All champagnes are sparkling wines, but not all sparkling wines are champagnes. Both range greatly in style and origin.
Sparkling wine may come from a variety of regions; the name champagne is reserved for sparkling wines produced according to specific guidelines in the Champagne region of France.
Some sparkling wines will be very dry, with crisp, toasty, and yeasty notes. Others will be fuller with the fruit.
Look for citrus, apple, pear, and floral notes in white sparklers; find strawberry, raspberry, and cherry notes in pink sparklers.
If you like a dry sparkler, look for brut on the label; this is the most common dry style. Extra dry or extra sec is dry, but with a little sweetness. If you prefer sweeter, lighter, easier-sipping sparkling wines, try prosecco and the somewhat sweeter Moscato d'Asti, both from Italy.
Tip: If your opened sparkling wine is no longer bubbly, try adding a raisin to the bottle just before serving. Any remaining carbon dioxide will stick to the ridges of the bumpy raisin and release bubbles again.
