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut.

Non Vintage

Safe to say that most of us have popped a few bottles of Verve in our time, but we might not have realised the purpose for which it was made. A non-vintage wine is made with the purpose of consistency. A blend of vintages, vineyards and all three grapes ensure that every bottle, every year tastes the same. So if you’ve found a non vintage that you love, there’s no need to stock up!

Vintage Sparkling

Now we’re getting into the good stuff with a pricetag to match. A vintage sparkling is only made in the years where the grapes are at their best. Blending wine from one specific year, when you see that year on a label, you’ll know you’re getting the best. With these, it all depends on the quality of the grape in a given harvest, and the finished product is held on its lees (yeast) until the flavour and body is developed enough. Why are these wines so sought after? A vintage of high quality might only happen 2-4 times a decade and the final product is worth the wait. If you’re looking for a place to start with the vintage sparklings, Dom Perignon is an easily accessible, yummy sparkling.

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