“I Can’t Believe It’s Not Champagne!”

Welcome to “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Champagne!”—a sparkling wine seminar devoted to the world’s most charming impostors and glorious alternatives. These are the bottles that flirt, fizz, and seduce without insisting on a French accent or a luxury price tag. Call it foreplay for your palate.

Because here’s the truth: almost any wine can sparkle if you encourage it properly. In the 19th century, people were bubbling up everything from Clos de Vougeot to Sauternes (because why not?). Today, the magic still happens three ways:
• a second fermentation in bottle (the classic slow burn),
• a second fermentation in tank (fresh, flirty, crowd-pleasing),
• or straight-up carbonation (the party trick).

At this tasting, we’ll bounce joyfully across a whole constellation of styles and appellations. From the Charmat method that gives us Prosecco’s easy charm, to the Ancestral method behind pét-nat’s wild, unfiltered energy, to the Traditional method responsible for Cava, Crémant from the Loire and Alsace, and—yes—actual Champagne itself. We’ll also flirt with dosage, from razor-sharp Brut Nature to more plush, crowd-pleasing styles and beyond.

This is a tasting about bubbles with confidence issues—in the best possible way. Wines that sparkle because they want to, not because they have something to prove. Wines that say I love you, I missed you, and thank God school is almost back—all in one pop.

One thing is certain: you’ll leave this seminar utterly smitten, ready to love all wines that bubble… Champagne or otherwise. 

Wines to be tasted: TBA.