Brief History of Champagne
First of all, let's briefly touch on the history of champagne, one of the most prestigious drinks. In France, the homeland of wine, there was an interregional war over the wine trade in the mid-17th century. The Champagne region, on the other hand, is not very suitable for viticulture due to its harsh climatic conditions. For this reason, the people dealing with viticulture have to collect the grapes before they are fully ripe. At that time, when a monk, Dom Perignon, visited the Champagne region, he told producers to ferment their wines a second time. It also adds some sugar and yeast to the bottles to make it tastier. The wines, which are fermented again in the bottle, start to explode with the pressure of the gas formed and large casualties occur. However, producers who produce wines that are more delicious than they have ever tasted before, find the solution in search of stronger bottles. This quest spreads to the territory of the United Kingdom. The Russians who came to the Champagne region during the Franco-Russian war in the early 19th century liked this different flavored wine very much and decided to take it to their country after the war. They call it champagne, inspired by the name of the region. With the rapid spread of its name from Russia to England, champagne turns into the most valuable drink of the French court.
Differences of 3 Types of Sparkling Wine: Champagne, Prosecco and Cava
Here are the main differences you should know about these 3 types of sparkling wine:
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While champagne is produced in the Champagne region of France; Prosecco is produced in Italy's Veneto region and Cava is produced in Spain's Catalonia region.
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Champagne is obtained from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier or Chardonnay grapes; Prosecco Glera; Cava is produced from Macabeu, Parellada or Xarello grapes.
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Champagne has the highest in-bottle pressure.
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Champagne has an average alcohol content of 1 to 2 degrees higher than Prosecco and Cava.
- A medium-quality champagne costs about 2.5 times that of a similar quality Prosecco.
The number of Prosecco produced for the first time in the world's history in 2013 has surpassed champagne.
Whether for champagne or Prosecco, keep in mind that the most important thing when consuming is the harmony of taste. In my next article, I will share my Schlumberger Rose tasting notes, one of the sparkling wines we encounter most at European airports. I hope you are interested :)
After all these developments, all of the regions that compete in wine around the world have focused on the topic of sparkling wine. While each region produces its own sparkling wine, it aims to differentiate its products by adding some nuances. This situation led to the emergence of Prosecco in Italy and Cava in Spain in the 19th century. In addition to being served in celebrations, sparkling wines come to the fore as an aperitif in most venues and invitations today.
