The Best Sweet Champagne and Sparkling Wine
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The Best Sweet Champagne and Sparkling Wine
Nowadays, when we think of a bottle of bubbly, the flavor that pops to mind is a brut style (it accounts for more than 76% of champagne exports according to the Champagne Bureau.) Drier, with a strong acid profile, brut champagne was popularized in the 19th century to appeal to the English market, where tart cider was already a common drink. But for much of champagne's history, the sparkling stuff was designed to be sweeter—in fact, when it became a drink lauded by royalty, the drink had far more in common with the modern demi-sec.
Designated by the amount of "dosage" or added sugar supplemented into the wine during the fermentation process, demi-sec, and the even sweeter doux, are an ideal pairing for a dessert plate, or to counterbalance the richness and salt of charcuterie and cheese. Whether you're looking to expand your pairing palate or just prefer a sweeter sip, here are some of the best sweet champagnes and sparkling wines to add to your collection.
Hearst Owned - 2/14
Veuve Clicquot Demi-Sec
Veuve Clicquot
reservebar.com
$70.00
While dessert pairings are a natural for a demi-sec champagne, don't overlook the allure of a salty-sweet match up. Ripe fruit and praline note will balance out the intensity of a funky Stilton for a picture perfect cheese course.
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Graham Beck Bliss Demi Sec
wine.com
$20.99
There's a toastiness to this South African demi-sec that makes it an ideal match to rich autumnal flavors like pecan pie.
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Schramsberg Cremant Demi-Sec
wine.com
$39.99
This moderately sweet Californian sparkler uses 88% flora grapes, a crossbreed of sweet wine staples gewürztraminer and semillon varieties. The blend gives the wine a good balance, bringing out notes of white fruits and caramelized sugar.
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Moët & Chandon Nectar Impérial Rosé
Moet
reservebar.com
$72.00
Flavors of juicy red berries and stone fruit shine in this coral-hued bottle, while supporting notes of caramel give the bubbly a richness that plays perfectly with a cheese plate or decadent foie gras.
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Billecart-Salmon Demi-Sec Champagne
billecart-salmon
thewhiskyexchange.com
£42.95
Fine, light bubbles and a floral, faintly buttery nose give this bottle of demi-sec champagne a nuance and character that was practically made to pair with your favorite patisserie treat.
thewhiskyexchange.com - 7/14
Pommery Blue Sky Demi Sec Champagne
drizly.com
$53.99
Designed to be enjoyed on the rocks, this "ice champagne" is perfect for spritzes and light bubbly cocktails—the extra sweetness helps it stand up to other flavors so it won't get watered down like a brut cuvee might.
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Piper-Heidsieck Cuvee Sublime Demi-Sec
wine.com
$59.99
Pair the marmalade and roasted pineapple notes in this demi-sec bottle as a refreshing accompaniment to decadent baked goods or creamy desserts like creme brûlée.
wine.com - 9/14
Saracco Moscato d'Asti 2018
wine.com
$13.99
Frizzante (the Italian distinction that separates subtly sparkling wines from more intensely bubbling versions like franciacorta) moscato d'asti hails from the Piedmont region of Italy. This bottle offers flavors of summer fruit and white flowers that fit perfectly at a garden party or as a pre-dinner refresher.
wine.com - 10/14
Laurent-Perrier Harmony Demi-Sec
wine.com
$44.99
This rich, honey-colored demi-sec uses a high percentage of chardonnay grapes to bring out rounded notes of dried fruit and hint of toasted nuts.
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Veuve Clicquot Rich Blanc
Veuve Clicquot
reservebar.com
$65.00
Designated as a doux champagne (the sweetest classification) this gleaming bottle from the classic champagne house is designed to be sipped from a large-bowled wine glass over ice, a style the French call à la piscine, or “swimming pool style.”
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Louis Roederer Carte Blanche
louis roederer
thewhiskyexchange.com
From the house that created Cristal, this energetic demi-sec has a creamy quality that blends notes of lush, fragrant fruit with honey and toasted almonds.
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Moët & Chandon Ice Impérial
Moet
reservebar.com
$59.00
The brand that made "ice champagne" famous, Moët & Chandon's entry has a rich body and fruit forward profile that all but demands to be sipped on a balcony overlooking the ocean.
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Armand de Brignac Demi Sec
Armand de Brignac
reservebar.com
$350.00
This luxurious demi-sec was designed to pair well with a hint of spice, making a natural pairing for Moroccan dishes and even light curries.
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