Let’s get fizzical

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.

'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.  

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.

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.

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.

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

Champagne, please

There is something special about having a glass of champagne. The sound of the popping of the cork, the bubbles rising in the glass, always evokes feelings of excitement and pleasure.

However, drinking a bad champagne can be an unpleasant, and disappointing, experience. So If you are looking for quality and value for money, check out some of the smaller producers who put a lot of love and care into making fine wines.

Champagne

Simon Field, buyer for Berry Bros. and Rudd, says that they are always on the lookout for good individual growers as they demonstrate a real sense of terroir. “What you are paying for is a reflection of what is in the glass as the smaller houses don’t have marketing budgets,” says Simon. “As there are so many different villages in the Champagne region, you get several styles.”

The vineyards surrounding Cramant and Mensil-sur-Oger in Cote de Blancs produce chardonnay grapes. Blanc de Blancs is the term used for champagnes made only from this grape. These wines are usually light and refreshing yet still elegant that, Simon says, become richer as they age. The Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Bar have a cool limestone terrain and is where pinot noir grapes are grown. The more robust pinot meunier thrives in the more clayey soils of Vallée de la Marne.

Most champagne is made from the three grapes. Producers may blend grapes varieties from different years, regions and villages.

Pinot noir adds body and structure to the wine, pinot meunier is used to add fruitiness and aromas, while chardonnay adds a hint of elegance and freshness.

Once you have discovered the taste profile that suits your palette, you can ask your wine merchant for suggestions.

Champagne Pierre Peters in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger,Côte des Blancs is a small producer that Simon rates highly. Its champagnes are characterised by their richness, subtlety and elegance.

Another one to look out for is Champagne R & L Legras which tends to produce soft, flowery chardonnay wines. If you prefer something richer, take a look at Champagne Lahaye, one of the leading small wine grower/producers in Montagne de Reims. He has vineyards in Bouzy, famed for its good pinot noir grapes. The style of champagne is earthier and bursting with red fruit flavours. 

Champagne Vilamart is also a sought-after producer whose wines tend to be rich yet lively and are great examples of fine wines from this region.

Simon points out that as less sugar is usually added to these wines, you are able to mark the authentic terroir as you savour each drop.

If you want to try champagnes from the grand marques, Simon recommends three which I put to the test to see why they stand out from the crowd.

Billecart-Salmon Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV, £58, bbr.com
One of the few remaining champagne houses to be owned by the original family. The fine bubbles of this chardonnay cuvée are the hallmark of a first-class champagne. Deliciously creamy with a slight kick, this is an elegant wine that will tantalise your taste buds.

Gosset Grand Reserve Brut, £49.95, bbr.com
A stylish rich and robust, champagne from the oldest wine house in the region. Chardonnay slightly edges pinot noir in this blend. Laced with fruity and biscuit tangs, it has a long and balanced finish. A champagne par excellence.

Pol Roger Brut Réserve NV, £39.95, bbr.com
The small family-controlled house of Pol Roger is renowned for its superb champagnes. It was Sir Winton Churchill’s favourite marque and is beloved by champagne connoisseurs. Zesty fruity flavours are complemented with hints of nuts and honey, a  rich yet fresh wine. Exquisite.

By Daralyn Danns