LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2021

Raisin trick: Does adding one to an open bottle create bubbles? While the raisin attracts any carbon dioxide, sci- ence says it doesn’t revive flat wine. Here, the wine’s bubble-producing second fermentation takes place in large tanks before bottling. On the label: Check for terms like Cuvée Close and Metodo Italiano, plus Prosecco, Lambrusco and many other international wines. Ancestral Method The initial fermentation is stopped partway and then the wine is bottled and aged. During bottle fermenta- tion, bubbles form. On the label: Pétillant-naturel (“pet-nat”) uses this method. Check your local store and lcbo.com for occasional releases. Bubbly 101 How it’s made These methods are used all over the world to produce sparkling wines. Traditional Method A base wine is bottled with yeast and sugar, which kick-start a second fermentation, creating bubbles. Bottles are “riddled” (twisted and turned) to settle spent yeast cells in the neck. The yeast gets disgorged and then a small amount of fresh wine and sugar is added. On the label: Look for French crémant and Champagne, Spanish cava and other wines labelled Traditional or Cham- pagne Method. Charmat or Tank Method

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FOOD & DRINK HOLIDAY 2021