Sparkling wine: do we need a special occasion?
White and sparkling wines have a place at the everyday table, too.
A friend arrives for dinner carrying a bottle of sparkling wine.
“What are we celebrating?”
Does that sound familiar? For many people, bubbles seem to call for something special: a birthday, a wedding or an anniversary marked on the calendar.
Dinner with friends can be reason enough to open a bottle. If the wine is for the meal, start with the food and everyone’s tastes, then choose what to pour.
Picture a relaxed dinner with friends. Someone enjoys the refreshing taste of chilled white wine; someone else likes the bubbles dancing on their tongue. The conversation is about what has been happening in their lives, and each glass holds something its owner enjoys.
Choosing a bottle need not turn into a contest between red and white.
If you like red wine, keep enjoying it. If you fancy the freshness of a white or the lightness of a sparkling wine, try that instead.
The next time a friend brings sparkling wine to dinner, perhaps there is no need to ask what you are celebrating.
“It is just right for this meal.”
Photo: Helena Lopes / Pexels · Pexels photo licence. Illustrative photograph.