Great sparkling wine comes down to harmony: the right bubbles, acidity, and 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 actually 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 fruit notes. With this cheat sheet, you’ll walk into any party ready to pop your next cork.
Brut Nature → Bone Dry
(No added sugar at all)
Extra Brut → Dry
Brut → Dry & Balanced
Extra Dry → Lightly Sweet
(I know, this sounds like it should be the driest, but nothing in wine is ever simple)
Dry or Sec → Medium Sweet
Demi Sec → Sweeter
Doux → Very Sweet
Grape Styles:
Blanc de Blancs → only Chardonnay
Blanc de Noirs → only red grapes
(Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier)
Rosé → pink, made by blending or skin contact
Vintage → grapes from a single year
(rare and only done with excellent growing conditions)
Non-Vintage (NV) → blend of multiple years for consistency
Regions/Meaning Behind Different Names
Champagne (France) – elegant, complex, traditional method
Prosecco (Italy) – fruity, light, tank method
Cava (Spain) – good value, traditional method
Crémant (France) – Champagne-like but from other regions in France
Sekt (Germany) – wide range of styles
Sparkling Rosé – trendy, fresh, vibrant
American Sparkling Wine – growing rapidly in quality
TLDR? Ask a wine associate at DCANTER wine boutique! We love helping you find your perfect style of bubbly for any occasion!
Hopefully, you learned a thing or two about the many styles of sparkling wine. Bookmark, share, or screenshot this page so you have something fun to talk about at your next holiday event!
Until next time! Cheers!