Missouri sparkling wines. Méthode Champenoise. This method, renowned for creating sparkling wines with depth and effervescence, involves a meticulous process. Which is exactly why you need to try them! Wineries use this traditional method to produce a high-quality, complex wine with unique character.
First Fermentation- Wineries start by fermenting crushed grapes to produce a still wine, the base for sparkling wines.
Blending- Wineries blend wines from various grape varieties to craft the perfect flavor profile, setting the stage for complexity.
Second Fermentation- A mix of sugar and yeast, or liqueur de tirage, is added to the still wine in bottles, sparking the second fermentation and creating bubbles.
Lees Aging- Bottles are stored horizontally to allow yeast, or lees, to settle, enriching the wine with complex flavors.
Riddling- The bottles are gently turned and held at a 35-degree angle to move the lees to the neck, a precision task often aided by machines.
Disgorgement- The bottles are chilled, inverted, and the lees are removed. A finishing liqueur, or dosage, is added to balance the taste.
Corking- Finally, the bottles are sealed with traditional corks and wire cages, preserving the wine's effervescence.
There are several Missouri Wineries using Method Champenoise:
Belvoir Winery – Liberty
G. Husmann Wine Co. - Hermann
Hermannhof Winery – Hermann
KC Wineworks – Macon
Les Bourgeois Vineyards – Rocheport
Stone Hill Winery – Hermann
Wild Sun Winery and Brewery – Hillsboro
Visit Missouri Wine Country today, to try these fabulous traditional wines with a new appreciation for the handwork that goes into them!
For a deeper dive into the process click here!
