When it comes to choosing wine for a gift, even the biggest wine lovers face the same dilemma – sparkling or still wine. There are countless tips on how to choose wine for certain occasion; which wine to pair with which food, etc. However, most people play it safe and usually get white wine which goes with anything, Riesling in particular. Even though, it is good to follow several factors that determine how to choose the right wine, such as alcohol content, acidity, type of grape, etc. it is best to choose a wine that suits your taste best. Forget about getting Champagne for your friend’s engagement party just because it is appropriate; or maybe a bottle of Merlot because of online wine sales. Buy wine that you or your friend will drink. Read on to learn what differs sparkling wine from still wine.
Many believe Champagne to be the only sparkling wine when in reality there are many sparkling wines, such as Italian Brachetto and Australian sparkling Shiraz. The reason why Champagne is the only sparkling wine referred to as ‘champagne’ is the region it comes from. This sparkling wine is made exclusively out of grapes grown in Champagne region of France. Thus, contrary to popular belief, there are other sparkling wines produced in Italy, Spain, other regions of France and Australia. Even though these sparkling wines are not referred to as ‘champagnes’, they are made the same way and all have similar aroma and flavor. Up until recently, Champagne and other sparkling wines were considered luxury. However, with growing popularity, many retailers offer sparkling wine sales online.
The main difference between sparkling and still wines is that sparkling ones have dissolved carbon dioxide in them. Bubbles effect is achieved during second fermentation process. During this process, winemakers make a mixture of few grams of yeast and sugar which is added to still wine which produces carbon dioxide. The end result is a sparkling wine. Also, these wines have in them fruits other than grapes, such as pears, apples, strawberry, citrus and inevitable cream and vanilla. Because of their specific flavor, sparkling wines are usually part of special occasions only, such as weddings, anniversaries, engagement parties or big sports and other TV events.
Of course, there is no reason to wait for Christmas to indulge in this bubbly drink. If you prefer sparkling wine over still wine, pamper yourself from time to time. Just make sure you buy from reputable retailer. If you usually buy red wine online, browse for possible sparkling wine discounts and other online wine sales. so. Let’s conclude – sparkling or still wine? It is a matter of individual taste. Whichever it is, choose a wine that suits you best.