Sparkling etiquette

Champagne, sparkling wine, Methode Cap Classique, whatever your preference, drinking bubbly is associated with good times and celebration, and since it’s nearing that time of the year when we dust the fluted glasses off, and put on our party hats, it’s worth going over those finer details for quaffing a glass or two of sparkling.

What to choose?

With the large choice of sparkling wines lined up on the retail shelves these days, the natural thing for anyone to do is to stick to what you know. And while it’s certainly good to have favourites, there are a few great local sparkling wines worth popping the cork over. Look out for names like Krone, Simonsig and Pongraz Bruts to name only a few. These three are usually well-priced and are all fantastic wines.

Know your MCCs

While these names may be slightly more expensive, consider that you are paying for a genuine sparkling wine. This means the wines go through a long process requiring two fermentations and ageing to ensure the wine not only bubbles, but is also crystal clear. Developed in Champagne, France, in the 18th Century, this method is known as Methode Cap Classique or MCC in South Africa. Alternatives to MCC or Champagne are artificially carbonated.


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