Traditional Method Sparkling Wines Beyond Champagne You Need To Know

Get To Know The Best Traditional Method Sparkling Wines Around The World

Are you team ‘nothing compares to champagne’?

Then you might be truly shocked by this post. But hear me out.

There is a world beyond champagne, and it’s amazingly superb.

Today, excellent sparkling wines are made around the world made according to different production methods, grape varieties, and aging requirements. Given sparkling wine is no longer perceived to be a drink to be reserved for celebrations, and demand for good quality bubbles has skyrocketed in recent decades (and certainly during the pandemic), this is great news as it opens up a new world of sparkling wines to be explored beyond champagne.

In this post, I’d like to give you a quick introduction about sparkling wines that come closest to champagne but that are made outside of Champagne and therefore are not allowed to be called champagne.

What is the difference between Champagne and Traditional Method Sparkling Wine?

If made using the same process than champagne, the obvious question to ask is, what sets champagne and traditional method sparkling wines apart?

First and foremost, traditional method sparkling wines that are not champagne are those made outside of the French region of Champagne. Protected by designation of origin rules, only the sparkling wines made within Champagne, from grapes grown in the Champagne region, can be called champagne.

This off course is only the most visible difference. There are significantly more subtle differences between champagne and traditional method sparkling wines hailing from the rest of the world. France included.

So, what else sets champagne and traditional method sparkling wines apart?

The differences are rooted in local winemaking rules, climate, and terroir.

Champagne can only be made from seven grape varieties. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes are those primarily used for most champagnes, while Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Arbane, and Petit Meslier are usually added only in small quantities.

While many sparkling wines made outside Champagne are largely leaning on the same grapes, more and more of them are made with a wide range of different grape varieties.

Other rules are stipulating the length the wine is required to mature on the lees (a minimum of 15 months for champagne, while it can be less for other traditional method sparkling wines), and champagne is bottle at a pressure of 5-6 bars while for other traditional method sparkling wines it can be lower (typically starting at around 3 bars).

How are Traditional Method Sparkling Wines made?

Said in a nutshell, traditional method sparkling wines are made exactly like classic champagne, less the differences in production stated above. But let’s have a closer look at the winemaking process of traditional method sparkling wines.

For a wine to be called ‘traditional method’ the process requires certain minimum standards, though rules can vary according to the region where the wines are made.

Some typical regulations will include the following:

• Traditional sparkling wines typically require a minimum of nine months aging on the lees.
• Grapes need to come from a defined area; though these boundaries can be fairly large. For example, grapes for traditional method sparkling wines in Spain and South Africa can come from any vineyard within these countries.
• Only certain grape varieties are allowed for specific traditional method sparkling wines like Cava.

More rules apply according to the winegrowing region and the process of making traditional method sparkling wines incorporates many more steps. If you are curious how sparkling wines are made, I encourage you to check the various official national wine bodies and associations.

A beginners guide to the best Traditional Method Sparkling Wines around the world

If you are looking for excellent traditional method sparkling wines beyond champagne, today the choice is larger than ever before.

By the way, I need to mention this at least once: Even champagne is classified under the umbrella of sparkling wines.

Over the past few decades, more and more winegrowing regions around the world have started to produce their own traditional method sparkling wines (and many have done so for much longer). From French Crémant to Germany’s Winzersekt, Spain’s Cava, Italy’s Franciacorta, South African Cap Classique and the traditional sparkling wines coming from the US, South America, and Australia, there is a whole new world of sparkling wines to discover.

Different to champagne, those sparkling wines can be made from a wide variety of grapes. This together with different climatic conditions and soils supports many different types and styles of sparkling wines.

Even better, while quality and taste are in many cases on par with champagne, most of these traditional method sparkling wines will only cost you a fraction of champagne.

French Crémant (France)

French sparkling wine is not exclusively made in the Champagne region. From Alsace to the Loire, Burgundy, and Bordeaux, there are eight different designated French wine regions making excellent traditional method sparkling wines, called Crémant.

Regulations for Crémant are slightly less stringent compared to champagne while nonetheless must follow the strict French wine rules. This means grapes for Crémant must be hand-harvested, whole bunch pressing with limited must extraction is required, and all Crémant must be aged for a minimum of nine months on the lees.

Differently to champagne, Crémant can be made from a wider range of grape varieties. This along with the different climates and terroirs found around the eight French wine regions making Crémant leads to a wide variety of styles.  

Over 50% of all French Crémant is made in Alsace and most Crémant d’Alsace are made from a blend with Pinot Blanc as the base.

Crémant de Bourgogne from Burgundy is perhaps the closest to champagne. Firstly, due to the proximity of the region (Burgundy lies just south of Champagne), and secondly because most Crémant de Bourgogne are made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, the grapes used for champagne. That said, other varieties are also allowed, and aging requirements are shorter compared to champagne, which means these sparkling wines are usually less complex.

In the Loire Valley, the towns of Saumur and Touraine are the centre of crémant production. Crémant de Loire are predominantly made from Chenin Blanc and will typically display flavours of lemon, pear, quince, honey, and chamomile.

Other French crémant regions are Limoux, Bordeaux (the only region allowing the use of Sauvignon Blanc grapes), Jura, Savoie, and the Rhone Valley.

By the way, not all Crémant is made in France. There is a ninth region officially making Crémant and that is in neighbouring Luxemburg.

Cava, Corpinnat, and Classic Penedes (Spain)

The Spanish version of traditional method sparkling wine takes its name from the places where sparkling wine is typically produced in Spain – underground wineries called cava (cave). Meanwhile, the roots of Cava go back to 1872 when the first sparkling wine made in the same process as champagne was created by Joseph Raventós at his Can Codornu winery in the Penedes.

Since 1986 Cava is produced under the official Denominació d’Origen Cava (DO Cava). Different to other denominations of origin which typically refer to a certain area/region, Cava can be made across all of Spain. That said, most Cava are still made in the Penedes, in the north of Spain not far from Barcelona.

To call a Spanish sparkling wine Cava, production must follow strict rules. The wine must mature on the yeast for a minimum of nine months, cannot be sold prior to one year after the grape harvest, and must have an alcohol content between 10.8 and 12.8 percent. In addition, Cava must be predominantly made from three indigenous grape varieties: Macabeu, Parellada, and Xarel-lo, all of which are white. Additional grapes allowed in Cava production are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Garnacha, and Monastrell, albeit only in small quantities.

Typically, Cava can be described as delicate, with rich and complex flavours and aromas. Characteristic of Cava are rich nutty brioche notes, subtle zesty and fruit flavours of citrus, apple, and peach, a distinct minerality and fine bubbles.

As I’ve mentioned before, Cava rules are rather stringent. In recent years, this has led to more and more wineries to abandon the Cava DO to create new innovative styles of traditional method sparkling wines which they would not be allowed to make under the Cava DO rules.

This is how Corpinnat and Penedes DO (Classic Penedes) entered the scene.

So, what is the difference?

While still made according to the traditional method, sparkling wines made under the Corpinnat classification can be made using different grape varieties. In the case of Penedes DO, grapes for the sparkling wines come from a defined smaller area within the Penedes.

Franciacorta (Italy)

Italy produces a wide range of sparkling wines, of which Prosecco is perhaps the best-known. That said, Italy’s most famous bubbles are made according to the Charmat or tank method, which means secondary fermentation takes place in pressurized vats.

Even though there are excellent, high-quality Prosecco produced in Italy, if you are looking for a sparkling wine from Italy to rival champagne, it will be Franciacorta without any doubt.

The small Franciacorta winegrowing area is located not far from Milan in Lombardy, or more precisely just south of Lake Iseo in the Province of Brescia. Here wines have been made since Roman times while the first traditional method sparkling wines were made in 1961 only, and DOCG Franciacorta was established as recently as 1995.

By law, all Franciacorta sparkling wines are traditional method wines. Prevailing grape varieties of Franciacorta are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, much like champagne. However, instead of Pinot Meunier, these are complemented by Pinot Blanco.

Non-vintage wines must be aged 18 months on the lees while vintage wines require a minimum of 30 months on the lees. Meanwhile, rosé Franciacorta require 24 months on the lees and Riserva Franciacorta 60 months.

The typical taste profile of Franciacorta is influenced by the region’s Mediterranean climate and a diverse range of soil types. Franciacorta sparkling wines are particularly balanced, fruity, fresh, and focused and can range from dry to sweet depending on the residual sugar content.

The small production area of only 2,200 hectares along with stringent quality rules makes Franciacorta one of the priciest traditional method sparkling wines outside of Champagne. Indeed, you will find certain Franciacorta bottles sold at prices similar to champagne. Though once you’ve tried a sparkling wine from Franciacorta, you won’t any longer question the price tag.  

Trentodoc (Italy)

Italy’s picturesque, mountainous Tentino region is another producer of excellent traditional method sparkling wines. The DOC appellation was indeed established in 1993, two years prior to Franciacorta.

Trentodoc wines are made exclusively from hand-harvested grapes from the Trentino, typically using Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Meunier, matures for a minimum of 15 months on the lees.

What sets Trentodoc apart from other traditional method sparkling wines is the unique yet highly diverse climate with an extensive temperature range typical for an alpine mountain area. You can indeed refer to the region as high-altitude growing area, with some 70% of vineyards at 1,000 metres above sea or higher.

Trentodoc sparkling wines are typically fresh and crisp, with refreshing acidity and complex flavours of fruit notes from citrus to tropical fruits.  

Winzersekt (Germany)

Here is another category of sparkling wine that needs a closer look to fully comprehend.

Sparkling wines from Germany are called Sekt and come in a wide range of styles and different production methods. The majority of German Sekt is made according to the tank method yet a growing number of wineries is now producing their own Winzersekt, which is made according to the traditional method.

The designation is protected under EU regulations and to be called Winzersekt, strict production rules must be followed.

First and foremost, grapes for Winzersekt must come from a winery’s own vineyards, must be single vintage and single variety. Winzersekt must mature on its yeast for a minimum of nine months, while most producers will mature their wines for significantly longer.

Winzersekt can be made from a wide variety of grapes though the traditional like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Gris are common for German Winzersekt. Though the star grape is Riesling, and some of the most outstanding German traditional method sparkling wines are Riesling Sekt.

For more information on Winzersekt read my post Why you need to start drinking German sparkling wine.

English Sparkling Wine

Wine production may go back a long time in England, but until recently the country was not considered to bring out any noteworthy wines. But then, English sparkling wines burst onto the international wine scene. And they were an instant hit.

If proof is needed English sparkling wines are worth a sip, it’s the eagerness of French champagne houses to secure their own piece of the cake, buying vineyards in the main English winegrowing areas. Which are mostly located in the south across East Sussex, Kent, and Hampshire.

Part of the success story of English sparkling wines is climate change, supporting the ripening process of grapes. Indeed, the climate is not too different from the one in Champagne. Likewise, soils across the English winegrowing areas are similar to those in Champagne.

There is no restriction on the choice of grape varieties used but English traditional method sparkling wines are typically made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier (and therefore the classic champagne grape varieties) with the addition of Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris.

English sparkling wines can be quite different in style but generally you can expect aromas of toasted brioche along with notes of apple, pear, apricot, and candied almonds, and a clean, crisp and refreshing acidity.

Cap Classique (South Africa)

South Africa is an incredible winegrowing area, and while it is classified as ‘new world winegrowing region’ it’s winegrowing history goes back to 1655 when the first vines were planted by Dutch immigrants. On the other hand, the first sparkling wine was made only in 1971; and the idea to make a local sparkling wine came once again after a winemakers visit to the Champagne in France.

Named Cap Classique (respectively Méthode Cap Classic or MCC) as a nod to the region where the bubbles are made, are all exclusively made following the traditional method. Otherwise, there are not many regulations resulting in a wide range of styles. One rule that needs to be observed requires Cap Classique wines to be aged on the lees for a minimum of 12 months.

Just like champagne, most Cap Classique sparkling wines are made with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir though there are also excellent Cap Classique sparkling wines made from South Africa’s star variety, Chenin Blanc.

By the way, Cap Classique sparkling wines were poured for Barack Obama’s presidential nomination and certainly not because they are among the most wallet-friendly high quality traditional method sparkling wines to be found internationally.

Traditional method sparkling wines across the rest of the world

Nearly all other winemaking regions around the world produce sparkling wines adopting the traditional method, though production is often small and many of these sparkling wines are not sold widely outside their home countries.

Excellent traditional method sparkling wines are made in Australia’s cooler growing areas, most notably Yarra Valley and Tasmania. Typically made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, these wines are fresh, vibrant, and fruit driven.

In the United Stated, California offers ideal growing conditions for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and the region is one of the county’s leading areas of traditional method sparkling wines. Around 90% of all U.S. sparkling wines are made in California. However, traditional method sparkling wines are made in other U.S. wine regions as well, including Oregon, Washington, and Michigan.

Traditional method sparkling wines are also produced in South America, where once again most of the leading Champagne houses are seeing great potential. Especially in Chile, Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul, and Mendoza in Argentina.

Do you have a favourite traditional method sparkling wine? Let me know which one in the comments below.