Creating Sparkling Wine in Various Ways
Many centuries have passed and yet sparkling wine is still thought of to the the celebration wine for many people. The name was thought of because of its fizzy look. The presence of the bubbles in the wine is caused by the carbon dioxide created from the special process called secondary fermentation. This secondary fermentation process takes place in the bottle itself or in a large presurized tank where the wine, sugar and yeast are mixed and processed.
Sparking wines can be prepared by applying any of these 4 methods: Methode Champenoise (traditional), Transfer (evolved) method, Charmat Bulk and the carbonation or injection method.
The 1st and initial method of making a sparkling wine is the Methode Champenoise. Secondary fermentation procedure in this method happens in the bottle when sugar and yeast are added. And then, the bottle is carefully closed nad stored in a slightly upside-down position. During fermentation, the bottle precisely undergoes riddling or shaking to remove the dead yeast so it will end up in the head of the bottle. The neck of the bottle is then frozen so that the dead yeast will stay on the top and the cap is skilfully separated which then pops the dead yeast out of the bottle. Resealing is then done with a cork and the wine is now ready to drink.
Transfer method is another process of making spakling wines which evolve in the Methode Champenoise. With transfer method, the processes are alike to that of the Methode Champenoise and only difference is that the process does not include shaking or riddling to remove the sediment but instead the wine is transferred to a pressurized tank where the sediment is filtered. Finally, it is bottled, corked, and secured with a wire hood before it is being sold in the market.
Charmat Bulk which is the another method of creating sparkling wine is different when it comes to the secondary fermentation because the process takes place in a large pressure tank. It is an efficient method because the sparkling wine is created in big volumes. The Charmat Bulk method is popular for being the quickest and least expensive way to make sparkling wines. On this process, sugar and yeast are added in a pressure tank wherein the temperature is controlled. With this procedure, the quality of wine produced is not as good as the quality made using the traditional method. Furthermore, the bubbles in this sparkling wine are larger because it did not spend the same amount time compared to the traditional method.
For the carbonation procedure, wine is injected with carbon dioxide. The wine is bubbled or carbonated after the fermentation process. This is alike to the method used in soft drinks. The carbonation method is fast and cheap but the quality made is inferior.
Methode Champenoise is the best in making a good quality wine even though it is the most expensive and requires more effort. Natural fermentation occurs in this procedure thus making the sparkling wine is not abused by excessive movements.
Around the world, there are many makers of sparkling wine. The method they use will be up to them and they do everything to satisfy their customers. Quality and price of sparkling wine will depend on both quality of the materials used as well as the method used. Thus, whatever the method is used to make the sparkling wine, it is up to the consumer which they will choose.
