what's the difference between champagne and sparkling wines?

Answer 1

The French have copyrighted the phrase "champagne" and insisted it apply only to wines made in that region of France. Every one else usually settles for using the words "sparkling wines." It is the same process but lawyers got involved and now they have a distinction in the labeling.

Answer 2

Champagne is french, and is made differently from sparkling wine. HOWEVER, you CAN get something called California Champagne, which uses the same method as the french, only its not made in france. It's much cheaper, and is actually quite delightful. Makes a good alternative to champagne, when you're celebrating something a little low class, or are just looking to give someone a little treat without it costing a lot, cuz it's not that big of an occasion

Answer 3

Champagne is made in Champagne France. All else is sparkling wine. If it is Spanish it is Cava, if it is Italian it can be Proseco (lightly sparkling) or Spumanti. The biggest thing to look for is the words Methode Champagnois. this means that the wine is made in the way French Champaigne is done. Many American wines are simply carbonated to make the cheap Champagne. Avoid these.

Answer 4

I am a former chef and a past member of the French Wine Society here in Toronto, while all 3 other have given you great info they have missed a few things.

True real champange is only from France, and is made with a blend of 3 different grapes, has 2 fermentation processes, is aged in the bottles and has to be recorked after the second fermentation and desgorgement. It is under pressure due to the yeast in the second ferments added sweet wine makes it a living product.

Most other sparkling wines and those in California and Canada who still use the name, are just sparkling wine, and correct there are those made with the "method champinose" and those made with the Charmat method, it is essentially a big container (SSteel) and not bottle aged.

While someone said those others are just carbonated, that is not all true, good Italian Prosecco and German Henkel Troken are made like champange, and there is a wine from Portugal called Vinhos Verde (Green Wine) that has a natural fizz to it, most other even "asti spumati" are either carbonated or not even grapes but apples and other fruits.

For a quality champange, french is paramount, but I have had some decent ones from Canada and California, Kreuger and Cooks and here in Canada Presidents from Niagara, even a nice U.S one from NY state.

Answer 5

champagne comes only from the champagne region in france, anything else is sparkling wine.