There are only few technicalities which makes these two classy wines apart from each other. Another difference in these two excellent beverages is the fact that they are produced in different regions.
We can say that sparkling wine is a superset of a particular kind of wine, while champagne is just a subset of that superset. In easier words, while a bottle of champagne is always a sparkling wine, but a bottle of sparkling wine is not necessarily a champagne bottle. A sparkling wine will be termed as a champagne only if it has been produced in a particular region of France, which is well known for producing Champagne.
The most famous and popular sparkling wine is the original champagne which is produced in France. Sparkling wines on the other hand are produced at many other regions of the world and as a matter of fact, they are becoming more popular. The reason for higher popularity of sparkling wine is simple.
While the taste of sparkling wine and champagne is very closely similar, the cost of a bottle of champagne is very much when compared with the cost of a bottle of sparkling wine.
Technical Production Differences between Champagne and Sparkling Wine
Exactly similar procedure is employed to produce both sparkling wine and champagne. Yet, there is a definite difference. The grapes used to produce champagne are certainly different than those grapes which are used to produce sparkling wine. Only those grapes which are actually cultivated in French vineyards are used to produce champagne, while grapes from any vineyard from different parts of the world other than France can be used to produce Sparkling Wine.
The grapes are first harvested and then producers collect juice from them. The juice is first blended to create the mixture which is then left to settle down and ferment.
This is the initiating step for producing any kind of wine. After this, the process of producing champagne or sparkling wine drastically changes from the process of producing other types of wines.
After a certain period of time when the juice is settled, it is filled in bottles and an appropriate quantity of yeasts and sugar is added in those bottles. The wine is then settled in the bottle to get fermented for another period of time.
In order to avoid any significant loss of carbon dioxide which is produced as a result of fermentation, each bottle is capped with an air tight cap. Since carbon dioxide is not allowed to escape, it remains in the bottle and on opening a champagne or sparkling wine, you enjoy bubbles.
After a period of time, the second fermentation is completed and a residue remains left behind in the bottle which is removed after aging the wine. Aging of wine is performed through the process of riddling.
Riddling is a simple process which includes shaking of sparkling wine or champagne bottles on racks. Due to this shaking, the residue comes up to the brim of the bottle.
The air tight cap of the bottles is not removed even now. However, in order to remove the residue, the bottles are deep frozen. When everything including the gas is frozen in the bottle, it is opened up and the residue is removed. The bottles are again filled with a particular dosage to add taste and sweetness and after that the bottle of champagne or sparkling wine is again corked and labeled.
Almost all sparkling wines are produced in similar manner. However, some cheap sparkling wines may be produced by fermenting the wine not in the bottles themselves but in a big vessel.
So, it is clear that there is not much difference between sparkling wine or champagne and their making is also very similar. Because of this reason, whenever you will taste sparkling wine and champagne simultaneously, you will find very little or no difference.
However, when you will go to buy a bottle of sparkling wine and a bottle of champagne, you will definitely observe the big difference in price.
