France
Airén and Chardonnay
11.5%
Sparkling wine is made anywhere; it’s only certain places that it has become famous. Champagne is special because of its chalk soils (along with its well-established old vineyards). Meanwhile other places in France continue to make less exalted and expensive sparkling wines, even as far south as Languedoc-Roussillon. They have younger limestone soils that add nerve to wines like this blend of 80% Airen (Spain’s ubiquitous grape) and 20% Chardonnay; it’s super clean and vibrant.
