The answer to this question is a resounding YES! I might not choose the real stuff from France for this venture, but sparkling wine is very food friendly. Here are a few tips for matching sparkling wine with food.
Champagne goes especially well with food high in fat – cuts right through. Think ripe cheeses, cream sauces, and Italian cold cuts. Its freshness is a good balance to salty foods like smoked salmon. Anything you would pair with Sauvignon Blanc would go with sparkling wine: oysters, scallops, crab, and lobster. Here is a great big caution – unless the champagne is on the sweeter side DO NOT serve it with desert. A lot of people do this and it is a mistake.
If you read the Wine Witch’s earlier post Champagne 101 you know there are several major champagne styles. Here are some more specific pairings by style:
Blance de Blanc is a lighter style. This is the go to sparkler for seafood.
Blanc de Noir is a bit more pronounced in style. This is the one to serve with brunch – think Eggs Benedict, ham, and smoked salmon.
Rose Brut is a another step up in body. It would pari well with chicken, veal, and salmon.
Brut is the dryest style. Bruts could be paired with anything but desert.
Extra Dry, while counter intuitive, actually has some residual sweetness. This is the only one I would serve with desert. I am not talking gooey, chewy fudge cake – more like fruit deserts and lighter style cookies.
As usual, these are just the Wine Witches personal opinions. The point here is that sparkling wine is not just for special occasions. There are many styles and price points. Explore and I am sure you will find just the right match for your Friday night pizza.
Cheers!
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Posted in Wine Musings | 
Tags: Blanc de Noir, Champagne, Food, France, Rose Brut, Wine Musings | |
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