Crémant de Bourgogne – it’s the the designation for the sparkling wines of Burgundy, which is primarily known for single-varietal, still wines only. Here, in this self-proclaimed bubbly “oasis” winemakers can, shall we say, “break the rules,” and combine various varietals to create sparkling wines. Bonus points: because these sparkles aren’t technically Champagne (though most are, indeed, made in the methode champenoise), these come at a much more affordable price point (typically between $15 and $30). So pop the cork in celebration of — what day of the week is it that you’re reading this? Yes, cheers to a random day of the week! 
Tag: sparkling wine
Rotari Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine
Let’s face it, sparkling wine is meant to be fun. We pop the cork when we’re celebrating something — even if it’s the minor celebration of another work-week gone by. The problem I had until recently is that the more affordable bubblies are the ones that would give me headaches — the very evening I’d sip them. So I convinced myself that spending big bucks on sparkling wine, even if just for a minor weekday victory, was what I had to do to enjoy myself. Well this study in sparkling wine has taught me more than just how Champagne and Prosecco is made; it’s taught me that well-crafted sparkles can be affordable, you just have to find the right one. Rotari — thank you for making “the right one(s)”…
Balletto Vineyards 2013 Sparkling Brut Rosé
I like Balletto wines. I like that they are easily accessible in every sense of the word. They’re available at most local shops; they’re affordable; and they’re (most importantly) fun and easy wines to drink. I’ve yet to be disappointed by anything by Balletto — and they have the added perk of still being a family-run business who sources their grapes from their own estate vineyards. So of course after enjoying their classic Pinot Noir and Chardonnay offerings, I was most eager to give their sparkling brut rosé a go in conjunction with my holiday sparkling wine series. 
Nino Franco Grave di Stecca Prosecco 2010
What makes this Prosecco so special? The grapes for this brut Prosecco come from a specific vineyard along the slopes of the Pealps where old vine Glera grapes grow and thrive amongst a unique mircro-climate. Just like any other wine grape, the age of the vines — as well as the terroir — give resulting wines, whether still or sparkling, a certain aroma, flavor profile, and texture…
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Nino Franco Primo Franco Prosecco 2016
Valdobbiadene Superiore DOCG, where Nino Franco sources all of their Glera grapes, is known for its steep hillside vineyards. And this small, focused area has a reputation for producing some of the most refined Proseccos available. While vintage Champagne is something that’s most commonly created once every few years, Nino Franco is able to produce a single-vineyard vintage Prosecco harvested from the same parcel of land each year.
