Get to know your bubbles

GRAHAM BECK BRUT ROSÉ NON-VINTAGE
Peter “Bubbles” Ferreira has been a Cap Classique icon for 30 years and has made Graham an internationally admired brand. Has he found his perfect bubble yet? He says it still eludes him, but his expertise and experience shows in every bubble in every bottle that comes out of his cellar.

WOOLWORTHS VILLIERA BRUT MCC NON-VINTAGE
Jeff Grier of Villiera has produced this great-value sparkling wine for Woolworths for more than 30 years. Along with the classic Champagne-method grapes of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Jess uses up to 20% Pinotage, which gives the wine an extra berry fruitiness. Stellenbosch make many excellent wines but they are particularly proud of their MCCs. 

WOOLWORTHS SIMONSIG PINOT NOIR NO SULPHUR ADDED MCC 2018
Wine lovers might expect a Cap Classique made entirely from a red grape to be rich and full-bodied, but gentle handling of carefully chosen Stellenbosch Pinot Noir has resulted in this delicate Cap Classique. A pale silver-pink colour leads to strawberry, raspberry and dried stone fruit along with light biscuit on the nose. It's a good partner for sushi and a great addition to your picnic basket. 

LE LUDE RESERVE ROSÉ NON-VINTAGE
This blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir opens with raspberry, red cherry and wild plum, followed by a rich palate with layers of berry fruits and hints of grapefruit. It's a classic sparkling wine that will suit any celebration.

ASTORIA PROSECCO NON-VINTAGE
Prosecco currently outsells Champagne globally and the Astoria, from the Veneto region in northern Italy, is a typical example of why the Italians are outdoing the French among bubbly lovers.

 

 

 

 

 

1. SPARKLING WINE: Any wine that has a bubble in it.
2. CHAMPAGNE: Wines made in the Champagne region of France using the “Champagne method”, in which wine is fermented a second time in the bottle. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are the only grapes that may be used.
3. MÉTHODE CAP CLASSIQUE (MCC): A South African name for sparkling wines made using the Champagne method, most often using Chardonnay and/or Pinot Noir.
4. CAVA AND PROSECCO: Champagne-method sparkling wines, the former from Spain and the latter from northern Italy.

1. Open bubbly bottles with extreme care. Aim the bottle away from your face (and anyone else’s), hold the cork and gently rotate the bottle to ease it out.
2. To prevent your glass from bubbling over with foam, tilt it and pour a small amount down the inside, let it settle, then fill the glass.
3. A tulip-shaped flute allows you the exhilarating sight of the tiny bubbles racing up the glass, as well as concentrating the bouquet at the top
4. Bounce a diamond ring around the base of the inside of your flute glasses to roughen the surface and ensure a spectacular mousse.

If your wine has bubbles, it's classified as a sparkling wine. Sparkling wines may be brut (dry), semi-sweet or sweet. And when drinking it, the bubbles froth in the mouth and quickly disappear.

Champagne is an area in the north-west of France. For a wine to be classified as champagne, the grapes (Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier or Chardonnay) need to come from this area, the wine itself should be made there and it needs to be produced using the "Champagne Method" (i.e. secondary fermentation in the bottle). Champagnes are nearly always a brut, however the demi-sec (semi-sweet) variety is also becoming quite popular. 

Methode Cap Classique (MCC) is a South African sparkling wine that has been made using the "Champagne Method." Any grapes may be used, but nearly all producers use Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (with a few producers using Chenin Blanc). Like champagne, it is almost always a brut. 

Made in the Veneto region of Italy, Prosecco is an Italian sparkling wine that in recent years, has become equally popular to champagne. It is meant to be lighter than champagne with hints of fruit and light flowers. 

BROWSE WCELLAR