sparkling wine
Brits are big consumers of champagne, with the UK being the largest export market for champagne. This may be set to change with english sparkling wines winning numerous awards and getting more and more publicity. Most english sparkling wines are made from chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier grapes and are planted in soil that is remarkably similar to that in the region of Champagne.
Bookers Vineyard Blanc de Blanc 2001 is made in the same method as Champagne, with the same grapes grown in amazingly similar soil but on a much smaller scale and of course, over here in the UK. Drink something produced with care rather than from a huge production line. If you need more convincing, this wine won a Silver medal in the 2006 International Wine Challenge.
Currently half price at Virgin Wines!! Get your bottle(s) now whilst it's £10.98 a bottle.
Ridgeview are long considered to be one of the top two sparkling wine makers in the UK (along with Nyetimber) and the Ridgeview Merret Bloomsbury 2004 is Ridgeview vineyards signature wine. With a crisp, elegant finish this wine can be drunk now or kept for 2 - 3 years. The Ridgeview Merret Bloomsbury is available at Waitrose and Fortnum and Mason whereas Virgin wines stock another Ridgeview classic, the Ridgeview Merret Grosvenor Blanc de Blanc 2001 for £19.99 a bottle.
www.ridgeview.co.uk
Chapel Down are the largest producer of english wines, and the Chapel Down Non-Vintage Brut is a traditional-method sparkling wine made from a blend of Rivaner, Reichensteiner and Pinot Noir grapes.
Chapel Down Brut NV Traditional Method England is available from Averys of Bristol, Independent Wine Merchant by the individual bottle or boxes of 6 or 12.
South Ridge Cuvee Merret is from the same estate that won the International Wine and Spirit Competition's World Wide Trophy for Best Sparkling Wine. The vineyard is in the South Downs which famously has the same combination of chalk and clay in the soil as the Champagne region. At least as good as Champagne but without the wine miles!
Available in cases of 6 or 12 from Laithwaites.
Nyetimber vineyard was developed to create wine that can compete directly with the Champagne made just across the Channel. Their popular 'Classic Cuvee' is a blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier, whereas their 'Blanc de Blanc' is 100% chardonnay. Nyetimber sparkling wine has been described by wine expert Oz Clarke as "Exactly what classic champagne is supposed to taste like".
www.nyetimber-vineyard.co.uk
Denbies, an english vineyard based in Surrey, put a few french noses out of joint when they were awarded the gold medal for their Greenfields 2003 vintage in the world's largest blind-tasting competition, the International Wine Challenge. The award winning 2003 vintage has now sold out although the 2004 is available directly from Denbies, Waitrose and independent wine merchants.
www.denbiesvineyard.co.uk
For Rosé sparkling wines please visit the rosé wine page.