All sorts of corkers to pop the taste buds

THINK sparkling wine starts and ends in Champagne? Think again, for fabulous fizz comes from all four corners of the planet, with plenty of regional variety and flavours, textures and prices to suit all palates - and wallets.

- by Matt Nixson

Yes, English sparkling wine is having a moment (take that, Champagne snobs!) but price-wise, it’s still perhaps more of a treat than for regular quaffing. But fear not, there are plenty more bubbles out there and up for grabs.

Many are made using the “Traditional Method” whereby grape juice is pressed and fermented then blended. This blend is then bottled along with yeast and sugar, stopped with a crown cap and stored for a second fermentation, during which the carbon dioxide is trapped as bubbles. After ageing, the crown cap and yeast are removed, the liquid level topped up with a mixture of wine and sugar, and a cork inserted. The wine is then left to age before being ready to drink.