Mo's Wine & Spirits

What’s the difference between sparkling wine and champagne? Do you know? It’s all about location and  the method of production.

According to Wine X, a young adult lifestyle magazine featuring information on wine and other beverages, “[just] as a French Chablis is called ‘Chablis’ when it’s produced in the Chablis region of France, sparkling wine – named so because of its effervescence [from trapped carbon dioxide] – is called ‘Champagne’ when it’s produced in the Champagne region in the classic methode champenoise tradition.”

Sparking wines produced elsewhere are widely available, but cannot – by law – call themselves Champagne. This doesn’t mean, however, that sparkling wines can’t be just as enjoyable. Granted, some of the carbonated beverages are inferior. But which sparkling wines are better?

“Of the three methods of producing sparkling wines,” Wine X notes that “methode champenoise is the most costly and labor-intensive.” However, it also produces the best results. By contrast, the process known as the transfer method” typically uses grapes of a lesser quality and a quicker filtering system that often strips the wine of flavor complexities. Similarly, the Charmat Bulk Process uses a lesser  grape and delivers a sparkling wine at unparalleled speed … and at a lower cost. Beverages created with this latter procedure are often sweetened to hide flaws.

So how do you choose? When shopping for quality, it’s generally safer to go with Champagne or a dryer sparkling wine. Look for terms like “brut,” “extra dry” or “sec.” You’ll also want to stick with reliable producers. And, if in doubt, don’t hesitate to ask for a recommendation. There is a bubbly sure to meet both your taste preferences and price range.

Wine plays a natural role in holiday get-togethers and gift-giving. One that you can enhance with a little homespun creativity … and some terrific tips from Lisa Shea at WineIntro.com!

Wine charms are a great example. These decorative markers help guests keep track of wine glasses and they are super-easy to make! All you need are five to fifteen minutes and these simple instructions, plus a few supplies that you might already have at home: scissors, some light wire and beads and/or necklace charms.

You can also add a special touch to a gift of wine with a festive bottle wrap. Shea offers three varieties to choose from. Each can be created without use of a sewing machine. Just 12″ by 14″ blocks of fabric and a few quick stitches and you’re almost done!

What a great way to add a personal touch and some holiday color during this wintry time of the year!

Want to get the most enjoyment possible from your wine? Here are several practical tips from Randal Caparoso, a successful restaurateur and wine journalist.  

1. Don’t hold wine glasses like they do on television or in movies. Holding glasses by the bowl rather than stem negatively affects the temperature of the wine.
2. Swirl your wine. This isn’t an exercise in pretentiousness! You must swirl to generate the aromas that the mind and palate perceive as “flavor.” If this feels awkward, however, move your glass around in little circles as it sits on the table.
3. Sniff, don’t snort, your wine. The objective, through discreet sniffing, is to open your mind up to what the wine reminds you of.

To see all seven of Caparoso’s tips, unabridged, click here.

Continuing education was never so much fun! Whether you’re adding a layer of sophistication to your social skills or simply indulging your palate, learning just a few basic wine fundamentals can enhance your experience.

One of the most common questions asked by novices is the temperatures at which wines are served. Wines.com answers this query, and more, in a Wine FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page. Here it provides some “rule of thumb” guidelines. Red wine should be served at 65 degrees (F), while white and rose wines are best at 55 degrees. Before serving champagne and other bubbly, the temperature should drop another 10 degrees. Practical advice is also dispersed freely on Wine.com, such as how to quickly cool down your whites: “fill the [ice] bucket up with ice about 4/5ths, cover the ice with water.”

What shape of wine glass should be used? Best Wine Glass.com has the answer. It stresses that “only three or four styles are needed.” White wines are usually served in a small tulip-shaped glass while ‘big’ or ‘closed’ wines are typically enjoyed from a large magnum glass. Narrow fluted glasses are reserved for champagne or sparkling wine where they “prolong the ‘bead’ (bubbles).” And an all-purpose glass is also used by many wine drinkers; it is distinguishable by a large tulip shape.

Need to know more? Check out the article “Wine 101: Crash Course for the Wine Novice” at Digs Magazine to kick-start your wine education.