Uncork a Successful Sparkling Holiday Event
Tips from the Most Visited Winery in the U.S.
Bubbly has long been associated with New Year's, but any day can be special this holiday season when you offer guests sparkling, says Bernard Delille, winemaster at Biltmore Winery, the most visited winery in America. Biltmore, famous for America's largest home, is also recognized for its award-winning wines. Having welcomed more than 1 million guests to the estate in 2007, Biltmore has become an expert at gracious hospitality.
Delille suggests, "Keep sparkling wine on hand for those planned, or unplanned, gatherings this holiday season. When people get together, sparkling wines are a way to make any occasion memorable. The pop of the cork is not just reserved for the New Year."
Tips for serving sparkling wine:
- To evaluate sparkling wine or champagne, look at the bubbles. Smaller, more numerous bubbles usually indicate a better wine. Better wines also generally have bubbles that last longer.
- If you forget to chill the champagne, avoid placing it in the freezer; it can freeze in 15 minutes and explode. Instead, put the bottle in a bucket of ice for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Serve sparkling in flutes or tulip-shaped glasses. The wine loses less of its bubbles when poured into these glasses.
- Unlike other wines, champagne should be consumed as soon as it is purchased. It may be stored for up to three years in some cases, but will not improve with age.
- Not all champagnes are alike. Authentic champagne comes from the Champagne region of France. Domestic champagne is actually sparkling wine.
Pairings:
- As sparkling wines feel light on the palate, they pair nicely with hams or roasts and sweet and rich side dishes.
- Bruts are dry, as most of the sugar has been fermented away, and are particularly nice with poultry, fruit salads and pork cuts.
- Sweeter sparkling wines pair well with desserts such as pumpkin pie, cheesecake and bread pudding. These wines also make excellent mimosas and bellinis.
Biltmore wines are distributed in 12 states and the District of Columbia. For more information on Biltmore, including its winery and award-winning wines, call 877-BILTMORE.