If you’re the kind of traveler who believes every destination (in fact, every good moment in life!) becomes even better with a glass of something effervescent (excellent life choice), this guide is for you. Sparkling wine isn’t just a drink; it’s a cultural passport. The wine of celebration and occasion is produced in vineyards around the world, and depending on where you land, the name for those bubbles changes just enough to make you want to fit in like a local when you order it.
Here’s how to ask for your favorite bottle of bubbles around the world.
France: The Capital of the Popping Cork
In France, sparkling wine is woven into everyday life as the wine to drink as an aperitif before a meal, the little glass you have when you get together with friends, and of course, the beverage of celebration.
Don’t limit yourself to ordering Champagne, the sparkling wine produced exclusively in the region of Champagne. Peruse the wine list for sparkling wines made in other regions of France, which are called Crémant.
Feeling extra French? Lean in and request “des bulles” (literally “some bubbles”). Well, aren’t you charming?
Italy: Where Bubbles Are a Lifestyle
Although France lays claim to the mother of all sparkling wines in Champagne, Italy, too, lives for sparkling wine. Veneto’s Prosecco is the country’s proud ambassador of sparkling wine and moods. For something more refined, look for Franciacorta or Trentodoc.
But the Italian word you’ll hear everywhere? “Bollicine”, their delightful nickname for “little bubbles.”
United Kingdom: The Crown Jewels of Fizz
Believe it or not, England produces sparkling wine – some of the best in the world! In 2025, as the BBC reported in such a British way, “an English fizz became the first non-Champagne to be named the world's top sparkling wine.”
English sparkling wine is having a fabulous moment. So spread your wings a little in the UK and try the local bubbles instead of Champagne or prosecco. Take your cue from that BBC article and ask for a glass of “fizz.”
Spain: Fiesta in a Glass
Head to Barcelona or San Sebastián and order Cava, Spain’s crisp traditional-method bubbly. In Penedès, you may spot Corpinnat, a premium label worth splurging on. And if a server asks if you’d like “vino de aguja,” it means lightly fizzy, perfect for an afternoon by the sea.
Portugal: Where the Bubbles Are as Warm as the Welcome
Ask for Espumante, especially in Bairrada. Locals may casually call it “vinho com bolhinhas” (wine with little bubbles). It’s as charming as it sounds, especially when paired with a sunset over the Atlantic.
Australia: The Land of the “Bubbly”
In one of the New World wine capitals, the go-to phrase is “bubbly.” It’s cheerful, informal, and perfectly suited to a country that also invented Sparkling Shiraz, perhaps the most festive red on earth. If you hear Aussies asking for “bubbly,” “sparkling” or “fizz,” you know good times are ahead.
New Zealand: Laid-Back Luxury
Next-door New Zealand produces top-tier traditional-method sparklings (often labeled Méthode Marlborough), but everyday chatter sticks to “bubbles” or “fizz.” Best enjoyed after a hike, a beach day, or… honestly, anything.
South Africa: Cape Town’s Favorite Celebration
South Africa’s premium traditional-method wine is Méthode Cap Classique, or MCC. But among friends you’ll hear: “Shall we open some bubbly?” The answer is always yes, especially in Franschhoek’s sun-soaked tasting rooms.
Brazil & Argentina: South American Sparkle
In Brazil, locals order Espumante, sometimes shortened to “espuma.”
In Argentina, the common term is Espumoso or simply Espumante, perfect with empanadas or a rooftop sunset in Buenos Aires.
Final Sip
From “bollicine” in Italy to “bubbly” in Australia, every destination has its own sparkling personality, and learning the local lingo is half the fun.
Wherever your travels take you, we hope you celebrate the world of bubbles and find the opportunity to toast every country’s version.
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Images: Getty
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