Sparkling wine has long been the beverage of choice for celebrating life’s milestones. Legend has it that Champagne was perfected in the 17th Century by a Benedictine monk named Dom Perignon, who upon tasting his creation exclaimed, “Come quickly brothers, I’m drinking stars!” A good bottle of bubbly can indeed be a celestial experience!

There remains some confusion when selecting a sparkling wine…what’s the difference between Champagne and sparkling wine? Essentially, Champagne is produced in the Champagne region of France and sparkling wine that is made in the “Methodé Champenoise” is from other regions of the world. All Champagnes are sparkling wines, but not all sparkling wines are Champagne.

And what about Frizzante wines? Frizzante wines are slightly carbonated and have fewer bubbles than other sparklings. A classic example would be Moscato d’Asti.

So what foods pair well with sparkling wines? Think about foods with interesting textures like soup and caviar when pairing with sparkling wine. Another great pairing would be an egg dish like quiche.

Top Picks:
N/V Calixte, Brut, Cremant d’Alsace (ALS115), $14.99
‘06 Meda Margherita, Moscato d’Asti, Piedmont, Italy (ITA617), $14.99

For additional information or to find fabulous sparkling wines, visit www.myttv.com/penny9596; or contact Penny Fitzgerald, Independent Wine Consultant and Team Leader with The Traveling Vineyard at 319-321-6045; or e-mail winechick@southslope.net.