Wine and Whatnot: Summer Sipping

As a kid, I loved to blow bubbles. As an adult, however, I prefer to sip them. Refreshing and racy, sparkling wine is ideal for summer sipping. Perfectly paired with rest and relaxation, a bottle of bubbles offer refreshment like no other beverage can. For example, Veuve Clicquot Rosé shows beautifully on the beach. Peter and I learned this first hand when in Cape Cod last summer.

Whether you are in Cape Cod lying on the beach or in your backyard grilling on the bar-b-que, there’s a sparkling wine perfect for every occasion with almost endless options to choose from in terms of style, producer, region and price. So, which bottle of bubbly is right for you? To answer this, you must first ask more questions.

Do you want to sip something sweet?
If your answer is yes, do NOT select a bottle listing BRUT on the label. There is a sweetness scale that classifies a sparkling wine from not sweet at all (EXTRA BRUT) to very sweet (DOUX). The range is as follows from dry (not sweet) to sweet: EXTRA BRUT, BRUT, SEC, DEMI-SEC and DOUX.

Do you want a sparkling wine from a particular region?
For French options, look for CHAMPAGNE. Spain offers up CAVA. Italian choices include FRANCIACORTA, ASTI, LAMBRUSCO and PROSECCO. In Germany, SEKT is the term given to sparkling wines of quality. From the United States, you will find many options – most of which are made in California.

Do you want to spend a lot or a little?
There are good examples of sparkling wine at every price point. However, the great examples tend to come at a higher cost as you might expect. For an every day bottle, inexpensive CAVA works well. For a celebratory bottle, CHAMPAGNE is a classic choice.