Sparkling red wine: everything you need to know

Sparkling red wines are less well known, but they are becoming popular among savvy drinkers who want something a bit more feisty from their glass. Many regions that make sparkling white wine will make bubbly red as well, though generally in far smaller quantities, which is why they’re a bit harder to find.

Most of us are familiar with lambrusco, although for many it means something cheap and sweet. Proper lambrusco is something else altogether – made in northern Italy, it’s dark and savoury but weighs in at a relatively modest 11% ABV.

The Australians are very fond of fizzy shiraz (aka syrah), turning that beefy, peppery grape into bold and burly sparkling wines that often ripple with underlying sweetness but, when well balanced, can be sublime. They’re a versatile multitasker, suiting rich and meaty dishes as well as being surprisingly good with chocolate.

Spread your sparkling wine wings and choose red instead of white. It makes a gratifying choice in winter, refreshing (it’s best served chilled) yet also warming, and it’s pretty sexy stuff so is great for Valentine’s Day if you want to treat your sweetheart/you to sparkles with a difference.

If you're looking for champagne alternatives, check out our guide to the best sparkling wines for special occasions here...

@KateHawkings

The best sparkling red wine for a special occasion:

Rockford Sparkling Black Shiraz (£75, dulwichvintners.co.uk)

As costly as a great champagne, this is as good as it gets and is one to splash out on for a special occasion. Complex and elegant, I’d choose to drink it without food to enjoy it in all its finery.

The best sparkling red wine for an aperitif:

Contero Brachetto D’Acqui 2016 (£15.28, thedrinkshop.com)

Brachetto is a red grape from Piedmont and here makes a delightful wine, slightly sweet with a strawberries-and-cream prettiness and only 5.5% ABV. It makes a lovely aperitif and would also be fab with our chocolate and passion fruit layer cake.

The best budget-friendly sparkling red wines:

1. Quinta da Raza Vinhão Vinho Verde 2015 (£12.95, drinkmonger.com)

Vinho Verde is Portugal’s largest wine region as well as the name of its gently sparkling wines. Most of its wines are white but it also makes gorgeous fresh reds such as this one – try it with this chorizo and butter bean stew.

2. Bleasdale Langhorne Creek Sparkling Shiraz (£12.95, thewinesociety.com)

A brilliant-value wine full of ripe blackberries, savoury vanilla and lip smacking spice. Ace with our steak burgers with peppercorn sauce dip, as well as our nutty caramel tart.

The best supermarket sparkling red wine: Lambrusco Secco Reggiano (£9, marksandspencer.com)

Fall in love with lambrusco with this cracking example, fruity but dry and crunchy, and crying out for hearty Italian food such as our spaghetti and meatballs.