Celebrations
and champagne have gone hand in hand since the bubbly beverage was invented.
However, when it comes to finding the right bottle of bubbly for your special
day, it is important to plan carefully. After all, the last thing you want is a
memorable toast to be let down by a sparkling wine that all who taste it would
rather forget.
A rose by
any other name
It is
important to remember that although champagne is used colloquially to refer to
any sparkling wine, true champagne is produced in the Champagne region of
France, and nowhere else in the world.
“A lot of
people speak about champagne and they are just referring to sparkling wine. Are
you after champagne proper or are you after sparkling wine because that can
affect the cost of the wedding significantly,” says Lee Royle of Jacques Scott.
This does
not mean that sparkling wine produced in other regions are not worthy of
consideration. On the contrary, there are some excellent sparkling wines
produced in various regions across the globe, with some like Cava from Spain
and Prosecco from Italy having started to build up a following of their own.
However,
nothing beats an original, and if your budget allows, Lee strongly advises
considering a true champagne.
Although
taste should be the most important factor when choosing a sparkling wine, Lee
admits that it is not the first question he asks.
“The first
thing I always ask anybody is ‘What is your budget?’, because it is certainly
something that can impact heavily on something like a wedding,” he says.
More than
just the grapes
Although the
region in which the sparkling wine is produced determines whether it can be
called champagne or not, the production method plays a very big role in the
quality of the wine.
The only
production method used in true champagne involves secondary fermentation in the
bottle, which is very labour intensive. Known as the ‘Methode Champenoise’ or
‘traditional method’ this assures the finest bubbles – a hallmark of a good
sparkling wine. Some of the better sparkling wines also follow this production
method.
However, most
sparkling wines are produced using the ‘Charmat method’ or ‘tank method’, where
the secondary fermentation takes place in a pressurised tank. Although the
quality of the wine will not be quite the same as a bottle fermented wine, the
method is a lot less labour intensive and the consumer can expect a much more
competitive price.
However, the
most important thing is finding a sparkling wine you like. Lee suggests that
the best way to do this is to find something to celebrate, pop the corks on a
couple of different bottles, and see what you like. “Just be proactive and do
some research,” he says with a smile.
“Because the toast is such an important occasion, you really want to
make an impression. If you’re going to be spending that much time and effort on
the other elements of the wedding, why not do the same with the champagne or
sparkling wine?”
Of course, as you will be buying in bulk for a wedding reception,
Jacques Scott also offers a 15 per cent case discount in its stores. WH
For more
information, or to start your research, visit one of the Jacques Scott stores
on the corner of North Sound and Shedden Roads, in North Church Street,
Galleria Plaza or Countryside Shopping Mall or visit jacquesscott.com.