Sparkling Wine (Traditional Method)

The second fermentation happens inside the individual bottle, and the wine ages on its spent yeast (lees) for months or years, which builds toasty, brioche-like complexity. Labor-intensive and generally the most expensive style.

Profile

Toasty, brioche-like complexity from lees aging.

Notable Examples

Champagne, Cava, most fine sparkling wine.

Sweetness labeling for sparkling wine runs, driest to sweetest: Brut Nature/Zero Dosage, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Dry (confusingly, slightly sweeter than Brut), Dry/Sec, Demi-Sec, Doux.