What Better Way to Celebrate the Holidays and New Year’s Eve Than with FIZZ!
Did you know that the Benedictine monk Dom Perignon worked his entire life trying to remove bubbles from wine?
In the 1600s, many Champenoise called it The Devil’s Wine (Le Vin du Diable), believing that the exploding bottles were possessed by evil spirits, as the pressure inside the bottles often induced spontaneous bursting.
At the time, the Champenoise were desperately trying to compete with their neighbours in Burgundy (where the most popular wine in France was produced) by endlessly seeking to get those darn bubbles out of the wine! However, not much of the process surrounding alcoholic fermentation was understood, so pressure would build in the bottles every spring, resulting in spontaneous explosions or fizz. Anyone brave enough to work in the wine cellars had to wear a heavy iron mask or risk injury.
Champagne did not use the méthode champenoise until the 19th century, which requires a second fermentation in the bottle. By then, it became all the rage among the Europeans, royals and elite, who popped bottles at their parties, political inaugurations and new ship launches. For us now in the 21st century, bubbly remains the quintessential tradition of ringing in the New Year, making any party literally pop!
When it comes to bubbles, there’s a lot to explore today. Whether you fancy a light Italian Prosecco with a kiss of sweetness on the tip of your tongue, a traditional Spanish Cava filled with exotic fruit flavours imbued by the volcanic soils and warmth of the Costa Brava, a Portuguese Espumante from your favourite country, or the original classic, forever enduring and immensely pleasurable Champagne, there is no doubt that bubbles are the best way to celebrate!
How to serve the bubbles
A single bottle of Champagne can contain up to 49 million bubbles, a heady number indeed!!
To best enjoy and preserve the excitement in your glass, tip the glass at an angle and pour slowly.
The glass you choose can also enhance your enjoyment. The flute’s intended purpose is to reduce surface area and force the aroma upward, thus conserving and maximizing those precious bubbles.
The coupe, rumoured to be modelled after Marie Antoinette’s breast, is best for maximum pleasure and not necessarily for sipping. The bowl’s shallow depth quickly increases the warmth of the bubbly, encouraging you to drink it faster.
Then there’s my favourite, the AP (all-purpose) glass – a long-stemmed and generous white wine glass. It’s perfect for taking in the maximum bouquet and letting the sparkling wine unfold as you dance the night away.
Whichever bubbly you choose, be sure to take care when opening the bottle. The force of pressure can eject its mushroom-shaped cork at 60 km/h and, yes, it can take someone’s eye out! So point that bottle away from yourself and your friends.
Don’t let that hold you back from opening or even sabering that bottle. Toast and spill the bubbly in a hedonistic salute to friends, family, life and the new year to come.
The ideal serving temperature for Champagne is between 8°C and 10°C (46°F to 50°F)
Cheers! Saude!
Pop any one of these sparkling wines to celebrate this festive season.
Prosecco Bisol, Jeio Cuvée Brut, Valdobbiadene, Italy
With 11.5% abv and 100% Glera, it is a deliciously light, crunchy sparkler with intense green apple acidity and a fine effervescence to tickle your nose and palate. Refreshingly dry with a light mineral finish, it is made by Bisol Desiderio, considered one of the best manufacturers of Prosecco DOC. It is available at Grapple Enoteca in Lagos for €13.40.
Champagne Gosset Extra Brut Aÿ, France
A traditional blend of Ch 32% PN 45% PM 23% with delicious honey and light brioche notes with loads of citrus, crisp apple and pear with Meyer lemon. Refreshing minerality and a fine mousse. A lovely champagne from the oldest wine house in the region, founded in 1584. Just €35,90 at any Garcias.
Cava Juve Y Camps Reserva de la Familia 2018 Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, Spain
Made of 50% Xarello, 35% Macabeo and 15% Parellada grapes Zero dosage. Bright candied lemon, lime, green apple blossom, white peach, crunchy pear, Marcona almond flesh and light brioche give a fruity flavour.A steal for €18.95 at Garcias.
Espumante Prior Lucas Bairrada DOP Espumante Domenica S Rosé Velha Reserva Brut Natur 2017 Método Clássico
100% Baga 12% abv. Crunchy red apple, citrus, white cherry and fresh wild red fruit with a creamy long finish. Aged for 60 months in bottle before release.100% worth it! €30 buy online direct from the winemaker Rui Lucas at priorlucas.pt
