As Seen In ManTripping December 2022

By James Hills

“To the uninitiated American, there are two places to go to when it comes to grabbing a bottle of sparkling wine for that holiday party … California and Champagne, France. While those are two of our favorite places too, we live in a world today where there are some fantastic bubbly wines found across the globe. Let’s take a look at a few of our new favorites.

It’s only fitting to start in the place that defines the entire category. As a refresher, Champagne is a sparkling wine that originates and is produced exclusively in the Champagne region of France under the strict rules of appellation and subjects the product to a secondary fermentation of the wine in the bottle, resulting in the iconic carbonation.

While champagne is perhaps the most iconic symbol of wealth, prosperity, and celebration – not all champagne bottles are priced like those brands you probably think of.

What many Americans don’t realize is that there are many different producers in the region that offer fantastic expressions at a price that won’t bust the bank.”

“Graham Beck – South Africa”

“In South Africa, wines made the way they are in Champaign are referred to as “Method Cap Classique and it originated in 1992 following prohibitions on the use of the words Champagne, Champenoise and other similar terms comparing the same style of sparkling wine to those produced in Champagne, France.

Graham Beck is one of the top producers from South Africa and they make a wide variety of sparkling wines including classic Brut, Brut Rose, and Blanc de Blancs made with 100% Chardonnay grapes. Additionally, they offer Brut Zero or “Ultra Brut” which contains zero residual sugars and Bliss Nectar which sits at the other end of the spectrum with 33.1 g/l rs and offers notes of butterscotch, honey, and praline.”