The fizz – trends in sparkling drinks
International wine and spirits experts weigh in on why sparkling wines are worth popping your cork over
1. Non-champagne sparkling wines
The rise of sparkling wines made beyond the borders of Champagne will continue as the quality of these drinks has soared over the last 10 years. Consequently, today’s consumers do not regard ‘sparkling wine’ as a derogatory term, as previous generations used to. They rather consider not only that sparkling wine deserves its place on the table, but that it is perhaps the most foodfriendly style of all wines.
2. Prosecco
Unlike other sparkling wines, Prosecco had carved out a niche as a bar wine before its popularity demanded its listing in even Michelin-starred restaurants. Most Prosecco consumers do not like acidity and do not understand yeast-aged aromas, thus would not like Champagne, even if it was offered at half the price of Prosecco. Most Prosecco consumers want softness and freshness above all, and their inevitable existence will ensure Prosecco’s continued growth.
3. Sparkling Rosé
The popularity of Champagne Rosé used to be cyclical and extremely ephemeral. However, the present vogue of this drink has uniquely lasted 20 years. This shows no sign of abating. It has kicked off global demand for rosé in every shape and form. There are now very few sparkling wine producers who do not sell at least one cuvée of rosé, and, invariably, they achieve a significant proportion of sales.
Twenty years ago, English wine was a joke
4. Clear-glass bottles
The negative by-product of the rosé boom has been the glut of clear-glass bottles that have followed its wake, used not only to show off the pretty pink color of rosé wines, but also commonly for blanc de blancs, even crossing over to other styles. This is the most dangerous threat to the quality and reputation of sparkling wine, posing far more of a threat than cork taint. After just 60 minutes exposure to light, artificial or natural, electrons in the wine are activated to oxidize amino acids, degrading their components, which starts off as a mild pong and eventually builds up to reek of stagnant water, old drains and sewage.
5. English sparkling wine
Twenty years ago, English wine was a joke. Now, English sparkling wine is worldclass, often selling for a higher price than Champagne. It is such a hot-topic wherever I travel that everyone wants to know how we did it. Suffice to say that English producers have played a significant role in removing the stigma from the term ‘sparkling wine’ and placing the bottle on the table. champagnesparklingwwc.co.uk