Fizzy fun for those sunny get-togethers

SAM WYLIE-HARRIS ON... THE BEST BUBBLES FOR SUMMER SOIRéES

FROM the theatre of popping the cork, a steady stream of sparkle and playful tickle of effervescent mist, to the rich diversity of taste, the choice of fizz can be dizzying, but here’s our pick of the best bubbles to get cele- brations off with a bang...

Morrisons The Best Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, Italy (£8 from £10, now until August 11, Morrisons)

Offering value and quality, this is the prosecco to have on tap. From the eneto prosecco region, Conegliano Valdobbiadene stands out for its commitment to producing the best glera grapes – here we have floral aromas, ripe apple and pear flavours, ending with lively elegance.

Santo Isidro NV, Vinho Regional Peninsula de Setubal, Portugal (£10.49, Laithwaite’s)

Here’s a wonderful surprise from the award-winning co-operative Santo Isidro de Pegoes, representing the best of Peninsula de Setubal and a country not known for its sparkling wine. It’s a shimmering pale gold

with appealing lemony, floral and light toasty notes, a beam of citrus, a hint of spice and a creamy finish.

Tempus Two Copper Prestige Cuvee NV, Australia (£16, Sainsbury’s)

The latest addition to the Tempus Two Copper Series of wines, this is a light, fresh and fruity fizz that certainly looks the part. According to the winemaker, the Copper series is designed to taste as good as it looks – and the crisp apple and pear flavours shine through, with gentle pineapple and guava accents, and its vibrancy with a tiny touch of sweetness on the finish makes it extremely enjoyable to drink.

Berlucchi Franciacorta DOCG ‘61 Saten, Lombardy, Italy (£23.14,

Tannico)

Italy’s answer to champagne, Franciacorta is a wine bearing the region’s name and made in the traditional Champagne method.

Saten (meaning silk in Italian) is made from chardonnay and it’s slightly less fizzy, so silky and graceful.

Enjoy alluring notes of blossom, acacia honey and baked bread, with a finely balanced palate of delicate tropical fruits, soft acidity and a seductive, satiny finish.

Nyetimber 1086 Prestige Cuvee 2010, South of England (£150, Nyetimber)

A very special release from Nyetimber, their 1086 Cuvee is a vintage wine, only released in special years, and the best of their best.

A blend of equal parts chardonnay and pinot noir, topped up with pinot meunier with 10 years’ bottle ageing for more complex character.

Ethereal and elegant, it’s a worldclass sparkler for extravagant celebrations.