I know that some folks must consider sparkling wines to possibly not really be wine at all, hence the amusing question: “Would you like a glass of wine my dear? Or how about champagne?”

As sparklers trap and store the natural carbon dioxide bubbles from fermentation they are almost more inclusive than still wines – in my mind at least.

Worldwide, about one bottle out of every 12 produced falls into this sparkling wine category. And they are gaining in popularity, with sales valued at $33.9 billion in 2019 and expected to reach $51.7 billion by 2027.

I have said this before so pardon me if, once again, I offer a cure for anyone that says they do not like sparkling wine or do not like pinot noir or do not like rosé or do not like Australian wine: one taste of 2020 Bird In Hand Adelaide Hills Sparkling Rosé will instantly erase all four negatives.

I have yet to meet anyone who does not enjoy it immensely. It used to be 100 per cent pinot noir but now the two brothers that own the winery, on the site of an old goldmine, blend 64 per cent pinot noir, 15 per cent chardonnay, 15 per cent shiraz, 3 per cent merlot and 3 per cent pinot gris to get a wild strawberry scented pink wine. The Daily Mail calls it “fabulous Aussi fun”; The Guardian prints: “A wine with finely sculpted bubbles and a clean, crisp style.” $26.15 (Stock #6088).

While so far from home we can make a quick stop in McLaren Vale and try 2017 Mollydooker Miss Molly Sparkling Shiraz – old rock and rollers like myself will be thinking of Little Richard singing Good Golly Miss Molly!

Vivacious and full of class, Miss Molly is brimming with vivid maraschino cherry and plum jam that progresses into layers of milk chocolate and mocha. Toffee and cinnamon notes intermix throughout the flavour spectrum as the bubbles add an undeniable vibrancy to the mouth feel. This wine is a lively celebration of McLaren Vale shiraz, fitting for any occasion.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate rates it 90/100 and comments: “Dense and chocolatey, with blueberry overtones, the 2017 Miss Molly Sparkling Shiraz stays true to the house style of Mollydooker, delivering plenty of ripe fruit, a smooth, supple texture and a lasting finish. Just know what to expect going in – this is not a light, refreshing quaffer but an intense, flavourful red wine that happens to have some bubbles.” $38 (Stock #6078).

Some years ago, one of the large champagne houses noticed that their customers were serving their wine over a glass of ice and so they developed a new bubbly specifically for this market. Veuve du Vernay Ice Rosé is a French sparkling blend of syrah, cinsault and grenache grapes that is dazzling pink with fine streams of glittering bubbles. It should be served in a glass with ice as well. Crafted with late-harvest grapes, this ice wine boasts sun-ripened sugars and sophisticated sweetness. Its scrumptious strawberry and raspberry notes blend beautifully into fun, fizzy cocktails. Pop a cork and serve this sparkler alongside fruit-studded stiltons, vanilla ice cream or strawberry shortcakes. If you prefer a little sweetness this one is for you. $19.40 (Stock #7301).

In 2009, Jeany and Stephen Cronk left London for northern Provence and began making wine at Mirabeau. La Foile is made with the same method as prosecco and the Provençal influence dials up the delicate flavour.

It boasts abundant hints of red berry fruits, fresh grapefruit, raspberry and pineapple through its delicate spritz. The grapes used for this sparkling rosé are syrah, colombard and grenache. If you are not among the many millions that have seen Stephen’s YouTube video on removing a cork with his shoe, you really should. It certainly helped launch his family winery. Mirabeau La Folie Sparkling Rosé sells for $24.75 (Stock #8249).

Santa Margherita “invented” modern pinot grigio when they removed the grape must from the fairly dark skins and created a white wine, and of course they are well known for their prosecco. Santa Margherita Sparkling Rosé is a pale pink wine that brings us a full bouquet of pleasing floral aromas with hints of red berries. It is artfully crafted with a blend of glera and chardonnay grapes with malbec as the red varietal that lends its perfect light pink colour.

Its flavour is delicate, but vibrant and well-rounded. Santa Margherita Sparkling Rosé is an approachable wine that lingers on the palate; good for any occasion as an accompaniment to brunch, desserts, antipasti, seafood or intensely flavoured Asian cuisines. A bottle can be yours for $23.70 and our stock number is 8887.

I will wrap this up with Vitteaut-Alberti Blanc de Blancs Crement from France. Located in Rully, south of Beaune, this family estate dedicates its entire vineyard production to crémant.

Marrying chardonnay and aligoté from Côte Chalonnaise and Côte de Beaune, this blanc de blancs owes all its aromas to a 16 to 18 month élevage (raising) period in bottle. Ampleness and vinosity make up the mouth where flavours of toasted almonds, brioche, lemon and ripe apple persist.

Crement is the sparkling wine of Burgundy, and it is made in the same way as champagne and usually from the same grape varieties – pinot noir and chardonnay. Blanc de blancs signifies that only white wine grapes are used for this wine. $27.50 (Stock #7846).

This column is an advertorial for Burrows Lightbourn Ltd. Contact Michael Robinson at mrobinson@bll.bm. Burrows Lightbourn have stores in Hamilton (Front Street East, 295-1554) and Paget (Harbour Road, 236-0355). Visit www.wineonline.bm