RAISE A GLASS
I’LL begin with a story of three sparkling wines, poles apart in style and geography, because I love an excuse to talk about fizz. As a stroke of luck for my fizz theme, Monday is National Prosecco Day.
I’ll kick off with three sparkling wines which are interesting for different reasons.
Champagne Thiénot Blanc de Blancs (RRP £45, champagneone.co.uk, 12.5% abv), right. Champagne can be blended from three grapes; chardonnay, pinot meunier and pinot noir. If you see a champagne labelled blanc de blancs, only chardonnay has been used.
Thiénot has created a wine which has a steady stream of elegant effervescence. Small bubbles deliver aromas of shortbread, ripe apples and vanilla; to taste there’s dried and fresh apples with a touch of cinnamon. Jenkyn Place Sparkling Rosé 2014 (£35, jenkynplace. com, 12% abv). I’ve just mentioned those champagne grapes. This wine uses all three, with pinot noir taking the leading share; except this wine is from England, not the Champagne region. The grapes are grown in the north Hampshire Downs. This one is
vibrantly giddy on the bubble factor, with flirtatious fizz bombs rising through the rose-petal pink wine. The nose has red fruit, red cherry, marzipan and sweet spice; to taste there’s a zingy freshness with longlasting citrus and red fruit.
Mcguigan Black Label Sparkling Shiraz (RRP £10, Sainsbury, 13.5% abv). The Australians like their sparkling reds, especially with a barbecue. The wines are a bit of an acquired taste, but if you’ve not tasted one before, then cast your eye towards this. The sparkling red delivers savoury, woody, spicy black fruits on the nose and a peppery burst of black fruits and spice in the mouth.
Meanwhile, anyone for prosecco? National Prosecco Day falls on Monday, August 13, and I’ve pulled together a small supermarket snapshot of prosecco you could pour to celebrate.
From Aldi, one of its most popular is Castellore Prosecco Spumante DOC (£5.99), left, which has citrus fruit, peachy notes, lemon zest and flowery features.
From Ocado, Martini Prosecco (£12.99) won gold at the International Wine & Spirits Competition 2018. It has flavours of pear and pineapple. From the Co-op, Irresistible Prosecco (£7.99) won a silver medal at this year’s Decanter awards and is very easy-drinking.
From Tesco, Plaza Centro Prosecco is £6 until Tuesday August 14, and then reverts to £7.
From Waitrose, you can save a third on Calle d’oro Prosecco which is reduced from £10.99 to £7.29, until August 28.
Finally, a prosecco tip: look out for wine which has DOCG on the label. The grapes grow on hills between the towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. These wines are a class above basic DOC prosecco which can be produced anywhere in the Veneto region in Italy.
That should keep you fizzing happily until the next time we meet.