CheapwineFinder’s Bubbly Basics 1) All Bubbly, whether it is from the Champagne region of France, the Prosecco region of Italy, Cava from Catalonia in Spain or just plain old Bubbly from anywhere, is Sparkling wine. Sparkling wine is called different things in different countries, Spumante in Italy, Cremant in France or Sekt in Germany, but…
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The Ca’ di Rajo Raboso Del Piave 2007 Notti di Luna Piena (translates to Full Moon, is 100% Raboso Del Piave grown in an estate vineyard by the Piave River near the city of Treviso in Veneto, Italy. Raboso Del Piave is indigenous to the eastern Veneto region and is a grape that exhibits strong tannins and acidity….
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The Skinnygirl Sparkling Margarita made with Blue Agave Silver Tequila (when you see Blue Agave on the label that indicates that it is 100% Blue Agave and not mixed with cane sugar and Silver means this is non-aged, young, natural Tequila), along with Triple Sec, flavors, sweeteners and some carbonation. The carbonation feels more like soda or…
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The Berlucchi Franciacorta 61 Rose’ Brut is a non vintage blend of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay sourced from grapes grown in Berlucchi Estate vineyards in the Franciacorta DOCG region of Lombardy in northern Italy. The Berlucchi Franciacorta Rose’ is made in the Traditional Method (same as Champagne from France) which differs from the…
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The Berlucchi Franciacorta ’61 Brut is a blend of 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir (which are also grapes traditionally used to make Champagne) sourced from vineyards located in the DOCG Franciacorta growing region of Lombardy in Northern Italy. The ’61 Brut is made with the Traditional Method (same as Champagne) and Berlucchi was the first…
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The Barefoot Bubbly Tropical Fusion is a Sparkling wine sourced from grapes from more than one California grape growing AVA and infused with pineapple, mango and papaya flavors. This is a non-vintage wine and Barefoot does not mention which grapes where used in the production of this Sparkling wine. The Bubbles were added to this…
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The Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Moscato Rose’ is a non vintage Bubbly sourced from grapes grown in South Eastern Australia. Moscato is the popular name for wine produced from the Muscat grape. The Muscat grape may be the oldest domesticated grape and comes in dozens of varieties and not only is it a White wine grape,…
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The 2012 Pizzolato Pinot Grigio is certified organic and Vegan friendly sourced from La Cantina Pizzolato estate vineyards in the Venezia DOC of Northeastern Italy. The vineyards are located both the hillside and plain of the Piave River. Venice is the leading town in the Venezia DOC region and this is also the area where…
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Here is a cheat sheet for the making of Italian, Spanish and French Bubbly, Cava, Prosecco or Spumante: In Italy, Bubbly, be it Prosecco or Spumante, is usually produced using the Charmat Method. With the Charmat method (this is where the bubbles are introduced), the fermented wine is placed in huge pressurized vats, this is…
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The 2011 Secco (translates to dry) Italian Bubbles Rose’ Brut is a Sparkling wine sourced from vineyards in Veneto, Italy consisting of 80% Raboso Piave and 20% Pinot Noir. Raboso Piave is a grape indigenous to Veneto and by law must make up at least 70% of the blend. Secco Italian Bubbles is a project…
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The 2012 Pizzolato Moscato Dolce (sweet) is sourced from organic Estate vineyards near the town of Treviso in the Veneto region of Italy, not far from the area that produces the Glera grape used in Prosecco. This Sparkling wine uses indigenous yeasts to induce fermentation, thats the yeast that is floating in the air and…
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The Scarpetta Timido Vino Spumante Brut Rose’ 3rd Edition is 60% Franconia (also known as Limberger) and 40% Pinot Nero (Italy’s version of Pinot Noir) sourced from a vineyard in the Colli Orientali del Friuli sub region of the Friuli Venezia Giulia grape growing region of Italy. Scarpetta translates to taking a piece of bread…
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The Rack & Riddle Blanc de Blanc (White from White, meaning White wine made from Chardonnay grapes) is a non vintage Bubbly sourced from contracted vineyards in California’s North Coast AVA. The North Coast AVA encompasses 6 counties and 47 AVA’s, including Napa Valley, Sonoma and Mendocino. Rack & Riddle is a custom Sparkling wine…
Read Moreyellow tail] Bubbles Rose’ is a blend of Semillon, Traminer (in the Gewurztraminer family), Shiraz and Frontignac ( the Australian name for Muscat Blanc) sourced from vineyards in southeast Australia. This is designated a Dry Bubbly meaning that is on the sweet side. They don’t say which production method they used to add the bubbles,…
Read MoreThe WoodBridge by Mondavi Brut Sparkling Wine is a non vintage Bubbly produced from Chardonnay grapes grown mainly in the Lodi AVA, but includes grapes grown in other AVA’s in California’s Central Valley. This is something of a hybrid Bubbly, Chardonnay is the main grape used in Champagne and the yeast Mondavi uses to start fermentation…
Read MoreThe 2011 Secco (Dry) Italian Bubbles Bianco (White) is a blend of 77% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Bianco (a mutation of Pinot Noir) and 8% Raboso Piave (a Red local grape) sourced from vineyards in the northern part of the Piave Valley of Veneto, Italy. This is a joint project with Charles Smith of Charles Smith Wines…
Read MoreThe Tenute Tomasella Ose-Rosato Demi-Sec is a Spumante or Sparkling wine grown in vineyards in both Veneto and Fruili in north-eastern Italy. The grapes used are Refosco (a dark skinned Red grape) and Verduzzo (one of the most planted White grapes from this area), the grapes are not picked a harvest, but left on the…
Read MoreThe Pierre Delize Blanc de Blanc Brut is a non vintage Sparkling wine produced in Burgundy, France. It was bottled by Veuve Ambal, a Sparkling wine producer located in Beaune, Burgundy, but this seems to be a private/custom label and is not listed on their website. This Bubbly is a “ Vin Mousseux,” which translates…
Read MoreThe Schloss Biebrich Sekt, a Trader Joe’s ($4.99) exclusive, is a non vintage Sparkling wine produced in Germany. Sekt is to Germany, what Cava is to Spain and Prosecco and Spumante is to Italy, their national version of Sparkling wine. This Sekt is made by Henkell & Co., the second largest producer of Sekt in…
Read MoreThe Barefoot Bubbly Extra Dry is a non-vintage Sparkling wine sourced from Chardonnay grapes grown in several California grape growing AVA’s. Extra Dry is not actually dry, Brut means dry and Sec indicates sweet, Extra Dry is in the middle. The word “Champagne” is on the label (only Sparkling wine grown and produced in Champagne,…
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