Champagne, crémant, cava or prosecco?
You naturally ring in the New Year with some bubbles, but for goodness’ sake, which kind? Why is champagne so expensive, and can’t you just as well drink a delicious prosecco? We’ll explain the differences.
Champagne
The bubble of bubbles—and yes, the most expensive. Champagne may only be called champagne if it comes from the French Champagne region and is made from chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier grapes. What makes champagne so expensive is its exclusivity. There are strict rules for the region and the grapes, but also for the production process. Champagne is first fermented and bottled, like regular wine. Then extra sugar and yeast are added to the bottle for the second fermentation, which creates the bubbles. With champagne, that second fermentation in the bottle must last at least fifteen months.
Crémant
A cheaper alternative is crémant, which can come from anywhere in France and is made with local grape varieties. The production process is otherwise the same as with champagne, with the only difference being that the second fermentation lasts a minimum of nine months. A very suitable alternative, in our opinion!
Cava
Fortunately, France isn’t the only country that produces delicious bubbles. If you don’t feel like digging too deeply into your pockets, cava is also a very good alternative. The method is the same here again; the difference lies in the grapes. Cava is usually made from a blend of macabeo, parellada and xarel-lo. Because of the different grapes and climate, cava often tastes lightly spiced, while French sparkling wines are often a little fresher.
Prosecco
Italian prosecco almost always comes out as the cheapest option. Why? The wine, made from the glera grape, ferments in a tank instead of in the bottle. It’s a slightly less complicated process, which also results in a somewhat simpler flavor. Prosecco can sometimes be a little sweeter, making it the most accessible of all the bubbles.
So?
There’s no arguing about taste. Champagne is the most expensive and prestigious, but that doesn’t mean it’s your favorite too. Maybe you like sweeter prosecco best. Do you want to go all out for the midnight toast and do you like a fresher wine? Then definitely get a bottle of champagne. If your budget doesn’t allow for it, crémant comes closest in terms of flavor. Above all, get whatever you like best.
Read also:
- Is champagne failed wine?
- Fun and informative: with this new podcast series, you’ll soon know everything about bubbles
- Recipe: pink Champagne macarons
