Is sparkling wine the same as Champagne?
No. Champagne only comes from the Champagne region in France, made a specific way. Canadian sparkling wine uses the same method and similar grapes, and most of it never sees an LCBO shelf. That's the whole point of buying direct.
What's the right way to serve it?
Cold, but not frozen. Too cold and the aromatics vanish, which is the easiest way to waste a good bottle. Skip the flute if you own anything else. A regular white wine glass gives it room to actually smell like something.
What Canadian food goes with sparkling wine?
Bubbles love salty, rich food, and poutine is the obvious Canadian answer. Smoked salmon works well too, since the acidity cuts right through the richness. For dessert, reach for a sweeter demi-sec instead, or the wine ends up tasting sour next to the sugar.
