6 Sparkling Wines You Haven’t Heard Of (But Should Be Drinking This Spring)
May 01, 2025
With Mother’s Day brunches and graduation parties just around the corner, it’s officially bubbly season. While Champagne, Prosecco, and even Cava are household names these days, the world of sparkling wine is vast, diverse, and full of surprises.
There are dozens of styles made from local grapes across the globe—some with delicate floral aromas, others with bright fruit or savory spice—all perfect for raising a glass to the people and moments that matter most.
Before you reach for a familiar label, here are six unique sparkling wines (including one from the New World!) that deserve your attention—and a place at your spring celebrations.
🥂 What Is Sparkling Wine, and What Makes Each Style Different?
At its core, sparkling wine is simply wine that contains carbon dioxide, giving it its characteristic fizz. But not all bubbles are created equally. The method used to make the bubbles, the grape varieties, and the region’s climate and soil all shape the final wine’s flavor and personality.
There are two primary methods for making sparkling wine:
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Traditional Method (Méthode Traditionnelle): Used in Champagne, Cava, Franciacorta, and Crémant. The second fermentation happens in the bottle, leading to finer bubbles, more complex aromas, and toastier notes from lees aging (think creamy, bready, briche notes).
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Tank Method (Charmat): Common in Prosecco. The second fermentation happens in a large pressurized tank, which preserves fresh, fruity aromas and produces livelier, frothier bubbles.
Regional variations also matter. Each place grows different grape varieties and works with its own traditions and climate—resulting in distinct textures, colors, and flavors that are deeply tied to place.
✨ 6 Sparkling Wines to Explore This Season
1. Franciacorta (Italy)
Often called the Champagne of Italy, Franciacorta is produced in Lombardy using the traditional method and the same grapes as Champagne: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir (Nero), and Pinot Bianco.
🍋 Flavor: Elegant and creamy with notes of citrus, apple, almond, and toast
🥂 Why Try It? It’s Italy’s most refined sparkling wine and many producers follow organic or biodynamic practices. A luxurious yet under-the-radar alternative to Champagne.
2. Lambrusco (Italy)
This sparkling red from Emilia-Romagna is nothing like the sweet supermarket versions of the past. Real Lambrusco is dry, zippy, and savory—made from indigenous red grapes.
🍒 Flavor: Tart cherry, plum, violets, with gentle bubbles and refreshing acidity
🍕 Why Try It? It’s the perfect party wine with pizza, salumi, grilled vegetables, or even burgers. Look for Lambrusco di Sorbara (lighter and rosier) or Grasparossa (richer and fuller).
3. Crémant (France)
Crémant is France’s answer to affordable Champagne—made in the same traditional method, but from regions outside of Champagne. Each area brings its own grapes and signature style:
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Crémant d’Alsace
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Grapes: Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay
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Flavor: Dry, floral, bright citrus with a delicate mousse
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Pair with: Quiche, soft cheeses, or a spring salad
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Crémant de Loire
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Grapes: Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay
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Flavor: Richer texture with apple, pear, honey, and chalky minerality
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Pair with: Roast chicken, creamy pasta, or fried foods
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Crémant de Bourgogne
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Grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Aligoté, Gamay
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Flavor: Elegant and Champagne-like with hints of toast and stone fruit
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Pair with: Seafood towers, gougères, or celebratory appetizers
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🥂 Why Try It? These are some of the best-value sparkling wines in the world. Many organic options available.
4. Sparkling Vermentino (Italy/France)
Vermentino is usually made as a still white wine in Sardinia, Liguria, and Corsica—but in the hands of creative winemakers, it can become a vibrant sparkling wine.
🌿 Flavor: Crisp and coastal with notes of lemon peel, saline minerality, and herbs
🦪 Why Try It? It’s a sunshine-in-a-glass wine made for oysters, grilled fish, and springtime apéritifs. Light, clean, and perfect for the season.
5. Tasmanian Sparkling Wine (Australia)
Tasmania is emerging as one of the world’s best regions for cool-climate sparkling wine. Made using traditional methods from Champagne grapes (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir), these wines are complex, structured, and often sustainably farmed.
🍏 Flavor: Lime, green apple, toasted brioche, and a firm mineral backbone
🍤 Why Try It? Wines from producers like Jansz and House of Arras offer serious quality with a fresh perspective. A brilliant example of what the New World can do—with Old World elegance.
6. Sparkling Grüner Veltliner (Austria)
Austria’s flagship white grape takes beautifully to bubbles, resulting in clean, peppery, mineral-driven sparkling wines.
🍐 Flavor: Crisp green pear, lime zest, white pepper, with a dry, clean finish
🧀 Why Try It? It’s a brunch superstar—great with asparagus, goat cheese, cured meats, or herb-forward dishes. Bonus: many bottles are organically farmed and surprisingly affordable.
🥳 Final Toast
The beauty of sparkling wine is that it doesn’t have to be reserved for just big holidays. With so many exciting and affordable bottles being made across the globe, there’s a fizz for every palate and occasion.
Whether you're toasting to mom, cheering on your favorite grad, or simply celebrating spring, step outside the box and discover something new. You might just find your next favorite bottle.
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