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Champagne, sparkling wine, bubbly—whatever you call it, most people can agree that it ranks high on the drinkable scale. But are you imbibing the good great stuff the *right* way? (Yes, there is such a thing.) We talked to Chandon winemaker Pauline Lhote to figure out how to make most of those bubbles and drink like a pro.
You're Pouring It Straight
You should be pouring it at an angle, so that it hits the side of the glass—better taste, aroma, and bubbles. (Important.)
You're Trying to Get Turnt
Sorry to break it to you—but sparkling wines and champagnes have a lower alcohol content than regular wine. Meaning: Great for dinner parties, bad for goin' up on a Tuesday. (Unless you, you know, are pacing yourself.)
You're Saving It for Something *Special*
"Sparkling wines should not only be reserved for a big occasion," says Lhote. "Drink it casually!" So bust that bottle out—especially since studies show that if you drink it three times a week, you are less likely to develop dementia.
You're Only Serving It in Fancy Flutes
"Sparkling does not have to be drunk from a flute," assures Lhote. "You can drink it in any glass you want: in a coupe, in a wine glass, in a soda glass." There's something kinda cool about drinking prosecco out of a tumbler—give it a try.
You're Serving It Only at Cocktail Hour or For Dessert
"Sparkling wine is very versatile," says Lhote. "You can pair it with just as many foods as regular wine—if not more than!"
You Think of It as a "Sweet" Drink
Nah, son. Sparkling wines come in a wide variety, from dry to sweet.
You're Calling It Champagne, Like, All the Time
Here's the thing: While us normals might call anything that has alcohol, bubbles, and a slightly golden tone "Champagne," it's actually a designation of sparkling wine—as in, it's only made in the Champagne region of France. Many sparkling wines exist and are made throughout the world, including Chandon—which is made using the same method as Champagne and even with the same grape variety, they're just grown in California. There's also Prosecco, which uses a super quick procedure invented in Italy for the *bubbles*, and then cheap sparkling wines which are made with gas injection. And—yes—there's even rosé sparkling wine.
Want to Pop Some Corks? Try These:
1. Chandon Limited Edition Rosé Carol Lim, $26, chandon.com
2. Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label, $56, wine.com
3. Zonin Prosecco White Edition, $17, zoninprosecco.com
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Samantha Leal is the Deputy Editor at Well+Good, where she spends most of her day thinking of new ideas across platforms, bringing on new writers, overseeing the day-to-day of the website, and working with the awesome team to produce the best stories and packages. Before W+G, she was the Senior Web Editor for Marie Claire and the Deputy Editor for Latina.com, with bylines all over the internet. Graduating from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University with a minor in African history, she’s written everything from travel guides to political op-eds to wine explainers (currently enrolled in the WSET program) to celebrity profiles. Find her online pretty much everywhere @samanthajoleal.
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