Sparkling

Sparkling wine is a wine with significant levels of carbon dioxide in it making it fizzy. The carbon dioxide may result from natural fermentation, either in a bottle, as with the méthode champenoise, in a large tank designed to withstand the pressures involved (as in the Charmat process), or as a result of carbon dioxide injection. Sparkling wine is usually white or rosé but there are many examples of red sparkling wines such as Italian Brachetto and Australian sparkling Shiraz.

The classic example of a sparkling wine is Champagne, but many other examples are produced in other countries and regions, such as Espumante in Portugal, Cava in Spain, Asti in Italy (the generic Italian term for sparkling wine being Spumante) and Cap Classique in South Africa. The French terms "Mousseux" or "Crémant" are used to refer to sparkling wine not made in the Champagne region.
German and Austrian sparkling wines are called Sekt.

The United States is a significant producer of sparkling wine: California in particular has seen French Champagne houses open wineries in the state to make American sparkling wine according to the Champagne method.

Recently the United Kingdom, which produced some of the earliest examples of sparkling wine, has started producing Champagne-style wines again with wines like Nyetimber being ranked up there with champagne.

Excellent quality Methode Traditionelle sparkling wine is produced in New Zealand. Marlborough still produces a number of high quality sparkling wines, such as Pelorous (from Cloudy Bay), and the Montana brand, Lindauer.

The Australian wine industry manages to make Methode Champenoise wines of serious quality at prices that would make Champagne producers turn as green as their unripe grapes. Fruity, generous wines that can often show fine yeasty notes often associated with more expensive wines, typify the Australian sparkling wine style. Nearly all Aussie sparklers use champagne grape varieties Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. An esoteric specialty that is unique to Australia is Sparkling Shiraz. This is a fruity red sparkling wine that has flavours associated with Shiraz red table wines.

In Tasmania. sparkling wines are produced in the traditional bottle-fermented method.

Also produced are Blanc de Blanc and Blanc de Noir styles made exclusively of Chardonnay or Pinot Noir grapes respectively, an acid-to-fruit balance is naturally achieved on the vine. Several labels including Jansz, have gained national and international acclaim as production volume increases, and the styles continue to be refined.

The sweetness of sparkling wine can range from very dry "brut" styles to sweeter "doux" varieties.