A glass of sparkling joy for all

With more bubbly consumed worldwide, any day becomes a cause for celebration

The boost in popularity of sparkling wine isn’t a Christmas miracle. Sparkling wine consumption is surging around the world as it’s no longer solely typecast as the wine for year-end celebrations.

For the past 19 years, I’ve started every wine-tasting or educational seminar with a glass of bubbly to promote the notion that it’s first and foremost wine. I’d explain to the assembled how I dream of a day when ordering a bottle of sparkling or Champagne at a restaurant wouldn’t beg the inevitable question: “What’s the occasion?”

The fact that it’s Tuesday should be enough of an excuse to enjoy a glass of fizz with friends and loved ones.

But before we break out the bubbly to celebrate the growing sophistication of our wine appetites, there’s still work to be done.

Sales of sparkling wine are surging all over the world, but Canada is trailing behind the global average.

We clearly need to plan more Tuesday get-togethers.

The success of affordable sparkling wines, notably Prosecco from Italy and Cava from Spain, is propelling the growth in the sparkling wine category here and abroad. The extreme value of top-flight Canadian sparkling wine when compared to capital-C Champagne from the northern region in France is also helping the cause in Ontario.

It’s a matter of course that New Year’s festivities still start with the resounding pop of a cork for many. My appeal to you and anyone who enjoys a glass of bubbly during the holidays is to embrace sparkling for any occasion not just festive gatherings or to celebrate significant life or career milestones.

You’ll know our attitude toward sparkling wine has jumped to a new level should wine columns like this one publish sparkling wine and Champagne articles in the summer. That would leave December to extol the pleasures of rosé. Christopher Waters is the o-founder and editor of Vines, a national consumer wine magazine.