Article: Pop the cork off of American bubbly; Crafting an exceptional bottle of sparkling wine takes lots of time and effort

When it comes to real Champagne, it's easy to figure out which ones were made by the little guys -- if you have good eyesight.

There's a tiny code on the label that begins with RM, which means it's a grower's own wine. When it comes to American sparkling wines, however, even perfect vision doesn't help because there's rarely a hint on the label. This is a shame because committed vintners are making small batches of handcrafted, highly personal and often excellent bubbly.

Now is a good time to explore these hidden gems because American sparklers are perfect for the holidays.

When we were young, that usually meant Korbel from California or perhaps Great Western from New York. We grew up ...

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