So What Exactly Is Pink Fizz then?

Pink fizz seems to be everywhere at the moment and has become something of a buzz word amongst both amateur and more experienced wine enthusiasts. It seems like you only have to turn a few pages of the latest lifestyle or fashion magazine and you’ll find a picture of a glass of something pink and sparkling held in the beautiful hand of a glamorous lady with a large hat or a smiling gent in his short sleeved summer shirt. It seems to be the very image of our impending summer and what an optimistic lot we are! There’s no harm in wishful thinking after all.

Pink fizz is fast becoming the all-encompassing term used to describe any pink sparkling wine. As you might imagine, though, there are many different varieties of pink fizz being produced by wine makers all around the world. Let’s take a more detailed look at some of the more popular choices:

Grand Rosé Spumante – Our very own pink fizz is proving to be immensely popular with our sales rocketing and the complimentary customer feedback pouring in. This delightfully refreshing Italian sparkling rosé is made using the Charmat method which involves allowing the grapes to ferment in large stainless steel tanks which are sealed to trap the naturally occurring carbon dioxide bubbles encouraged by adding sugars and yeasts to the fermenting grapes. Our highly skilled team of wine makers have perfected the process for producing our particular pink fizz using a blend of grapes including Pinot Noir and Chardonnay amongst other red and white grape varietals. The result is a wonderfully fruity sparkling wine with flavours of fresh raspberries and red cherries. However, the recipe and exact production details are a secret as is the case with most producers of very popular rosé sparkling wines.

Pink Champagne – If you’re feeling flush and you really fancy pushing the boat out, you could try a bottle of pink champagne. Just like white champagne, this is made using the traditional method, méthode champenoise, whereby secondary fermentation occurs in the bottle. The pink hue and flavour/aroma qualities are given to the champagne through either a process of maceration whereby the black grape skins are allowed to come into contact with the wine for a few hours before the fermentation process or through blending which involves mixing 5 to 20 percent of red champagne wine with white champagne wine. The macerated pink champagne generally has a richer taste and aroma. Pink champagne is usually made using a blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grapes, the three classic champagne grape varietals.

Pink champagne tends to be more fruity in terms of taste and aroma, than white champagne but different varieties have different amounts of sugar and therefore, wildly varying levels of sweetness. The label should, by law, tell you how sweet or dry the pink champagne is and you can then choose depending upon your preference.

You may find a bottle of pink fizz in your local supermarket or off licence with the word “crémant” in its title. This denotes that it has been made using the méthode champenoise but by a wine maker that falls outside of the official champagne region of France. Technically, it is champagne, the manufacturer just can’t refer to it as champagne by order of the French wine authorities. Consequently, the prices will be slightly lower than official champagne and you can find some great wine deals on some amazing products, armed with this little slice of knowledge.

Cava Brut Rosé – This Spanish pink fizz is always a very popular choice as an aperitif or accompaniment for light pasta or fish dishes. Cava is made using the Charmat method and can involve just one specific grape variety or a blend of different grapes, usually Garnacha, Monastrel or Pinot Noir. Cava tends to be a more dry, crisp sparkling wine and is adored by many for these qualities.

Rosé Sekt – Produced in Germany, very popular there and, indeed, elsewhere in Europe. Sekt is made using a wide variety of different grapes such as Riesling and Elbling to produce a crisp, more acidic wine or Silvaner and Kerner grapes for a more subtle, aromatic wine. It is made using the traditional champagne production method whereby the wine undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle as described previously.

Pink Fizz Popularity

As more and more manufacturers are producing their own variations of pink fizz, prices are lowering as the marketplace becomes more competitive. You can find some great sparkling rosé wine deals without having to look too hard. Take a look at Premier Estates Grand Rosé for a real sparkling treat. Order quickly so that you don’t miss out, sales have been growing steadily as we head into summer.