Latest news with #sparklingwine
The Sun
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Raise a glass to English Wine Week with these bargain bottles – including a new strawberry wine perfect for Wimbledon
WE don't really need an excuse to crack open a bottle come the weekend, but English Wine Week (June 21-29) is a more than good-enough reason. Sales of English sparkling have surged 187% since 2018, as people have realised how good they really are - with many outperforming their champagne rivals in taste tests. Roebuck, Bolney, Nyetimber... these English vineyards are becoming household names, and they're often to be found on supermarket shelves at excellent prices. Whether you prefer a sparkling, rose, red or white, our own vineyards have it covered. 6 We love the fact you can also visit the vineyards easily for the day - grab your best girls or your guy and enjoy a fun day of tasting the best of British in glorious countryside. So, to accompany your summer of staycationing and British sport, these English Wine Week bottles are just the ticket. To celebrate English Wine Week, Aldi is offering its Winemaster's Lot English Sparkling Wine for just £9.99 - that's 44% off its usual £17.95 price tag (available June 19-25). Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer at Aldi UK, said: 'English Wine Week is a great moment to showcase the quality of British winemaking." You can also pick up cracking Specially Selected English Bacchus, £7.99 - a riot of passionfruit, gooseberry and rose petal some have called a true taste of a blooming English hedgerow. And Aldi's Specially Selected English Pinot Noir Rose, £8.69, makes the perfect choice if you're looking to supply the booze for a summer wedding or gathering. Talking of reds, if you're a fan of chilled red wine - a massive trend this summer - you'll love Devon-based winery Sandridge Barton's Don't Feed The Ponies Billy. In fact, what's not to love about a wine with a name like that (which comes from a campaign across Dartmoor National Park to stop people feeding the wild ponies, FYI)? Blending flavours of tart red berries, red apple and blackcurrant and cranberry, it's a light red at the higher end of the budget at £21.50 - but 25p will go to Dartmoor Preservation Association. 6 You've probably heard of Nyetimber wines - and for good reason, as yet again the winemaker recently picked up an award for its English Sparkling at London Wine Fair's Battle of the Bubbles, where 1086 by Nyetimber 2010 pipped prestige cuvées including Dom Perignon to the top spot. Nyetimber was the first British producer to release a prestige cuvee back in 2018, and it's now served to first class passengers on British Airways flights. Obviously, it's a little pricier than most at £145 a bottle, but the same vineyard's Classic Cuvee Brut comes in at a much more affordable £30. And if you fancy a trip to an award-winning winery, book in for a tour and tasting at the Nyetimber Estate on the South Downs, £50 per person. 6 With the Wimbledon Tennis Championships starting on June 30, the smell of strawberries is definitely in the air, so we were excited to discover this treat from the family-run Lyme Bay Winery in picturesque East Devon. The new Lyme Bay Winery Strawberry Wine, £12.79, tastes wonderful served chilled or as a spritzer with lemonade, prosecco or soda water. The perfect picnic wine! 6 Finally, if you're doing your big shop in Tesco, be sure to check out its fantastic line in English Wines, starting from just £4.75 a bottle. Graham Nash, lead product development manager at Tesco says: "Last year, our Tesco Finest English Sparkling Brut was our bestselling English wine, though English still wines continue to improve." Try the Bolney Lychgate Bacchus, £12.50, made in the heart of Sussex, if you like a lemony, floral, fresh white. And fans of a rose will find Tesco Finest English Rose, £12.50, rather moreish, plus it's made by father and son winemaker Balfour Winery. And if cash is tight, The Straw Hat White, £4.75, is a fun British option. WINE culturist Amelia Singer hails 'The Chassaux et Fils Rosé' as a "really savvy move from Aldi". Here, she gives Fabulous her verdict... Sainte Victoire is my favourite part of Provence to find personality filled yet great value Rosé. Thanks to the altitude of the Sainte Victoire hillsides, the grapes get exposed to plenty of sunshine during the day but their ripeness is moderated by cooler evening temperatures. This enables the wine to brim with intense, complex fruit which is balanced by elegant acidity and herbal finesse. I am delighted that Aldi are highlighting an actual area of Provence as quality and flavour profiles can vary greatly – however I always know with Rosé from Sainte Victoire that I will not be disappointed. Amelia Singer's podcast, 'Ameliarate Through Wine', which pairs celebrities' personalities, core values, and careers with wine. Available on Apple & Spotify.
Forbes
a day ago
- Forbes
5 Best Sparkling Wine Houses In Northern California
A toast to Gloria Ferrer, one of our favorite labels in Napa Valley for bubbles. Although sparkling wine was born in Europe, wineries in California excel at producing bubbly. While bottles from Napa Valley can't be called champagne — that term is reserved for sparkling wine exclusively made in the Champagne region of France — modern California sparklers are on par with their French counterparts. There's no better place to learn about these exceptional wines than at the facility where they are made. A visit to the winery can involve a tour of the grapevines and production area and unique tasting experiences that vary depending on where you go. Luxury travelers and wine enthusiasts will find plenty to toast at these standout sparkling wine houses — don't be surprised if you end your visit with a few bottles (and maybe even a wine club membership) in hand. Bottles and bites from Domaine Carneros. If you've ever driven on Highway 12 in the Carneros region between Sonoma and Napa, you've probably noticed the stately chateau atop a hill. Many of California's sparkling wine houses were created by prominent French producers, and this gorgeous, French-inspired estate is Domaine Carneros. Claude Tattinger selected the 138-acre plot for this project in 1987. For the past 37 years, Domaine Carneros has consistently churned out superb sparklers, from its classic brut cuvée to its higher-end Blanc de Blancs known as Le Rêve. CEO Remi Cohen leads the brand today, producing more than 10 distinct sparkling wines and a handful of still reds. A tasting at Domaine Carneros requires a reservation. Be sure to allow two to three hours for the best experience — you'll want to fully immerse yourself in the glamour of this elegant sparkling wine house. There are several culinary pairings to choose from, like Peruvian bites, oysters and caviar. The generous team also surprises and delights with revisits and pours of off-menu wines. Schramsberg was the first American sparkling wine served at a White House state dinner. Back in 1965, Jack and Jamie Davies set out to create America's most prestigious sparkling wine with Schramsberg Vineyards. The couple officially achieved success in 1972, when a bottle of Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs became the first American sparkling wine served at a White House state dinner. Since then, every president has poured Schramsberg at one point or another. The charming property Schramsberg calls home is in Calistoga. The brand takes its name from its original owner, Jacob Schram, a German immigrant who purchased the land and started making wine there in the 1860s. Jack and Jamie's son, Hugh, who was coincidentally born in 1965, oversees the winemaking today. Although the team offers several tastings, we recommend booking one that includes a cave tour. Dug in 1870 by Chinese laborers, it's Napa's original hillside wine-aging cave. Schramsberg stores its bottles in the caves today, and a fact-filled tour allows you to feel the region's rich history. An interesting piece of trivia: one of the reasons Schramsberg's fizz is more decadent and luscious than other bubbles is that 25% of the juice is fermented in oak barrels. The resulting wine is complex, balanced and refined. Iron Horse produces a stable of standout sparkling wines. Iron Horse Vineyards is arguably Sonoma County's most prolific sparkling wine house. It's more rustic and enchanting than the refined grande dames of Napa, but that is part of its allure. When Audrey and Barry Sterling bought the estate in 1976, western Sonoma County was believed to be too cold to make wine. The Sterlings changed that way of thinking by pioneering the region's AVA, Green Valley, and were the first to value cooler Sonoma as a great place to produce chardonnay and pinot noir. Today, their children run the certified sustainable and regenerative winery, which overlooks a picturesque valley. Iron Horse produces several types of sparkling wine, from late-disgorged bruts to classic pink champagne. The vineyards' unfussy tastings take place standing outside around wine barrels. It's one of the few places where you can enjoy a picnic, as outside food is permitted. Reservations are required for both the casual tasting and the picnic table. You can taste the French tradition in Roederer Estate's wines. Roederer Estate is the California outpost of the esteemed French champagne house, Louis Roederer. The team is committed to producing terroir-driven bubbles that reflect the character of Mendocino's Anderson Valley. French tradition abounds: Roederer has only had two winemakers since its 1982 inception, and both were Frenchmen. Sustainability is also a focus as the brand farms 25% of the appellation's 2,500 planted vineyard acres, and all grapes are grown on the estate. Earlier this year, Roederer unveiled a new hospitality center with sweeping vineyard views. Book the sparkling wine tour, and you'll discover how the world-class pours are produced and get a behind-the-scenes look at the winemaking facility. If you're hungry, small bites from Roederer Estate's kitchen include Marcona almonds, duck rillettes and local caviar. Before the Tattingers set up Domaine Carneros, the Ferrers, the family behind the legendary Spanish cava brand Freixenet, established the first sparkling wine house in Carneros with Gloria Ferrer in 1984. The winery is sustainably operated, with a commitment to green business practices, energy conservation, biodiversity and more. Pull up to the tasting room on a hill overlooking the valley below, and the beautifully landscaped olive trees transport you to Catalonia. Stunning views aside, another thing that makes Gloria Ferrer special is the fact that you don't need a reservation to pop by and grab a glass of Royal Cuvee Rose. However, reservations for a culinary experience, including brunch, are required. When it comes to food, there's a bevy of tasting options, ranging from bites to a full three-course meal. The dining also reflects Gloria Ferrer's heritage: chorizo, charcuterie and tapas like gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp) from Spain.
Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Times
English sparkling wine magnum beats champagne in global award
Champagne has long been the choice to mark life's greatest moments, but connoisseurs believe English sparkling wine is in prime position to compete after it beat the French fizz to a prestigious international award. Sugrue South Downs' The Trouble with Dreams 2009 has become the first sparkling wine magnum to be crowned as one of the top 50 wines in the world at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2025. The white sparkling wine from Sussex took home a Best in Show medal, something champagne has never achieved in the 1.5L bottle format (the equivalent of two standard 750ml bottles). Amongst the other sparkling wine magnums in the running was a £598 per bottle champagne, Henriot's Cuvé 38 Edition 6 Blanc De Blancs Brut, which received a Platinum medal, one down from Best in Show. The judges said: 'Our competition has been open to champagne magnums for the last three years, while this year we opened the competition to sparkling wine magnums from all origins. And guess what? It's an English sparkling wine that's the first to find its way in magnum to our Best in Show selection, not a champagne.' Dermot Sugrue, founder and winemaker at Sugrue, told The Times: 'It's no longer what has become a slightly outdated narrative of England versus champagne when it comes to sparkling wine. Now it's England and champagne, because we really are on the world stage, beside champagne and the other best sparkling wines in the world.' His wineis made from a blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier grapes. The 2009 vintage's 600 bottles are sold out, but were selling for £185 with sales limited to one magnum per customer. Sugrue, who has been making wine at the highest level for 23 years and has spent time in Champagne, said: 'Bottling sparkling wine in magnums is almost like the zenith of what you can achieve quality wise, because magnums have got the ability to age in a wonderful way.' He said the win demonstrates the 'ageability' of their wines. It's a matter of being 'very, very patient and having confidence that we're using the correct vintage to age for a long time', he said. What sets The Trouble With Dreams apart is Sugrue's 'attention to detail', he added. The magnum is from Sugrue's first vintage of The Trouble With Dreams. The previous year should have been the first but the grapes were devoured by birds, prompting the name. Sugrue said the name also resonates with the challenges of making wine in the UK, a 'marginal climate for winemaking' where global warming in recent decades has allowed these types of wines to flourish. Ronan Sayburn, a master sommelier and one of the five co-chairs of the awards, said the magnum is 'generally regarded as a better format for sparkling wine'. The UK broke its record for total medals awarded, with 188 medals including two Platinum, six Gold, 80 Silver and 99 Bronze. This was up from 186 medals last year, when Chapel Down's Rose Brut was the first UK sparkling rose to achieve a Best in Show, and 143 in 2023. The awards saw wines from 57 countries evaluated by 248 top international wine experts. France took home the most Best in Show awards with 14, followed by Italy with six and Portugal and Spain with five. The UK was on a level with New Zealand, South Africa and Slovenia with one Best in Show. China was amongst those to pip us to two of the top accolade. Sayburn said a mixture of time, allowing the vines to age, global warming, and the increasing skill and experience of UK winemakers has led to the production of 'world-class wines'. 'Maybe 15 years ago English wine was a bit of a joke, but people take it very seriously now,' he said. 'In places like America they are absolutely going desperate to get English sparkling wine. It jumped in there as a category above Cava and Prosecco and just under Champagne.' Sayburn cites the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2011, the late Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee in 2012, and the 2012 London Olympics for giving English sparkling wine 'a big boost'. Looking to the future, 'the only way for English sparkling wine to go is up', he said. He pointed out that some Champagne vineyards were established a thousand years ago while it's only in the last 50 years that they are emerging in the UK. 'So it may take a hundred years to really get the best sites,' he said. The south of England is well-established as the most successful area in the UK for wine growing, but this year the first medals for North Yorkshire came from Dunesforde with a bronze for their Queen of the North Brut 2020, a sparkling white, and their Pinot Gris 2022, a still white. Ian Townsend, owner of Dunesforde, said they planted Pinot Gris in 2016 'as a bit of an experiment' encouraged by records of the Romans producing wine in northern England 2,000 years ago. 'We're testing the boundaries,' he said. 'It gets riskier and riskier the further north you go.'
Forbes
4 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Professional Sports Teams Are Betting On Bubbles
J Vineyards is the official sparkling wine of the Golden State Valkyries. It wasn't so long ago that beer or not-so-good wine were the only options at sports games. While craft beer, hard cider and hard seltzers started changing the experience and opening up the door for those fans who didn't exactly love the drink selections of yesteryear, there was truly a gap in there for drinkers who loved a quality wine. Now, professional sports teams around the nation are looking to bubbly as their next big offering in beverage. Case-in-point: The New York Mets is now working with Korbel both on sparkling offerings and a new cocktail, the MetsMosa, while J Vineyards & Winery was recently named the official sparkling wine of WNBA's Golden State Valkyries. And it makes sense—not everyone wants to drink beer at a sports game—but adding sparkling wine to the lineup is indicative of a bigger siping trend. While the rest of the wine market has been struggling, sparkling wine has been a bright spot. Consumers have been drinking more of it more often instead of saving it for a special occasion. Korbel has teamed up with the New York Mets to serve both its sparkling wine and a MetsMosa cocktail for the 2025 season. 'There is a growing trend among consumers to enjoy premium beverages in various settings, including sports events. Offering sparkling wine, which now ranks in the top 10 choices for fans, elevates the experience, making it feel special and luxurious,' says Evan Karoutsos, general manager at Citi Field for Aramark Sports and Entertainment. Add to it the feeling of celebration that sparkling wine has and it is a winning combination for any sports fan, especially those Gen Z sports fans. 'We're seeing Gen Z completely redefine how and when bubbles are enjoyed. Sparkling wine is no longer reserved for special occasions—it's become an everyday, any-reason, any-season kind of sip that fits seamlessly into their active, on-the-go lifestyle,' says Neel Amin, Korbel Manager—East. And when it comes to pairing a drink with a sports game snack, it may seem that sparkling options may not bring the sports vibe. But, bubbles pairs notably well with all of the standard foods one looks forward to at a game, like burgers, fries, chicken fingers and popcorn, adds Amin. So well, in fact, it may be replicated at home all season long. But outside of elevating the food and beverage programs, bringing bubbly on board has a deeper meaning for both teams. Nicole Hitchcock, head winemaker at J Vineyards & Winery, explains that the synergy between the winery and the new WNBA team has been a winning combination already. She says the Valkyries share the commitment to supporting talented women across industries and the two are thrilled to partner and shift the narrative around what's possible when women are given the platform to excel. 'Sparkling wine is a natural fit for celebrating milestones. With this being the Valkyries inaugural season, and the excitement for women's sports at an all-time high, the partnership seems intuitive,' Hitchcock says. Both the J Vineyards & Winery Cuvée 20 and the Brut Rosé will be offered at Valkyries games this season. Karoutsos explains that Citi Field chose to work with Korbel as the name recognition in the sparkling wine category is 'unparalleled.' 'We felt like it gave the fans at Citi Field the opportunity to celebrate with a brand they know and love,' he says. But there is another reason; last year, the team celebrated its National League Division Series win with Korbel, something they hope to repeat in this season. Korbel will be available for the 2025 season by the carafe (with two IDs), by the glass and in the MetsMosa, a cocktail made with orange juice and Chambord with a Korbel topper. It will be available Metropolitan Market during all day games and in the suites.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Champagne Vs. Crémant: Which French Sparkling Wine Is Right For You?
Waiter serving a glass of sparkling white wine getty If you've ever stared at a wine list and wondered whether you should spring for Champagne or go for that slightly cheaper French sparkling wine called Crémant, you're not alone. They both have French names. They both have bubbles. They both pair beautifully with french fries. So what's the actual difference—and which one should you order? Here's your quick, no-fuss guide to figuring out which French sparkler fits the occasion (and your budget). Festive photo of sparkling wine in glasses getty Champagne is sparkling wine made in—you guessed it—the Champagne region of France. The French are extremely serious about this. If it doesn't come from Champagne, it legally can't be called Champagne. (Think of it like how only certain ham can be called Prosciutto di Parma, and the Italians will absolutely fight you on it.) Crémant, on the other hand, is sparkling wine made elsewhere in France, using pretty much the same labor-intensive method—meaning the bubbles come from a second fermentation inside the bottle, not from a soda machine—but without the high-stakes branding (and usually, without the Champagne-level price tag). It's like Champagne's laid-back cousin: still elegant, still fancy, but less likely to max out your credit card. Champagne is known for its bright acidity, delicate mousse (fancy term for bubbles), and complex flavors. Depending on the bottle, you might taste notes of green apple, brioche, lemon curd, almonds, or even a little smoky minerality. In other words, it's doing a lot—but in a way that makes you feel fancy, not overwhelmed. Crémant varies a little more because it's made in different regions, with different grapes: Overall, Crémant is usually a little fruitier and softer than Champagne. It's less "grand gala" and more "really excellent garden party." Champagne sticks mainly to three grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. The balance between these grapes gives Champagne its famous structure and elegance. Crémant gets to be more experimental. Depending on the region, you might find grapes like Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Gris, or even Trousseau. It's basically a choose-your-own-adventure situation—just with bubbles. Champagne bottle in a bucket of ice. getty Here's where Crémant starts looking even better: Basically, if you want to impress your friends and have enough money left for snacks, Crémant is your buddy. Close-up of group of high-quality Champagne corks getty In short: Champagne says 'Congratulations on your promotion!' Crémant says 'Congratulations on surviving another Zoom meeting!' Both are important. Whether you pop open a prestigious Champagne or a playful Crémant, you're already winning—because you're drinking good sparkling wine. The real secret isn't picking the "better" one. It's picking the one that fits the moment—and the one you're excited to drink.
