Not Quite Sparkling Wine

A short, funny anecdote for all you Drink The Good Stuff readers. Vino Girl was in Bermuda this past weekend (before you act all jealous it was windy and rainy and never reached 70 degrees, ok?!) and spent some time at the Veranda Bar at Elbow Beach. The resort was beautiful even through the clouds but I am not sure how savvy the bartenders are beyond the fancy rum drinks Bermuda is known for. Order a Dark & Stormy -- no problem. Feel like a Rum Swizzle -- right away! But get a sudden hankering for a glass of vino and you might run in to some trouble.

The Chardonnay they had as the "white by the glass" was pretty horrible so one evening before dinner I asked if they had any sparkling wine. The bartender looked at me with a perplexed expression before he explained to me that, no, they did not have any sparkling wine. They did, however, have Champagne which, although not sparkling, was similar. It took everything in my power to steady myself on my barstool and stifle the big laugh that was ready to burst out of my mouth. I composed myself and answered that a glass of Champagne would be just fine.

Now I am not a big enough wine snob to think that everyone should know that Champagne is sparkling wine but sparkling wine is not necessarily Champagne and all the nuances in between but, come on, a bartender?!? Anyway, although it was not quite sparkling, the Perrier Jouet was quite nice. ;) Cheers!