Crisp, elegant and mysterious, Blanc de Blancs is the bright, mineral-driven star of Champagne. But what is it, where does it come from, and which ones should you try?
There's nothing better than the popping sound of a champagne cork. In fact, it's one of Christina's favorite sounds of all time. It symbolizes good times, celebrations and delicious sparkling wine that bubbles on the tongue and tickles the nose.
But when it comes to choosing a bottle of sparkling wine, which one do you choose?
Typically, it will be a dry wine. This means it is made from a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes and is the most common style.
You can also find other styles that offer different flavor profiles and are well worth exploring.
What is Blanc de Blancs?
You've probably seen “Blanc de Blancs” on labels and wine lists, but what does it mean?
Blanc de Blancs literally means “white of whites” (which may be a bit problematic), and it describes the grapes from which this wine is made.
As we mentioned, sparkling wine typically contains three grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and the hard-to-pronounce Pinot Meunier. The last two are red and black grapes, but when winemakers press the fruit, they don't allow any skin to come into contact with the juice, which is clear—or at least not red.
For Blanc de Blancs, the only variety in the wine is the white Chardonnay grape.
How is Blanc de Blancs different from regular sparkling wine?
Since Blanc de Blancs is 100% Chardonnay, it generally has a cleaner, more mineral flavor than Brut. The two pinots in the Brut are used to “soften” and add sweetness to the Chardonnay, as well as balance other flavors and give it more body.
Blanc de Blancs is usually more difficult to make because there is only one grape variety. Winemakers rely on all the flavors of one fruit. As a result, Blanc de Blancs wines tend to be more expensive than “regular” sparkling wines. But not necessarily.
Interestingly, Prosecco—the generally less expensive sparkling wine from Italy—is technically a blanc de blanc because it is made entirely from the white Glera grape.
The difference is that the second fermentation (the source of the bubbles) takes place in the steel tank of Prosecco, whereas in the traditional method this stage takes place in the bottle and tends to produce softer, smaller bubbles.
But there are many other single-varietal sparkling white wines that are not made from Chardonnay grapes. For example, delicious Crisp sparkling wine Dream Birds Winery from Margaret River, Washington, uses only Chenin Blanc grapes, which technically also makes it a Blanc de Blancs.
you can Read more about this wine here.
Where can I find Blanc de Blancs?
Almost anywhere Chardonnay is grown, you're likely to find Blanc de Blancs. In the Champagne region of France, the wine is still called Champagne, although it will be labeled “Blanc de Blancs” rather than “Brut.”
In the rest of the world it's just “Blanc de Blancs”, although we did find BdB at a small winery on the NSW south coast. Wombat crossing They modestly named their wine “Sparkling Chardonnay.”
Three Blanc de Blancs, three Australian states
Australia is a great source of Chardonnay and the quality of its Blanc de Blancs reflects this.
These three Blanc de Blancs – from three different states – are great examples of Australian Blanc de Blancs varieties.
Lane Vineyards Lois Blanc de Blancs NV $25.00
It turns out you don't have to spend a fortune to try a Blanc de Blancs, and the Lois from The Lane Vineyards in South Australia's Adelaide Hills has all the crisp apple and soft citrus notes you'd expect from this style.
Wine label wine Biosis Blanc de Blancs 2023 $65.00
Winmark Wines is located in the Brock-Fortwich region of the Hunter Valley in New South Wales.
Hunter is famous for its exceptional Chardonnay and Brock-Fortwich. Winmark has taken this reputation to the top and only grows and makes Chardonnay wines, so it stands to reason that it makes Blanc de Blancs.
This is the first version of Winmark Blanc de Blancs, but it has all the hallmarks of a classic. The taste is also dominated by white flowers and citrus aromas, along with notes of white peach and nectarine, and underlying notes of nuts and honey.
This sparkling wine is clean and refreshing, with very balanced acidity.
For more information about Winmark Wines and our stay in their adorable “little house”, click here.
Marnong Estate Reserve Blanc de Blancs 2022 $80.00
Marnong Estate is located in the heart of one of Victoria's oldest wine regions, just half an hour's drive from the obscure winemaking region of Sunbury, with stunning views of the Macedon Ranges.
Marnong aims to make the best possible Blanc de Blancs, making this elegant sparkling wine only in special vintages, hand-picking the finest fruit and pressing the whole bunch, extracting only the free-run portion. This keen, rigorous practice has produced remarkable results.
This Blanc de Blancs wine has intense aromas of ripe citrus and green apple, reflected on the nose on the palate, with complex toasty and brioche notes due to the long lees.
The medium body and fine beads make it a sparkling wine for special occasions.
So next time you're looking for a good sparkling wine, whether you're heading to a party or just want some bubbly to watch the sunset, keep an eye out for Blanc de Blancs.
