The closure on a bottle of sparkling wine is often a clue as to what’s inside. Bottles under crown caps are often an indication the wine should be consumed now, or in the next few years at most. Conversely, traditionally minded producers almost always present their sparkling wines under mushroom cork, believing it is the best way to ensure optimum ageability for long-term cellaring.
But there’s another, less visible choice producers make behind the scenes that some believe impacts the flavor and character of the final product just as much
