Bubbly Beverages

Ah, the Joy of sparkling wines, prosecco and Champagne!

By Magi Thomley Williams • Photos by Kate Treick Photography

Charles “Pepper” Dowdy has been the manager and buyer for Aragon Wine Market since 2017. After over 20 years in the hospitality and fine-dining scene, he has focused on the wine business exclusively for the past eight years and has earned the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines certificate. He enjoys being Aragon Wine Market’s wine concierge for many loyal customers and friends while making exploring new wines fun and exciting rather than elitist or intimidating. Dowdy generously shared his expertise, humor and tasting notes with Bella.

Aragon Wine Market

Aragon Wine Market was one of Pensacola’s first boutique wine shops, opened in 2008 by Charlotte Gordon. For almost 15 years, Gordon has been the sole proprietor and owner. Her motto and the focus of the shop is “unique and affordable.” Aragon Wine Market features producers and brands in all price ranges that are typically found on fine-dining menus or in direct shipments from the wineries. The local wine shopper’s source for recommendations and advice, the wine market offers exceptional customer service, competitive prices and great loyalty rewards. The Cru of Aragon Wine Club is one of the hottest tickets in town for securing member perks and incredible wines at a fraction of the cost elsewhere.

Weekly wine tastings are open to the public on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Guests can sip a glass of wine while shopping or share a bottle of wine in the beautiful courtyard any time they are open. They also offer great rental venue bridal showers, birthday parties, or any small gatherings.

Look for updates on wine events and other news at aragonwinemarket.com

Seriously Sophisticated

Champagne Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs

Brut Grand Cru 2013 Vintage

This vintage Champagne is the true expression of one of the best chardonnay growing vineyards in the world, Le Mesnil sur Oger, in which 100 percent of the area is rated “Grand Cru” for the chardonnay grape. The entire 100 percent of this bottling is made from chardonnay, expressing beautiful tree fruits and impressive integration of flavor nuance and balanced acidity. The Blanc de Blanc style is a favorite, a brighter, more citrusy expression than a traditional blend, but can sometimes lack the impression of depth, which the extra aging of this vintage bottle brings back to the table.

Did you know?

Champagne gains wonderful secondary aromas and flavors with proper aging, including those of honey, hazelnut and biscuit, and also acquires a toastiness and creaminess with maturity.

Light and Nimble

La Tordera Serrai Valdobbiadene D.O.C.G. Extra Dry Prosecco Superiore - Veneto, Italy

Not your typical grocery-brand prosecco! Delicate notes of bartlett pear with fine, persistent bubbles and medium acidity with a slightly off-dry profile. This extra dry is 11.5 percent alcohol, and although not a brut, it drinks slightly less sweet than most brut Proseccos making it very versatile for pairing with food and occasions. This selection is made from hand-harvested, family-farmed grapes for over 100 years spanning four generations. La Tordera focuses on what they call Natural Balance –sustainable agriculture from an environmental, economic and social point of view. They are Casa-Clima certified and incorporate a closed circuit from the vineyard to the bottle resulting in reduced content of sulfides, low CO2 production and climate benefits of solar energy use.

Did you know?

A bottle of extra dry is not as dry as a brut. If you like truly dry bubbles, always stick to the bottle labeled brut, extra brut, zero brut or brut nature. As confusing as this sounds, dry and extra dry are typically not actually dry. This La Tordera may be the exception!

Classic and Classy

Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve NV - Reims, Champagne, France

This is an exceptional example of the benchmark expression of Champagne; this reserve bottling contains all three of the allowed varietals: 40 percent pinot noir, 40 percent chardonnay and 20 percent pinot meunier. For under $70, it doesn’t get much better than this – precise balance with a nose of pistachio, brioche and almond, unctuous fleshy fruit and a touch of vanilla on the palate with a persistent finish and super fine bubbles. While the Piper Heidsieck style tends to be fresh and lively, the Charles Heidsieck style is definitively richer as a result of their intense blending methods.

Did you know?

A well-made standard 750ml bottle of Champagne can release up to five million tiny bubbles of effervescence, with about three times the carbonation of a typical beer and is under about three times the pressure of a standard car tire. Champagne bottle-related deaths outpace those related to poisonous spider bites – so be careful at your next wedding!

Modern and Trendy

Perelada ‘Stars’ Touch of Rosé Brut Cava 2018 - Catalonia, Spain

A beautiful bottling that doesn’t break the bank. Goes perfectly with your best cocktail attire and entertaining friends on long summer nights. This Rosé Brut is 11.5 percent ABV and made with 85 percent grenache (or garnacha, as the Catalonians call it), and 15 percent pinot noir. Just a hint of fresh berries on the nose and finish created from only 2018 vintage fruit.

Did you know?

Ever notice how it can be difficult to find affordable bubbles that aren’t too sweet? Cava may be your answer. The residual sugar in inexpensive bubbles can be used to cover up the otherwise unappealing flaws of cheap production. Cava is made following strict guidelines similar to Champagne – much stricter than most Prosecco standards. Although Cava is most often made with different grapes than Champagne, if the enjoyment of the bubble’s texture and persistence is most important to you, try Cava for an affordable value.

Fun and Eclectic

Sula Crémant de Nashik Brut Tropicale

Sparkling Wine - Nashik Valley, India

Yep, you read that correctly. This wildly colorful bottle from India, with the word “Tropicale” on it, belies the fact that this is still a fairly dry and straight-forward approach to bubbles. It is 70 percent chenin blanc and 30 percent riesling and syrah, which is reminiscent of a nice Loire Valley French Crémant in expression. It offers a colorful addition to salads and fish dishes, and really sparkles with mussels and clams.

Did you know?

Nashik Valley, India, is now the home to more than 52 wineries, and is designated the Wine Capital of India. The region successfully hosts almost all the most popular and common varietals of grapes.