I currently use kits to make my wines. (now on second kit at home -
about a dozen formerly at brew shops).

I did make a sparkling wine at a brew shop - using a cornelius keg & CO2
cylinder.

I have just "Ebayed" a similar setup. I would like to undertake a repeat
performance.

Bearing in mind I currently use kits. I was looking for some
recomendations for possible combinations to make a passable drinking
sparkling wine - I realise I could make a Blanc de Blanc with a
Chardonnay base. I was looking for something a little more "complex"

Thanks

John,
Most any white will do depending on what you want; the Germans use
Riesling to make Sekt, it's great. I use Seyval for mine, it's a
French Hybrid but I can't imagine it being available in kits. I don't
care for forced carbonation in wine but that is just my preference.

Anyway, the things to consider a higher than normal acid, usually
around 8g/l for base wine. Lower than normal alcohol, usually 10 to 11
%. If you age it a neutral wine is fine, I sparkled generic Chenin
Blanc and the butteriness of the yeast made it very good. If you use
natural carbonation you get that complexity from the yeast exposure.

I have heard of sparkling Niagara and Welches white grape concentrate
is Niagara, that is readily available and cheap. Download Lum
Eisenman's book to read about making sparklers, it's not hard.

Joe