Narsai David: Sparkling Wine And Champagne

 
Narsai David is the KCBS Food and Wine Editor. He has been a successful restaurateur, chef, TV host, and columnist in the Bay Area spanning four decades. You can hear him Saturdays at 10:53am, 12:53pm and 4:53pm, and at 2:53am Sunday on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM.

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – Unbeknownst to many people, there is a difference between sparkling wine and champagne.

KCBS Food and Wine Editor Narsai David said all sparkling wine is not champagne, as champagne is very specific to the Champagne region of France.

But he said the confusion is coming to an end as fewer and fewer producers are using the term champagne to describe their wine. In Spain, sparkling wine is called cava, in Italy, it's prosecco. And in many cases, the general term bubbly is used.

KCBS Food and Wine Editor Narsai David:

 
Much of the sparkling wine is made through the Charmat process, which involves making a wine, putting it in a tank, then squirting carbon dioxide in it, basically providing for what makes sparkling wine fizzy.

David said that the Charmat process is used in place of a second fermentation, which can often give the wine a number of intriguing flavors.

 
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