Raley's Wine Club
Already a member? Sign In
Your User Name

Your Password

Forgot your password?


Not a member?
Sign up here.
© Raley's
Family of Fine Stores

Privacy Statement

 

Wine Club

Bubbly Basics
Help in picking the perfect sparkling wine

Blanc de Noirs often have pale pink foil labels to ID them.

The dryness info can be anywhere - on the front or on the top like here.

See - here it's on the front!

So I was having this discussion with my brother on the wine aisle a few weeks back, near Thanksgiving, where he was asking me questions about bubbly, and as I waxed on, he said, “Dude, you need to write a blog about this.”

So here you go!

Bubbly is primarily made from three grapes: Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

If a bubbly says it is Blanc de Blancs, it is made only from Chardonnay. Literally, white wine from white grapes.

Blanc de Noirs? White wine from black grapes (the Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.) The dark grape gives Blanc de Noirs a pinky-rosy color.

Although these two terms will give you a hint of a sparkling wine’s flavor (Blanc de Noirs tend to be a little fuller-flavored with more berry flavors), the most important piece of information on the label is the wine’s sweetness.

From least sweet to most sweet: Brut Natural, Brut, Extra Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec and Doux. (I know it seems crazy for Extra Dry to be sweeter than Brut, but there you go.)

Brut and Extra Dry are the two most common varieties. The sweetest varieties are less common (off the top of my head, there’s Moët and Chandon Nectar Imperial - not at all stores, but a lovely example of a demi-sec bubbly. For easier-to-find and less expensive options, try a spumante.)

Champagne versus sparkling wine? Technically speaking, only sparkling wines made in Champagne, France, can be called Champagne. (Although some winemakers still calls theirs champagne.) Cava and prosecco are simply Spanish and Italian sparkling wines, respectively. (Prosecco also tends to be a little lighter and more delicate than other kinds of bubbly…)
 

LOVE WINE
Members Receive
Members receive each month...

Expert ContentExpert Tips
Food pairings, tasting party ideas and "WineQ" - like IQ, but you can drink it! Peek

SpecialsSpecial Savings for Members Only
New releases, sneak-previews and coupons via our Wine Club email! See sample

More Features

Mention "Raley's Wine Club" when you book with Elite Limousine of Sacramento and save 10%!

Click here

More Features
Raley's Fine Stores