Food&Drink Bring out the bubbles

On a summer evening is there anything better than sitting in the garden with a perfectly chilled glass of zz? Not according to Gary Carter

of Shropshire Wine School…

These days there is a bewildering selection of sparkling wines to suit everyone’s taste and budget. Of course, the most well-known and longest established name in the world of fizz is Champagne. Made exclusively from grapes grown in a corner of Northern France, this most exclusive and prestigious wine still commands its loyal followers around the world.

Most Champagne is dry (labelled Brut) and almost all is blended from different years (Non-Vintage) due to the varied weather in the region. Our shops are full of the major labels such as Veuve Clicquot, Bollinger and Moët & Chandon, but it’s notable that the French themselves tend to eschew these big names and drink wines made by small producers (‘growers Champagne’) or co-operatives.

vive la révolution!

The biggest selling sparkling wine in the UK by a long way is Prosecco, made exclusively in North-East Italy from a variety called Glera. UK sales have increased from 10 million bottles in 2009 to 120 million today. The secret of its success is down to the use of sealed tanks for the second fermentation, which allows much faster production. This means it can be sold at a fraction of the cost of Champagne, and unlike Champagne there are no prestigious names.

Four to try

Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne AOC NV, France (Majestic Wines £29.99) Produced by a large co-operative, this is the best-selling Champagne in France.

Didknow?you

A 75cl bottle of Champagne contains about 49 bubblesmillion

Cava is Spain’s main sparkling wine, and is produced exclusively by the traditional method (like Champagne), though most grapes used are local varieties rather than Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The climate in Spain is considerably warmer, meaning that the grapes are picked earlier to retain acidity. Cava has struggled in the UK market recently, losing ground to Prosecco as its production method means it will never be able to compete on price.

Finally, let’s not ignore the sparkling wine revolution happening under our noses. With a little help from climate change, England is finding its feet as a producer of top-quality sparkling wines, almost all made via the traditional method, with extended lees ageing – and increasingly using Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. Sales are now over 10 million bottles per year.

Valdobbiandene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra Dry, Italy (Lidl £7.99)

My ‘go-to’ Prosecco for wine-tastings, this example has significantly more fruit and body than most ‘basic’ Prosecco.

Hencote LXX Sparkling Wine, Shrewsbury, England (Hencote Winery £38, currently on special offer at £29) A magnificent example of what England – in fact, Shropshire – can do with Traditional Method sparkling wine. .

Muga ‘Conde de Haro’ Brut Cava Reserva DO 2019, Rioja, Spain (Majestic Wines £16.99) Fresh and elegant, with complex and creamy notes of lemon, grapefruit and biscuit, plus hints of fresh pastry and dried fruits.

A TOP NIGHT OUT? COME TO WARRINGTON!

New research has revealed that some of the nation’s favourite night spots are to be found on the Shire patch… at £5.11, Warrington was clearly deserving of recognition. Few people said they were worried about being mugged in the area and most respondents felt safe walking home at night, all in all scoring the area 8.01 out of 10 on the night out.

Nearby, both geographically and in the league tables, Shropshire town Telford was another high-scoring destination. Boasting 108 pubs, clubs and bars per 100,000 of the population, the town was also well served with venues, as well as being a top choice for the price-conscious with the average pint setting punters back a mere £3.69. Safety was another high-scoring area for Telford with hardly anyone having concerns about being assaulted, while 68 per cent of people felt perfectly safe walking home.

All in all Telford scored 7.65 out of 10 for a night out, making it a comfortable and well-deserved fourth in the UK overall. But taking the safety and security responses into account alone, Telford was actually named the winner with a safety score of 74.4, making it the safest night out in Britain.

London was crowned the worst city for a night out with a score of 1.73. The capital fell to the bottom of the ranking for the average cost of a pint (an eye-watering £6.82) and for its low number of real ale pubs (30 per 100,000).

Read the full survey at www.get-licensed.co.uk/get-daily/britainsbest-night-out-where-in-the-uk-offers-the-best-nightlifeexperience-in-2023

Arecent study into drinking habits, popular pubs and the safety of socialising across the country has revealed its findings. And in our area we can now officially claim to be home to some of the best of the boozers. Get Licensed analysed the number of venues per head, the cost of a pint of beer and a range of safety issues, to reveal the best nights out in Britain. The overall winning destination was found to be Newcastle upon Tyne, with York second – but proudly taking third place was Cheshire’s own town of Warrington.

Scoring highly for having 207 pubs, clubs and bars per 100,000 people, as well as gaining good points for the average price of a pint

Warm, friendly & welcoming

A traditional, family-run inn with home-cooked food, real ales and roaring fires

• Set in stunning rural countryside •

• Ideally suited for Snowdonia • Free wi-fi •

• Function room available • Dogs welcome •

OPEN ALL DAY

FOOD SERVED from 12 noon to 3pm & 6pm to 9pm, and all day Sundays

LLANDDERFEL, BALA, GWYNEDD, LL23 7RA Tel: 01678 530 205 www.bryntirioninn.co.uk

Pick of the Producers

e UK wine industry has steadily ourished over the past few years. Shire met up with one of its local champions, Patryk Kapelinski from Carden Park

Didknow?you

The world’s oldest bottle of wine was found in Germany and dates to AD325

Tucked away on the far side of the country estate, Carden Park is Cheshire’s largest commercial vineyard, offering three acres of deliciousness. With a story dating back to 1988, the vineyard has thrived year on year since it was planted. After dedication, hard work and a lot of nurturing, the 4,000 vines are now able to produce up to 6,000 bottles of quality Carden Park Estate Reserve Sparkling a year.

Head sommelier Patryk Kapelinski joined the team in 2022, bringing an in-depth knowledge based on over 15 years in the industry. Starting out in a small Italian deli in Warsaw at 16, Patryk fell in love with wine from the outset and felt passionate about the human history of the drink that dates back eight millennia. He felt drawn to studying and selling wines and is now a certified sommelier, qualified at Level Three of the Wines and Spirit Education Trust, and part of the UK Sommelier Association.

Anticipation

Patryk came across the vineyard while out walking his dog. As soon as he arrived home he downloaded the menus for the estate restaurant, The Vines, and researched its wine list. Impressed by the diversity and quality, he applied for a job, and has now been in the role for a year.

Having worked with the team through a record hot summer, he shared his predictions for the future of English wine. “When the UK began producing wine in the 1990s people were sceptical, as traditionally it’s too cold here. But now, this change in weather has brought with it similar conditions to the Champagne region, giving English wine, especially sparkling wine, a chance to really shine.

“Last summer I walked past the vines every day on my way to work to see how they were doing and each day, they were thriving more and more. With less moisture and dryer air, this year’s harvest in October is set to be the best yet. I can’t wait!”