Sparkling wines are enjoyed at celebrations, special occasions or simply for a festive treat with an elegant meal. These wines offer a delicate flavor and less alcohol than normal table wines. Whether you own a trendy restaurant, a neighborhood grill, a retail store or a bar, a delicious assortment of sparkling white wine and sparkling red wine is necessary to meet your customers’ varied needs, and to ensure the financial success of your business.

From Champagne and Cava to Spumante and Crémant, the right selection of sparkling wines will boost your business’ diversity and profit margin. For any business that sells alcoholic beverages, it’s important to have a variety of sparkling wines in stock. When determining which carbonated wine varieties to include on your wine list, consider the following:

1. Champagne is a sparkling wine made in the Champagne region of France.

2. There are six levels of sweetness for sparkling wine: Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Dry, Sec, Demi and Doux.

3. Spain, Italy, France and the United States all have a great selection of sparkling wines.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Select an assortment of Champagne and French sparkling wines for your business inventory

In France there are two kinds of sparkling wine, Champagne and Crément. Champagne originates from a region in France by the same name, while Crément refers to all other types of French sparkling wines. Your customers may choose to purchase one or both types, and you may find that a particular vintage is the best seller for your business. Regardless of the producer or vintage, Champagne and Crément are both necessities for your business.

I recommend: Tip The Bottle, LLC offers a full selection of French Champagnes and sparkling wines. Their wines are available exclusively through their special retail membership program. Madinger Wines takes pride in being a merchant of fine wine, and their assortment of Champagnes and French sparkling wines is delightful. All of their wines are available for purchase by the bottle or case, and they provide private labeling and etching for businesses that like to display their own logo on their wines.

Include a wide range of sweet and dry sparkling wines in your business' wine cellar

There is a large range of sweet and dry flavors for different types of sparkling wine. The sweetest sparkling wines are labeled Doux, while Demi wines are fairly sweet, Sec wines are slightly sweet, Extra Dry wines are medium dry, Brut wines are dry, and Extra Brut or Brut Sauvage sparkling wines are totally dry. Each customer is sure to enjoy a different level of sweetness.

I recommend: Select Wines, LLC offers a selection of sparkling wines from around the globe, and they offer discounts for customers who buy sparkling wine by the case. For a wonderful assortment of champagnes and sparkling wines of varied levels of sweetness, visit The Cellar Online. Their wine list includes everything your business needs to suit the preferences of your customers and offers per case discounts on most varieties.

Boost your wine list with a collection of sparkling wines from around the world

Quality sparkling wine, in Spain it' Cava, in Italy it's Spumante, in France it's Champagne or Crément and in the United States it's simply sparkling wine. Regardless of the name, each of these wines is similar in appearance and versatility and they are ideal to have on hand to serve to your customers. Whether your clientele is looking for a foreign or domestic taste, your wine selection caters to their needs.

I recommend: Beacon Wines & Spirits offers a large variety of Champagnes and sparkling wines from around the globe. Customers who order in bulk are offered a discount when you buy twelve or more bottles of wine. Grand Wine Cellar also boasts a nice assortment of sparkling wines to meet your resale needs. Grapes Unlimited only sells to retail outlets with a liquor license and offers sparkling wines from several countries including Bulgaria, touted as the oldest wine producing region.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Train yourself and your staff on the correct way to open a bottle of sparkling wine. It is important for presentation as well as the taste of the beverage.