What is Sweet Champagne?
Sweet Champagne has a high amount of residual sugar (32 to 50+ grams per liter.) Demi-sec and Doux Champagnes come under this category.
Best Sweet Champagne In South Africa
Veuve Clicquot Demi-Sec
Crafted from a blend of at least 50 individual wines, (40-45% pinot noir, 30-35% pinot meunier, 20-25% chardonnay) this sweet sparkler offers complexity.
While dessert pairings are natural, don’t overlook the allure of a salty-sweet match-up; it will balance out the intensity of a funky Stilton for a picture-perfect cheese course.
Graham Beck Bliss Demi Sec
There’s a toastiness to this South African demi-sec that makes it an ideal match to rich autumnal flavors like pecan pie.
Moët & Chandon Nectar Impérial Rosé
Fruit flavors 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.
Billecart-Salmon Demi-Sec Champagne
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.
Pommery Blue Sky Demi Sec Champagne
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.
Piper-Heidsieck Cuvee Sublime Demi-Sec
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.
Laurent-Perrier Harmony Demi-Sec
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.
Veuve Clicquot Rich Blanc
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.”
What is the South African version of Champagne?
Méthode Cap Classique
Only sparkling wine made in the region of Champagne in France can be called champagne. In South Africa, wine made using the same method is termed Méthode Cap Classique – made in the Cape classical method.
Does South Africa have Champagne?
South Africa produces some incredible sparkling wines and Methode Cap Classiques (MCC) – and while we can’t call them ‘champagne’ by definition, South African MCCs and sparkling wines are just as wonderful and are perfect for celebrations, and toasting to important events and milestones along life’s journey.