Spumante

What is Spumante?

Spumante is the Italian term for sparkling wine. It develops its finely pearled structure when it reaches a carbonation pressure of at least 3 bar at 20 degrees Celsius. This often occurs during a secondary fermentation in the bottle. In this case, a mixture of yeast and sugar is added to the completely fermented base wine in the bottle and allowed to ferment further. Spumante made with this method is called method classico. It can be compared to the production of Champagne, Crémant, Cava or German quality sparkling wine such as Winzersekt. It is also commonly known as method Martinotti when the alcoholic fermentation is halted by removing the yeast from the base wine: The unfinished wine is transferred into a stainless steel pressure tank and then dosed with a sugar-yeast mixture, the dosage. The following fermentation takes place at low temperatures over a period of several months. This produces a very fine perlage structure and aids in the development of spice aromas in particular. This is the preferred method, especially in the Piedmont and when using the Muscat Blanc á Petits Grains grape variety.

What is Prosecco Spumante?

Prosecco is a protected designation of origin. It includes a few North Italian regions in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. This is where Prosecco Spumante originated. This type of sparkling wine must also fulfil all of the other regulations stipulated by the respective appellation region (DOC, DOCG or DOP). Among these is the use of at least 85 % Glera grapes. That means that a Spumante, even if it comes from a Prosecco region, cannot call itself Spumante Prosecco if it has been made with another grape variety.

What is the difference between Frizzante and Spumante?

Just as Spumante is a designation for sparkling wine, Frizzante is the Italian term for semi-sparkling wine. That means that the carbonation pressure is lower, usually between one and 2.5 bar. One ancillary effect – which has nothing to do with flavour – is that Frizzante is not taxed, which generally makes it less expensive than Spumante sparkling wine. A very low-pressure Frizzante can exhibit characteristics similar to a lightly pearled wine, while one with a higher pressure can be a sort of 'Spumante-Frizzante', which comes close to the characteristics of a Sekt sparkling wine.

Spumante: From Brut to Sweet

The sweetness of Spumante is classified according to its residual sugar. Naturally dry and extra dry (brut nature and extra brut), however, are rare. Spumante is most often processed to brut or dry. In order to achieve this, a dosage of sweet wine is added after the fermentation process is finished. This raises the sugar content to over 6 but no higher than 12 grams of residual sugar per litre. Extra dry Spumante is also fairly common and contains between 12 and 17 grams of residual sugar. Spumante is classed as dry or secco at up to 32 grams and as medium-dry up to 50 grams of residual sugar. Some Spumante specialities, e.g. made from Muscat Blanc de Petits Grains, contain even more residual sugar and are thus sweet.

How long does Spumante keep?

If a good Spumante sparkling wine is stored upright in a cool and dark place, it can keep for two to three years. It is, however, better to enjoy it fresh in a Champagne flute at a temperature of 6 to 8° C. An opened bottle can be stored in the refrigerator, sealed with a Champagne cap, and enjoyed the next day. It really shouldn't be kept any longer than that as it loses its carbonation very quickly and then tastes flat.

Buying Spumante Online from Vinello

Your Vinello wine shop offers you the entire world of Italian sparkling wines. You can buy Prosecco Spumante, Spumante from the Piedmont or even rosé Spumante. You can even choose between sizes such as the piccolo, a 0.75 liter imperial or the magnum bottle. Thanks to our cork guarantee and 28-day money back guarantee, you can sit back and relax with the knowledge that you have made a safe and secure online purchase. We also offer you 15 different payment methods, and the opportunity to purchase on invoice – right from your first order.