How Sparkling Wine Is Made
The bubbles in wine don't come from adding gas. They come from a second fermentation — and the method used tells you almost everything about the wine's quality and character.
· 7 min read
Key takeaways
- The traditional method (used in Champagne) involves a second fermentation inside the sealed bottle — this produces fine, persistent bubbles and the biscuit/bread complexity that defines great sparkling wine.
- The tank method (used for Prosecco) involves a second fermentation in a pressurised tank rather than the bottle — faster, cheaper, and producing larger, less persistent bubbles.
- Dosage (a small addition of wine and sugar before final corking) controls the sweetness level — Brut Nature has none, Extra Brut very little, Brut a touch, and Demi-Sec noticeably sweet.
- The longer a traditional-method wine ages on its lees before disgorgement, the more complex the autolytic (biscuity, brioche) character — a key reason vintage Champagne costs more than non-vintage.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is Champagne so much more expensive than Prosecco?
- Method, time, and place. Traditional-method Champagne requires years of lees ageing, riddling, and disgorgement — all labour-intensive. Prosecco's tank method takes weeks. Champagne also comes from a tightly limited, expensive French appellation. The quality difference is real and significant.
- What is 'blanc de blancs' and 'blanc de noirs'?
- Blanc de blancs is Champagne from white grapes only (usually Chardonnay) — leaner, crisper, more mineral. Blanc de noirs is from red grapes (Pinot Noir/Meunier) pressed immediately — fuller, richer. Both can be vintage or non-vintage.
- What does 'recently disgorged' (RD or récemment dégorgé) mean?
- The wine aged on its lees for an unusually long time — often 8–15 years — before being disgorged. Extended lees ageing gives exceptional complexity. The disgorgement date appears on the label; buy recently disgorged bottles for the freshest expression.
- What is Crémant, and is it worth buying?
- Crémant is traditional-method French sparkling wine made outside Champagne — same method, different region. Crémant d'Alsace and Crémant de Bourgogne in particular offer outstanding quality at a fraction of Champagne prices. Worth buying without hesitation.
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