Wine snobs tend to look down on sparkling wine. They compare it unfavorably to champagne. But sparkling wine is not a bad substitute for champagne. There are many sparkling wines that are fine wines in their own right. They just aren’t made in Champagne.

Only wine made in Champagne by the Dom Perignon method can be called Champagne. But many wines are made using the same method elsewhere.

Dom Perignon was a 17th century Benedictine monk. Yes, the Benedictines also invented Benedictine brandy. Dom Perignon set out to solve the refermentation problem that plagued winemakers in this period. What happened was that the sugars that had not been converted to alcohol began to ferment again in the spring when the dormant yeasts came back to life. This causes the corks to pop and the bottles to explode as carbon dioxide builds up inside the bottle.

Sparkling wine takes advantage of that secondary fermentation process and traps carbon dioxide in the bottle. That’s what makes the wine bubble and spray it on the racing drivers when they shake the bottle.

For the more serious wine drinkers, carbon dioxide adds a special flavor to wine. It makes it lighter and more refreshing. As a bonus, it also reduces the caloric content. Sparkling wine is less fattening than regular wine.

Some sparkling wines are produced by bubbling carbon dioxide through the wine. This gives a similar effect but does not produce the same flavor as naturally produced carbon dioxide. When buying sparkling wine, always look for one in which the carbon dioxide has been produced by natural fermentation. This wine will surely offer the best characteristics.

There is a wide range of naturally fermented sparkling wines to choose from. They are produced in all wine-growing areas. Each retains the qualities of its own region.

Cava is the sparkling white or sometimes rosé wine from Catalonia in Spain. It is produced by the natural secondary fermentation process that produces Champagne. It was first made in the 19th century when the phylloxera virus destroyed the area’s red grape vineyards. The producers turned to local white grape varieties that were of the brut type used in Champagne.

Cap Classique is a similar champagne-type wine from South Africa, where it was first made by Huguenot settlers. From Italy comes Asti, which is a slightly different sparkling wine. It is sweet and low in alcohol.

Sekt is a German sparkling wine that is made using a different method than the champagne method. There are numerous sparkling wines produced in the United States, where California has led the growing popularity of sparkling wine. They are usually made by the Champagne method.

Even Britain is producing its own sparkling wine. Global warming has some benefits.

The upside of this proliferation of sparkling wines is that a wine that was once a rare treat has now become accessible to many. Sparkling wine can now be drunk as part of any meal, and not just to celebrate life’s big events. However, sparkling wine retains its ability to add a more festive air to any occasion.

Sparkling wine is often more appealing to people who are not used to drinking wine. Those who find most wine dry will probably like an Asti. The other advantage of sparkling wine is that when guests have to drive, it’s often better to offer a low-alcohol alternative. Sparkling wine really fills a niche in the modern market for a light, refreshing, and not-too-intoxicating drink that always seems special.