For some reason, on the territory of the post-Soviet space, they idolize champagne and strive to use this word to name any chemical swill made from wine materials. But there are many cool sparkling wines that could compete well with it.
Fifth place: Asti
Asti is a wine-growing area (Asti DOCG status) in the north of Italy, in Piedmont and the sweet sparkling wine of the same name. Grape variety: white nutmeg, 100%.
This is the most understandable, easy, pleasant, recognizable, bright. Honey-floral scent and so on. Sugar, sweet, and at the same time of high quality, this sparkling wine is liked by inexperienced girls, girls, young women, ladies and so on.
Inexperienced girls, girls, young women, ladies and so on, often call Asti "champagne". “Shall we order champagne? Let's Asti”is a widespread and no less monstrous mistake. Unlike the traditional champagne method, secondary fermentation takes place not in bottles, but in sealed vats. In France, this method is called charm. It is cheaper and simpler than the classical (champagne) method. In Italy, where Asti is produced, this method is called Metodo Charmat-Martinotti.
In fourth place: Prosecco
99, 99% of compatriots call this sparkling wine "champagne". This is a widespread and no less monstrous mistake. Firstly, Prosecco, like Asti, is produced exclusively in Italy, in the Veneto and Friuli regions - Venezia Giulia. Secondly, Prosecco, like Asti, is made using the Sharma method.
Both the first and the second factor do not leave any chance for Prosecco to be called "champagne", but it does not need it. This is a very high-quality sparkling wine, the grape variety is mainly glera (at least 85%), Prosecco is both DOC and DOCG (the latter is even better), Prosecco is only white, there are no red and pink Prosecco, and also not there are sweet Prosecco, maximum - semi-dry.
With Prosecco, you can start moving on to dry wines, because it tastes much more "sharp", this sparkling wine is great with green vegetables (avocado, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce), as well as legumes (lentils, beans).
In third place: Cremant
We mentioned it in one of the previous articles. This is an interesting sparkling wine: it is made in France, it is made according to the traditional champagne method, but it is not champagne, because produced not in Champagne, but in other appellations. Cremant literally means "cream".
All cremans are produced only using the traditional champagne method. If on etiquette the word Cremant is a close relative of champagne. The grapes are harvested only by hand. By law, the cream is aged for a total of at least a year.
Second: Francicorta
Franciacorta is a small area in the Lombardy region (central north of Italy), known for its high quality sparkling wines of the same name. The very name of the region originated from the monastic settlements, which were tax-exempt (franchae curtes).
The zone received the DOC category in 1967, and in 1995 - DOCG. If the word Franciacorta DOCG on the label is the closest relative of champagne in terms of varietal composition: Chardonnay, Pinot noir and Pinot blanc.
Franciacorta can be non-vintage, vintage (aka millesime), Rose, Saten (without Pinot noir) and Riserva (aged, aged at least 5 years).
First place: Cava
This is the pride of Spain. Excellent sparkling wine, traditional method, Cava means cellar. If you want to surprise your guests with something, decorate the table and, perhaps, taste really decent sparkling wine for the first time, this is Kava.
