Great sparkling wine comes down to harmony: the right bubbles, bright acidity, and a sweetness level that matches your taste. Master those basics, and you’ll always choose a bottle that shines.
Your Guide to Sparkling Wine
by Pooja Tiwari
Holiday party season = peak bubbly season.
It is bubbly season, after all! With holiday parties in full swing, now’s the perfect time to brush up on the basics. Ever spotted words like brut, demi-sec, or extra dry on a bottle and wondered what they mean? They’re all clues to the wine’s sweetness level. In sparkling wine production, a touch of sugar (called dosage) helps balance acidity and highlight those delicious fruity notes. With this cheat sheet, you’ll walk into any party ready to pop your next cork.
Extra Brut → Bone Dry
Brut → Dry & Balanced
Extra Dry → Dry / Off Dry
(I know, this sounds like it should be the driest, but nothing in wine is ever simple)
Dry or Sec → Off Dry
Demi Sec → Sweetish
NV → blend of years, no specific vintage (year)
Blanc de BLANC → Made of all Chardonnay grapes
Blanc de Noir → Made of all Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier grapes
TLDR? Ask a wine associate at DCANTER wine boutique! We love helping you find your perfect style of Bubbly for whatever the occasion is!
Hopefully you learned a thing or two about understanding the many styles in the world of Sparkling wine. Bookmark, share, or screenshot this page so you have something fun to talk about at your next holiday!
Until next time,
Cheers!