lower in alcohol, it’s a crowd-pleasing sparkling wine. Moscato is a rare grape that also makes wine that tastes “grapey”. It’s very refreshing, summery and very accessible, a perfect wine for casual entertaining or for those that find wine is too dry. Look for producers such as Michele Chiarlo and La Spinetta. Franciacorte - a seriously high-quality sparkling wine coming from Lombardy in northern Italy, near Milan. These are perhaps the best sparkling wines produced in Europe and in many cases the wine is very similar in quality to champagne. Ageworthy, complex, and delicious, there are also a small number of rosé wines from Franciacorte that are worth seeking out. Producers such as Bellavista and Ca’ del Bosco are available in limited amounts in Alberta. United States - if there is one place on earth just meant for growing grapes it would be California. The history of sparkling wine production in the US goes back to the 1840s but the drive for quality really started in the 1950s, resulting in a number of Champagne houses from France investing in wineries of their own in the Bear Flag state. Moët & Chandon, Taittinger and Mumm joined wineries such as Schramsberg focusing on sparkling wine with great results. Canada - with our decidedly cool climate, we can produce a number of wines in a classic champagne style without the champagne budget. Good examples come from BC, Ontario, and some of the best sparkling wine I’ve ever had, from Nova Scotia. Many are produced from classic blends of chardonnay and pinot noir, but good examples are made from everything from riesling to chenin blanc. In our market, Stellar’s Jay, Hillebrand Trius, Blue Mountain, and Summerhill are all worth trying. Spain - the top spot for Spanish sparkling wines are from Catalonia in south-eastern Spain near Barcelona. Although it’s a DO or denomination d’origin, only about 98 percent of Cava comes from Catalonia. Cava (meaning “cave”) is the Spanish term for sparkling wines and they are usually produced from the macabeo parellada, or xarel-lo grapes in the traditional or champagne method. Cava can be a bit on the tart or acidic side, however it is inexpensive, widely available, and great with food. Some producers to try include Pares Balta, Segura Viudas, and some of the higher end cavas.
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