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Expert’s choice: South American sparkling

Exciting new developments and significant investment across the continent have led to a surge in the number of sparkling wines coming out of South America, with a wide variety of styles to be explored.

In recent years, the Champenois have spread wings around the world – from Napa, California to Ningxia, China. But the first major investment of a Champagne house abroad was in Argentina. Moët & Chandon’s first outpost beyond France was Chandon Argentina in Mendoza, in the late 1950s (see ‘French influence in Argentina’).


Scroll down for a selection of 18 South American sparkling wines to try


It was a bold statement. But one that paid off. Chandon, although now joined by subsidiaries in Brazil, California, Australia, China and India, remains the most profitable and largest of LVMH’s sparkling wine houses outside Champagne. Not only did Argentina prove to be great for producing sparkling wine, but for drinking it, too.


Tasting notes and scores for 18 top South American sparkling wines


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