Clairette de Die facts for kids
Clairette de Die is a special kind of sweet, bubbly white drink made in France. It's a bit like a sparkling juice, but it comes from grapes! This unique drink is made using two main types of grapes: mostly Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains (at least 75%) and some Clairette grapes (up to 25%).
What is Clairette de Die?
Clairette de Die is known for being sweet and having lots of tiny bubbles, which is why it's called a sparkling wine. It gets its name from the town of Die in France, where it has been made for a very long time.
Where is Clairette de Die Made?
This special drink comes from the Drôme area in France. This region is part of the Rhône valley, which is famous for its beautiful landscapes and vineyards. The vineyards where the grapes grow are very high up, between 400 and 700 meters above sea level. This high altitude helps the grapes grow well and gives the drink its unique taste. People have been growing grapes and making drinks in this area since the time of Ancient Romans!
How is Clairette de Die Made?
Making Clairette de Die is a careful process that involves a special method called "bottle fermentation". Here’s how it works:
- The Muscat grapes, which ripen first, are picked and kept separate from the Clairette grapes.
- The juice from the grapes is kept very cold, around 7°C (about 45°F). This makes the fermentation process happen very slowly over time.
- Fermentation is when tiny living things called yeast turn the sugar in the grape juice into alcohol and bubbles.
- After the first slow fermentation, the juice is filtered, but some yeast is left in.
- Then, the juice is put into bottles. It must stay in these bottles for at least four more months. During this time, the yeast continues to work, creating all those lovely bubbles inside the bottle.
- Finally, the drink is filtered again to make it clear and then put into new bottles, ready to be enjoyed!
