With so many sparkling wine options out there, how do you choose?

Every celebration calls for a bottle or two of sparkling wine, or as many now call it, Champagne. The delightful pop of the cork at midnight is a New Year’s  tradition that can’t be recreated with any other style of wine, only the bubbly will do!  But if it’s your responsibility to provide the most toast-worthy bottle for the celebration, things can get a little tricky. Here’s a quick and easy guide to understanding what you’re buying for your occasion.

Sparkling Wine

Sparkling wine is the general name given to a wine with significant levels of carbon dioxide, making the wine fizzy. It can be created using most any varietal and prices vary depending on the style and grapes used to make it.

Champagne

Champagne is the specific name for the sparkling wine made in the Champagne region of France. Champagne only uses specific grape varietals, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, and is made in the Traditional Method, which is a more costly and timely method that produces toasty flavors and  sharp, persistent bubbles.

Prosecco

Prosecco is the specific name for the sparkling wine made in the Veneto region of Italy. Prosecco uses the grape varietal Glera, and is made in the Tank Method, which is more economical and produces lighter, less persistent bubbles.

Dry vs. Sweet

Don’t make the mistake of buying something too sweet, or too dry, depending on your preference. The relative sweetness of the sparkling wine can often be determined by looking at the label.

Brut – Very dry, no detectable sweetness

Extra Dry – Off dry, only slightly dectectable sweetness

Dry – Slightly sweet

Demi-sec – Sweet