Is DRY wine is the opposite of SWEET?

Well, it’s not actually that simple. While dry and sweet wines both are defined by the amount of residual sugar in the wine, other variables such as acidity, bouquet, alcohol, and tannins will also effect the mouth feel of what is sweet and what is dry. Fermentation is said to be where the magic of wine happens –where simple grape juice turns into wine. During the fermentation process, if a wine is allowed to go NATURAL then sugars get consumed and the wine has been allowed to go DRY. Yet if fermentation is stopped
grapes sugars stay in the wine and with added fruit the wine keeps SWEET.

What is the difference between CHAMPAGNE and SPARKLING WINE?

ALL Champagne is Sparkling Wine. The WORD Champagne is now restricted for Sparkling Wines only
made in Champagne France. Today, “SPARKLING WINES” are made outside of this French region –unless a Sparkling Wine, from anywhere, was labeled Champagne before the law took affect.

How do the bubbles get in SPARKLING WINE?

Sparkling Wines have bubbly effervescence. All wines create carbon dioxide naturally during the
fermentation process, however Sparkling Wines capture these tiny dancing bubbles–and bottle them.

Do we Love PINK?

Yes we do –LOVE PINK! Yet when it comes to wine, and in this case SPARKLING WINE, all Pinks are not equal. Most wines that offer a pink color are know as BLUSH or ROSE wines. These wines become pink
when a traditional white wine has been in contact with purple-grape-skins for a limited time, or when a white wine has a small percentage of red wine blended in. Additionally however wines can become pink by the infusion of PINK or red fruits and berries.

What are other names for SPARKLING WINES, world-wide?

Cava is Sparkling Wine in Spain,
Asti is Sparkling Wine in Italy (another generic Italian term is Spumante)
Cap Classique is Sparkling Wine in South Africa,
Sekt is Sparkling Wine in Austria and Germany,
Champagne is Sparkling Wine from the Champagne France Region –yet
Mousseux or Crémant are Sparkling Wine in France also – from outside the Champagne Region.
Sparkling Wine, today is the contemporary term in the United States and globally.

How cold should Sparkling Wine be served?

Sparkling Wine is customarily served chilled to near freezing. The cold temperature softens the acidity on the palate and accelerates the crisp invigorating experience. Sparkling Wine is purposely high in acidity to
achieve freshness and vigor. But of course, as always you should explore the differences in temperature on the flavor and serve wine at your preference.

Sparkling Wines: Champagne vs. Champaign?

Champagne, as a region in France, emerged around the mid-12th century when Burgundy expanded their area of influence. Champaign, is a city in Illinois, USA, 135 miles (217 km) south of Chicago, Both terms may be found for wine containing tiny bubbles, however the contemporary term today is Sparkling Wine.