About Sparkling wine

July 12, 2011

Not everything that sparkles comes from the Champagne area. The rest (a little less than 2 billion bottles, worldwide on a yearly base) may not be called Champagne even if sometimes exactly the same grapes and exactly the same production methods were used.

That Champagne can only be called Champagne if produced in the Champagne area stems from a bunch of French laws from 1914, 1918, 1927 and 1936. To top that, according to the same laws even the name “Methode Champenoise” is restricted to the producers from the Champagne area. Officially French laws cannot be applied outside France but in order to stay on friendly terms with the Frenchies all member states of the EEC kindly and pragmatically accepted the French legislation. When the French wanted to confiscate the nameplates of the Swiss village of “Champagne” that carried this name for more than a thousand years, the Swiss told the French loud and clear: “that there are limits”.

Many other countries also gave in to the heavy pressure of France. In South Africa you’ll hardly encounter the name of Champagne. Nowadays the stuff is called “Methode Cap Classique”(grapes and process are for a 100% similar to the process used in making Champagne, only the soil and the climate are somewhat different. The further you roam from France the more bottles you will see with the word Champagne printed on the label. In my opinion Argentine, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand cannot be seriously bothered with the French rules of the game. The South Americans call their local brew: Champaña (read Champanja).

For producing sparkling wines, most of the time a different production process is used than for manufacturing Champagne.

With the methode traditionel (just as with the methode champenoise) fermentation of the grape juices takes place in two phases. The first fermentation in the vat and the second in the bottle. Because of the fact that the second fermentation produces carbonic acid that cannot escape from the bottle this carbonic acid will dissolve in the grape juice and thus will turn into a sparkling wine.

With wines that are made according to the “transvasage” method” the second fermentation also happens in the bottle, but after that the stuff is poured in a vat, will be filtered and bottled once again. This method will of course cause some loss of carbon dioxide (CO2).

With the “cuve close” (or the tank method) the first as well as the second fermentation occurs in the vat. This is not necessarily a wrong procedure as long as the tank stays properly closed during the second fermentation.

Actually this method is mostly used to make cheaper sparkling wines.

If the wine is subject to only one fermentation process as opposed to two different ones one speaks of the “methode ancestrale”. This method is, amongst others ,used for making French bubbles from the Limoux region.

The most abject method for making a sparkling wine is by injecting CO2 inn a still wine, like making Coca Cola so to speak.

Contrary to what many a Champagne specialist maintains the bubbles in a carbonated wine nowadays are not necessarily bigger than those in Champagne. The method is often used in South Africa and Australia. The stuff costs less than 2 Euro the bottle in those countries.

Sparkling wines are often named after the region they come from while the same type indications are used as for Champagne (Brut, Rosé etc). There are also many sparkling wines that are made of white grapes (mainly Chardonney) and are also called Blanc –de- Blancs although they are not Champagnes.

When paying the more expensive price of Champagne you want to be sure that you really get Champagne. The only way to find out is to look for the word Champagne on the label. It so happens that that is compulsory for wines from the Champagne region but prohibited for wines from outside of the area.

Here under you’ll find a survey of how the bubbly stuff is called nowadays.

• Cava; White Spanish sparkling wine

• Champagña White South American sparkling wine often “methode traditionel”

• Champanski; White Russian sparkling wine, often very sweet

• Crémant; French (non Champagne) sparkling wine from amongst others Alsace

• Espumante; Portuguese sparkling wine 9more than 3,5 bar pressure in the bottle)

• Espumoso; Spanish sparkling wine (more than 3,5 bar pressure in the bottle)

• Frizzantino; Italian light sparkling wine

• Methode Cap Classique; Sparkling white wine from South Africa (also known as Vonkelwijn)

• Methode Traditionel; Sparkling white wine, not from the Champagne Ardennes

• Perlé; French light sparkling wine (less than 2,5 bar pressure in the bottle)

• Perlwein; German light sparkling wine (less than 2,5 bar pressure in the bottle)

• Prickle; English light sparkling wine (less than 2,5 bar pressure in the bottle)

• Saumur; French (non Champagne) sparkling wine from Saumur.

• Sekt; white German sparkling wine (more than 3,5 bar pressure in the bottle)

• Semi-sparkling; English light sparkling wine (between 2,5 and 3,5 bar pressure in the bottle)

• Sparkling; English/Australian sparkling wine (more than 3,5 bar pressure in the bottle)

• Sparkling Red; Sparkling red wine not from the Champagne region (mostly from Australia)

• Spritzig; German light sparkling wine (between 2.5.and 3.5 bar pressure in the bottle.

• Spumante; Italian sparkling wine (more than 3,5 bar pressure in the bottle)

• Vino de Aguja; Spanish light sparkling wine (less than 2,5 bar pressure in the bottle)

• Vouvray; French (non Champagne) sparkling wine from Vouvray.

SOURCE:http://www.champagneinfo.net/Productie/AndereMousserendeWijnen/tabid/181/Default.aspx

Recent survey done by Philippines Clark Marketing shows that there is a subtle shift of preferences of Manila visitors heading out of town towards the north to enjoy some peace and quiet time with families. More and more foodies, critics, connoisseurs, frequent diners and wine lovers from Manila travel out of town north to Clark Pampanga to wine and dine in famous fine dining Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar. Most visitors enjoy the fine vintage wines from the cellars of this fine dining restaurant. Some purchase a few good bottles of to bring back home to Manila.

Even tourists and business travelers staying in hotels in Philippines Angeles Pampanga take time off from nightlife, bars and other city entertainment to enjoy a relaxing afternoon of wine shopping in this top rated wine shop in Clark Freeport Pampanga. Foreign and local tourists visiting Clark remember shopping in this wine shop as a memorable experience of their stay in the Philippines, Subic and Pampanga.

Italian food is everywhere in the Philippines but good Italian restaurants are few and far apart. Fans of Italian cuisines now look for fine dining restaurants that serve good Italian food accompanied by fine Italian vintage wine. Although Yats Restaurant is classified as a French Mediterranean restaurant, its classic European cuisine includes many of the great recipes from Italy. The fine vintage wines of Clark Wine Center play an important role in this famous restaurant in Clark to make the Italian wine dinners just that much more special.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com