What is the difference between Champagne Prosecco Cava and sparkling wine?

Answer 1

Champagne is a wine. It is a sparkling wine produced exclusively in France's Champagne region; the name is protected as is the bottle-fermentation method of producing the wine: the Méthode Champenoise.

In most circumstances sparkling wines are not allowed to be called Champagne unless they meet the criteria, though many are produced using the same method, referred to outside France as the Méthode Traditionelle.

Champagne or similar sparkling wines are always served cold, and should be served in a glass known as a flute. This is a tall, slim glass which allows the bubbles to be retained and stay crisp; the glass is held by the stem so heat from the hands on the bowl of the glass doesn't affect the chill; for this reason, the glass has a long stem.

Dry white and rosé wine is also served chilled, and should also be held by the stem of the glass, to keep the wine cool.

Dry red wine is served a little warmer than white wine and rosé; there is only a few degrees between the optimum temperatures at which wines should be served.

Sparkling wine, white wine and rosé should ideally be served at between 8-10C; red wines at between 14-18C. Sweet whites need to be cooler than dry whites, between 4-8C.

The notion of serving red wines at room temperature is fine if the room is between 14-18C, which is uncomfortably cold for most people. In warm homes and in warm climates red wine frequently needs to be chilled in the refrigerator for half an hour or so to get the best from the wine.

White and sparkling wines can be stored in the fridge, but need to be removed for sufficient time to warm up before serving.

Never attempt to put wine near a heater or in the sun to warm quickly; allow it to raise its temperature slowly out of the fridge; on the table is best, as pouring the wine will bring up the temperature and, if it's still a little too cold for your taste you can warm it by cupping your hands around the glass.

Fortified wines such as port and sherry are served in small glasses at around the same temperature as dry red, though some prefer to warm them a little in the glass.

Answer 2

They are all sparkling wines. However, by law the name "Champagne" can only be applied to wines made in the Champagne region of France.

Thus "Cava" is a term used for sparkling wines (made using the champagne method - see related link below) from Spain.

"Prosecco" is a term used for sparkling wines from Italy.