Sparkling wine is a wine containing high level of carbon- dioxide making it fizzy. Champagne is an excellent beverage which is popularly celebrated of all sparkling wines. Champagne is a sparkling wine prepared solely or exclusively within the Champagne region of France, from which it acquired its name. One must make a note that all sparkling wines are not champagne but all champagnes are sparkling wines.

There are four important types of sparkling wine production. The first is the Metodo Italiano- Charmat method, in which the wines undergo a secondary fermentation in vast tanks, and then are bottled under pressure. This method is extensively used across the globe to produce delicate and light sparkling wines. The second method is the methode champenoise or the traditional method. Using this method, more bubbly and complex wines are prepared by secondary fermentation in the bottle. This method is used for the production of quality sparkling wines such as champagne and is somewhat expensive than Charmat method. The third process is simple injection of carbon dioxide which produces big bubbles but dissolves rapidly in the glass. The fourth process is the “transfer process”. This process involves transferring the wine from individual bottles into a huge tank after it has spent the desired quantity of time on yeast. Every production process of sparkling wine has a common aim that is to introduce enough carbon dioxide in order to make it bubbly or sparkling. Research suggests that an average single bottle of champagne can produce more than 49 million bubbles.

The main grapes utilized in the production of champagne are: - Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier etc. United States is the leading country in the production of champagne. There are many French sparkling wines such as: - Saumur mousseux AOC, Clairette de Die AOC, Touraine mousseux AOC, Blanquette de Limoux AOC, Anjou mousseux AOC, Touraine mousseux AOC etc. The Portuguese version of a sparkling wine is termed as Espumante. German people term quality sparkling wine as Sekt. Sparkling wine was produced in the Soviet Union under the name Soviet Champagne.

The famous sparkling wines around the world are: - Clover Hill, Poema, Ambeloui, Chandon, Henry of Pelham, Charles Lafite, Louis Bouillot, Francois Baur, Chapel Down etc. Mumm Napa 2000 DVX is a sparkling wine prepared from 14 small lots of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Champagne Vranken La Demoiselle is a popular sparkling wine which offers wide array of flavors and is a perfect drink to spend a vacation.

Sparkling wines are usually rose or white but there are many examples of red sparkling wines such as Australian sparkling Shiraz and Italian Brachetto. The sweetness of sparkling wines can range from sweeter “doux” varieties to very dry “brut” styles.