From the very first moment that those bubbles burst on to
your tongue, you feel that you are drinking something special. A glass of fizz
is almost certain to get you into the festive mood.
Sparkling wine should be served between 5C to 10C, (8C – 10C
for champagne), so pop the bottle into the fridge a few hours prior to serving.
The more you chill a wine, the less you will be able to taste it. So, it you
want to mask the flavour of a cheaper wine, keep it in the fridge for longer.
Here are my favourite sparklers to celebrate with.
Jewels in Champagne’s crown
Champagne is a versatile wine that is so easy to drink. It
can be drunk anytime, any place and goes with a wide variety of food.
Gosset Grande Réserve, £49.95, Berry Bros. & Rudd
(bbr.com)
From this highly-respected and oldest known wine producer in Champagne comes this rather seductive Grande Réserve. A well-balanced blend of chardonnay and pinot noir with a hint of pinot meunier, it is a rich and complex wine. Reminiscent of figs and a smattering of rich biscuity flavours, this is perfection in a bottle.
From this highly-respected and oldest known wine producer in Champagne comes this rather seductive Grande Réserve. A well-balanced blend of chardonnay and pinot noir with a hint of pinot meunier, it is a rich and complex wine. Reminiscent of figs and a smattering of rich biscuity flavours, this is perfection in a bottle.
'R' De Ruinart Brut ,
£45, bbr.com
(25 per cent discount when you order a case of six bottles until 31 Dec)
Ruinart (now part of LMVH) is said to be the first established champagne house. This vibrant fine-bubbled golden fizz is bursting with ripe apples and pears with a touch of brioche. Subtle and elegant, this is an extremely classy champagne which works well as an aperitif wine. Lingers long on the palette.
(25 per cent discount when you order a case of six bottles until 31 Dec)
Ruinart (now part of LMVH) is said to be the first established champagne house. This vibrant fine-bubbled golden fizz is bursting with ripe apples and pears with a touch of brioche. Subtle and elegant, this is an extremely classy champagne which works well as an aperitif wine. Lingers long on the palette.
Berrys' United Kingdom Cuvée, Grand Cru, Mailly, £26.95,
bbr.com
When Britain’s oldest wine and spirit merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd (its flagship store has been at 3 St James's Street, London since 1698) puts its name to a champagne, you know it has to be good. This classic blend of predominantly pinot noir with chardonnay is elegantly structured and rich. You know you are drinking a top-notch champagne.
When Britain’s oldest wine and spirit merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd (its flagship store has been at 3 St James's Street, London since 1698) puts its name to a champagne, you know it has to be good. This classic blend of predominantly pinot noir with chardonnay is elegantly structured and rich. You know you are drinking a top-notch champagne.
The perfect gift
Billecart-Salmon Duo Giftbox, £105, champagnedirect.co.uk
Any champagne connoisseur will be delighted to receive this beautiful black box containing two superb champagnes from one of the finest houses. The Brut Réserve is an exceptional fizz. Elegant with just the right amount of freshness, this champagne works well as an aperitif. Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is a chardonnay cuvée with lovely delicate bubbles that has intense lemon and apple notes mixed with hints of pear and biscuity tangs. Has all the trademarks of the class of champagne that you would expect from this house. Works well with grilled fish and seafood.
Any champagne connoisseur will be delighted to receive this beautiful black box containing two superb champagnes from one of the finest houses. The Brut Réserve is an exceptional fizz. Elegant with just the right amount of freshness, this champagne works well as an aperitif. Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is a chardonnay cuvée with lovely delicate bubbles that has intense lemon and apple notes mixed with hints of pear and biscuity tangs. Has all the trademarks of the class of champagne that you would expect from this house. Works well with grilled fish and seafood.
Italian romance
Prosecco, which comes from the north east of Italy, is an
alternative to champagne, although it is different in style. The Italian wine
tends to be slightly lower in alcohol and acidity as well as being sweeter, and
of course, is kinder on the wallet.
This tipple is made by the Charmat method, which utilises
large tanks for the secondary fermentation process.
Champagne, which is only produced in France’s Champagne
region, has a more costly production operation than prosecco. It uses
individual bottles for its second fermention – not tanks – as per the
traditional method. Champagne has a longer ageing process (at least 15 months)
than most sparkling wines, which tends to make the wine richer and more
complex.
Prosecco Asolo 'Millesimato', 2012, Bele Casel, Veneto,
£16.95, bbr.com
From this artisan producer comes this rather sophisticated prosecco. It is minerally, yet at the same time sweet, but not too sweet. This is a lovely, pleasant wine that is perfect for any occasion.
From this artisan producer comes this rather sophisticated prosecco. It is minerally, yet at the same time sweet, but not too sweet. This is a lovely, pleasant wine that is perfect for any occasion.
Waitrose Prosecco NV Italy, £8.99, Waitrose
Waitrose has come up trumps with this corker. On the palate, this light zippy prosecco is fresh and fruity with just a dash of sweet almonds. It is an easy-to-drink wine that goes down a treat. Also mix it with peach juice to make a Bellini, the cocktail that made Harry’s Bar in Venice world-renowned. Serve well-chilled.
Happy Holidays!
By Daralyn Danns
