Sparkling wine is wine that bubbles when poured into a glass, hence the popular reference to it as “bubbly”.  The fizziness, which causes the wine to sparkle is what makes this category of wine so unique.

How does wine get to sparkle?

The sparkle comes from dissolved carbon dioxide in the wine, the gas is held under pressure in the bottle, moving from a meta-stable state once the pressure is removed by uncorking.

Champagne is the best known of sparkling wines and it originates from the Champagne region of France. While some countries such as USA, use the word Champagne as a term for their domestic sparkling wines, this practice is illegal in Europe and most parts of the world.

Bubbly or rather sparkling wine is made in three different ways: by carbonating a still wine; by fermenting and bottling wine under pressure, or by the traditional Champagne method, called Methode Cap Classique or MCC in South Africa. This is where a secondary fermentation takes place in the actual bottle you buy.

Bubblies are one of the all-round great accompaniments, not just for special occasions, but to almost any food you care to partner it with it. From Champagne breakfasts … to oysters … even to strawberries and cream!