The world of sparkling wine goes well beyond Champagne, Cava and Prosecco. There is an exciting range of alternative bubbles on offer, if you know where to look.
The wines below originate from all around the world, from southern France, Portugal and the UK, to Georgia, Australia and Luxembourg.
What makes them unusual? Whether they are made from obscure grape varieties, in myraid colours, or from a little-known region, these bubbles are just a little bit different, but no less delicious, offering exciting alternatives to some of the more well known sparkling styles.
Scroll down for tasting notes and scores for 15 offbeat sparkling wines to try
The list includes sparklings in all colours – white, orange, rosé and red – all of which are made using a variety of production methods, be that traditional method, ancestral method, col fondo method or Charmat method.
For a fizz with lots of food pairing possibilities, try the L’Archetipo, Susumante Rosato Brut from Salento in Puglia – it’s a delicious, deep-hued sparkling rosé with a hint of sweetness. Try it with a spicy pad Thai or hot Mexican flavours, or go down the sweet route with a dark chocolate torte.
Surprise friends at a summer barbeque with the Viñedos Ruiz Jiménez, Ingenium Pet Nat Garnacha, or to make an adventurous pairing with slow-cooked venison.
For the orange wine fans, both the Folias de Baco, Uivo PT Nat Curtido from Portugal’s Douro Valley and the Les Enfants Sauvages, Dans Ma Bulle from the Roussillon are made from the Muscat grape variety. Alternatively, the Limeburn Hill, Beltain from a small, biodynamc vineyard in southern England is made from Orion grapes with some skin maceration, and shows a deep savoury character that might pair well with sushi or miso-roasted aubergine.
