Know your bubbles

A guide to the world’s famous sparkling wine

PROSECCO
Italy

Region
Veneto

Grapes
Glera

Production method
Charmat

Bottle fermentation
No

Bottle pressure
2.5 -3 Atmosphere

Bubbles
Light & Frothy

Vintage
Uncommon – Introduced 2009

Cost per bottle
From £7

Sweetness
Brut (0-12 g/L)
Extra-Dry (12-17 g/L)
Dry (17-32 g/L)

Bottles produced
307 million (2013)

CHAMPAGNE
France

Region
Champagne

Grapes
Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier Chardonnay

Production method
Champenoise

Bottle fermentation
Yes

Bottle pressure
6 – 7 Atmospheres

Bubbles
Fine

Vintage
Some Years

Cost per bottle
From £15

Sweetness
Brut Nature (0-3 g/L)
Extra Brut (0-6 g/L)
Brut (0-12 g/L)
Extra-Dry (12-17 g/L)
Semi-Dry (32-50 g/L)
Sweet (50+ g/L)

Bottles produced
304 million (2013)

CAVA
Spain

Region
Catalonia (95%)

Grapes
Macabeu, Parallada Xarello (&Others)

Production method
Traditionnelle*

Bottle fermentation
Yes

Bottle pressure
4+ Atmospheres

Bubbles
Fine

Vintage
Uncommon

Cost per bottle
From £8.50

Sweetnessg
BruBrut Nature (0-3 g/L)
Extra Brut (0-6 g/L)
Brut (0-12 g/L)
Extra-Dry (12-17 g/L)
Semi-Dry (32-50 g/L)
Sweet (50 g/L)

Bottles produced
242 million (2014)

* Champenoise & Traditionnelle methods are the same, however winemakers in Champagne can legally label their product method Champenoise. ** Pinot Noir & Chardonnay

* Driest to sweetest (g/L) = The amount of sugar in grams per litre.