What is Champagne?
Champagne gets its name from the Champagne wine region of France where the grapes for the drink are grown exclusively. It can include a blend of many varieties or just a single varietal chosen from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes.
Once the grape juices have been allowed to ferment, they are transferred to bottles to allow secondary fermentation to take place. The Champagne is then aged to develop flavour and carbonation, whilst also allowing for the removal of sediment (lees) and the addition of the dosage (sugar and selected reserve wine). The flavour profile of most Champagne consists of pear and apple with citrus notes and hints of biscuit. However, there can be lots of subtle variations in Champagnes due to the methods and grapes used by the producer.
What is Prosecco?
Prosecco is a sparkling wine whose grapes are grown in the northeast Veneto region of Italy. For this drink, the native Glera grape variety is fermented in a two-step process taking place in a series of tanks. Prosecco is filtered and bottled without ageing, making the overall process relatively quicker than other quality wines.
Proseccos feature crisp fruit flavours punctuated by freshness and a floral aroma. It is often available in both dry and sweet styles.