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Pairing Sparkling Wine

Learn how to pair sparkling wine with this guide from Eric Guido

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Pairing Sparkling Wine I never gave sparkling wine a fair shake (no pun intended). Like most people, my first exposures to sparkling wines were New Year’s Eve parties as a kid. Sooner or later, someone would put a glass of Champagne in my hand. I’d take a sip and think about it for a moment, only to decide that I didn’t understand. Usually it was too bubbly, acidic and smelled more like a loaf of bread than a glass of wine. Fast forward to adolescence and the first time I decided to indulge a little more with the bubbly, along with the hangover that I experienced the following day. I didn’t understand this sparkling wine “thing.”  

The fact was, I was probably drinking swill. To make matters worse, I didn’t understand the art of moderation. However, these experiences marked me and my opinion of sparkling wine for over two decades, until someone finally put a good glass of Champagne in my hand. It was a Non-Vintage (NV) Ulysse Collin Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs and I loved it. With my inhibitions tossed to the wind, I had finally decided to start exploring sparkling wine.

But where to start was the question. The fact is, there’s a lot more to sparkling wine than just Champagne. Most are dry (Extra Brut), but you can also find sparklers in many degrees of sweetness. Some are made from red grapes (Blanc de Noirs), some from white (Blanc de Blancs) and many are Rosé. The good news is that once you start to explore, you immediately realize that all of these wines are amazing when paired with food, and popping open any kind of bubbly seems to put people in the mood for a good time.

With limited space, I could not possibly cover every category of sparkling wine, so I’ve decided to discuss some of favorite styles with my favorite pairings. Think of it as an introduction with a world of new experiences waiting down the road.

Champagne and Food image via Shutterstock
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Tags: Eric Guido, wine pairing, sparkling wine, Wine and Food

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Comments

  • Snooth User: Gundersen
    Gundersen
    440480 35

    Lovely range of bubblies and delicious food for thought. I would have enjoyed some comments on the behaviour of the mousse since some great tasting bubblies foam excessively in the mouth rather than tickle the tongue. Happy New Year! Richard

    Dec 29, 2012 at 12:51 AM


  • Snooth User: zinfandel1
    zinfandel1
    Hand of Snooth
    154660 1,085

    It is only until very recently that I discovered Champagne and/or sparkling wine is the perfect match for Asian cuisine. I guess I had my head stuck in the sand all these years. I now keep several bottles on hand for when we order take out Asian food.

    Jan 05, 2013 at 12:26 PM


  • Snooth User: Blues Sister
    Blues-
    Sister
    1270573 20

    I'm looking for the recipe to a Mac & Cheese that we recently enjoyed at your winery last month. It was made with a round pasta, had a spicy Tomato olive oil taste and a crunch. Please send recipe!

    Apr 02, 2013 at 6:35 PM


  • Snooth User: WineIsYummy
    WineIsYumm-
    y
    Hand of Snooth
    615722 242

    have you tried the Emeri sparkling range of wines from australian winery De Bortoli? They are affordable, delicious and easy to pair with food.

    Apr 03, 2013 at 11:17 AM


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    glossymagm-
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    1328031 47

    Thats magnificent

    Aug 03, 2013 at 1:30 AM


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    hollydray
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    sweett;)

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    Thomas-
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    bashsuccin-
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    Feb 04, 2014 at 12:49 AM


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    1471715 33


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    friedtoys
    1471719 32

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    bryanchen
    1474329 33



    Cold

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    mistywax
    1475372 33

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    luckjoiner
    1475796 33

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    wesguthrie
    1476154 33

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    popcornpop
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    spikyweed
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