Glass of Bubbly

Champagne Cremant Cava Espumate Asti Prosecco Sekt English Sparkling Wine

NO 18 WINTER 2019 £5 / S$5 / €5

GLASS of BUBBLY

Proscecco region UNESCO World Heritage Site GOGGLEBOX Watch this

NAPOLEON More then Brandy

ALBION FIZZ

Cry God for England

The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly

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GLASS of BUBBLY - WINTER 2019

Cover photo: Villa Papadopoli, Francesco Galifi; © Consorzio Tutela del Vino Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Docg

EDITOR’S LETTER T he world loves fizz. You must do as you are reading this magazine.

Whether it’s Champagne, Crémant, Prosecco, Asti Spumante or Cava one thing is certain: the market for sparkling wine is booming. More than two billion bottles of sparkling wine are sold worldwide each year.

For those familiar with Glass of Bubbly magazine, this will be a great moment. For almost three years, founders Christopher and Eve Walkey produced 17 issues of a magazine that set the standard for publications covering the sparkling wine industry. The decision was then taken, appropriately, to put the magazine ‘on the lees’, the term in the sparkling wine industry where bottles of fizz are left to mature and create those nose-tickling bubbles that make sparkling wine what it is.

Now it is my time to take control.

Readers might recognise my name from ukvine, a magazine I helped to start to cover the English wine industry. It sparked an interest in wine media that never went away. A few months ago, I revived my memories of Glass of Bubbly when I spoke with them about taking on the title. After discussions, my media company, GW Media, took on the mantle of publishing Glass of Bubbly under licence.

Now, after patiently maturing in a darkened cellar since 2017, Glass of Bubbly is being poured again.

This issue has been put together to coincide with this year’s The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly Awards 2019’. It is a digital version to help the team re-launch the title but we have ambitions to return to print as soon as we are able. Christopher and Eve will have an arm’s length connection with the magazine but will maintain a close watch on what I do!

In the meantime, sit back and enjoy Issue 18 of this magazine. It has been fun putting it together.

The relaunch is a perfect reason to resurrect the famous polished quote of Lily Bollinger (1899 – 1977) of the house of Bollinger Champagne: “I drink Champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone.

When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it -- unless I’m thirsty.”

Cheers.

@GoBmagfizz

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contacts AD SALES

james.graham@glassofbubbly.com 07443 598925

EDITORIAL

james.graham@glassofbubbly.com 07443 598925

PRODUCTION Alex Brown

PRESS RELEASES

james.graham@glassofbubbly.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS

james.graham@glassofbubbly.com 07443 598925

CONTRIBUTORS Irene Caswell James Graham Christian Holthausen Camilla Jennings Monica Sabbatucci Christopher Walkey DO YOU WANT TO WRITE FOR GLASS OF BUBBLY? GET IN TOUCH james.graham@glassofbubbly.com

SAMPLES

James Graham Editor, Glass of Bubbly 259 Sydenham Road Croydon, Surrey, CR0 2ET All rights reserved, No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Multiple copying of the contents of the magazine without prior written Material sent to the editor, whether commissioned or freely submitted, is provided at the contributor’s own risk.

Glass of Bubbly cannot be held responsible for loss of damage however cause.

The opinions and views expressed by authors and contributors within Glass of Bubbly are not necessarily those of the editor or Glass of Bubbly.

We are unable to guarantee the bona ideas of any advertisers. © Glass of Bubbly Ltd 2019 Registered Office: Glass Of Bubbly Limited C/O (Your OK Limited) 6 Queen Street Coggeshall Colchester Essex CO6 1UF United Kingdom

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CHAMPAGNE AR

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Drink up, Shawn ‘JAY-Z’ C

Hills of Conegl Valdobbiadene World Heritag

The World’s Fine of Bubbly 2019!

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18 22 28

Vive L’Emperur!

ALBION FIZZES gogglebox

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44 RMAND DE BRIGNAC

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liano e UNESCO ge Site

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inside

EDITOR’S LETTER

Welcome back 20 & 24 OPENING THE BOTTLE

What’s happening?

32 BENTLEY’S CENTENARY

100 not out 33 FIRST UK VINEYARD HOTEL

Room at the inn 34 SEKT APPEAL

Wine on the Rhine 36 CHRIS’S CHAMPAGNE CLINIC

What you need to know 38 WINE BROUGHT TO BOOK

Wine and food pairings 39 ONE MINUTE EXPLAINER

Prosecco 40 BRAZILIAN SPARKLING WINE

You’d be nuts to miss these 42 IT’S A TOUGH JOB

Someone has to do it 46 ON THE WINE LIST

What Londoners drink 48 THE BIGGER THE BETTER

Go large 50 A FAMILY AFFAIR

Blanc de Blanc 2015 52 AR LENOBLE MAG 15

Second edition 54 HOW TO CHOOSE A CELLAR

Going underground 58 CHAMPAGNE HARVEST 2019

Bringing in the grapes 59 READER’S COMPETION

You have to be in it to win it 60 TRAVEL

Are we there yet?

62 RESTAURANT REVIEW

Logis de la Cadène, St Emilion 64 THE LAST DROP WINTER 2019 - GLASS of BUBBLY 5

Hills of Conegliano-Vald UNESCO World Heritage Site I

n July, the proclamation by UNESCO that the Prosecco hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene are a World Heritage Site protects, preserves and hands down to future generations the world-reknowned wine area.

Located in north-eastern Italy, the property includes part of the winegrowing landscape of Prosecco production and is characterized by ‘hogback’ hills, ciglioni (small plots of vines on narrow grassy terraces), forests, small villages and farmland. For centuries, this rugged terrain has been shaped and adapted. Since the 17th century, the use of ciglioni has created a particular chequerboard landscape consisting of rows of vines parallel and vertical to the slopes. In the 19th century, the bellussera technique of training the vines contributed to the aesthetic characteristics of the landscape.

One vineyard that welcomed this proclamation on July 7 at the UNESCO assembly meeting held in Baku in Azerbaijan is Col Vetoraz Spumanti.

The vineyard says: “Our hills represent the 55th Italian site to be protected for the uniqueness of its cultural landscape. A process that

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lasted over ten years, a long path not without difficulties, which eventually hit the target thanks to an incessant teamwork led by the Governor of the Veneto Region, Luca Zaia.

“A goal, as Innocente Nardi, president of the Consortium for the Protection of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG, pointed out, that does not want to represent the point of arrival, but an important step in a process that aims to enhance the heritage present in this small territory, known for its main product, the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG. “In 1838, commented Loris Dall’Acqua, partner and oenologist of Col Vetoraz, the ancestors of the founding family, the Miottos, settled here developing vine cultivation, sensing even then with foresight the strength inherent in the viticulture of these wonderful hills. Later with courage and with the typical stubbornness of the people who have deep roots, they were able to face the terrible days of post-war reconstruction. Our task today is to find and preserve these precious roots.

“We producers, like the generations that preceded us, have never stopped believing in the uniqueness of this

landscape, dedicating a con attention, passion, effort.

“It is thanks to the time sp vineyard to forge the char ciglioni and terraces, distinc viticulture in this land that everyone can admire, that managed to achieve the co recognition.”

dobbiadene proclaimed

nstant care and

pent in the racteristic ctive elements of t today we have oveted UNESCO

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T

The World’s of Bubb

he results are in - trophies will be announced at our awards dinner in Westminster on October 24th 2019. We would like to thank every wine label that submitted wines to be judged by over 50 of the world’s top wine professionals over two days at one of our main sponsors Marriott County Hall Hotel in Westminster.

Each wine went through

Trophy Winning Wines: a detailed tasting to not only score points for a medal, but also place it in a relevant category for the chance to win a trophy.

Our judging was led by Chairman of Judges Marin Berovic and Champagne author and our Honorary Judge Michael Edwards.

Our awards are blind tasting; organisers are not involved in the judging nor giving scores to wines

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Creamy – A soft rounded wine that gives you a buttery / creamy experience of aromas and in taste.

Classic & Elegant – This will likely be a stylish wine showing balance with a refined quality.

Dessert – A stand out sweeter tasting wine that will pair well with most dessert dishes.

Fireworks – An intense and powerful wine that really bursts with flavours in the mouth.

First Date – The perfect wine to accompany that first date. Nothing too complex, not necessarily a wine that needs to pair with exact foods.

Forget Me Not – A wine with a unique taste.

There’s something very different about this wine making it stand out.

Gastronomic* – A fine complex wine that hold enough body to accompany most popular main dishes.

Finest Glass bbly 2019 4 GLASS of BUBBLY

Hint of Spice – This wine will offer a bit of a kick with a spicy tone.

Light & Fruity – A light and easy to drink fruity wine.

Meditation – An addictive wine for those special relaxing times. This wine will express itself more and more the longer it is opened and the longer it stays in your glass.

Oaky & Toasty – This wine will likely have been aged in oak barrels and have a toasty flavour.

Sea Breeze – When you taste this wine you will imagine yourself standing on the beach and tasting those tiny sea drops in the air.

Spring Fling – Floral, blossom aromas and flavour that immediately hits the spot.

Summer Days – Does not have to be a complicated wine, will offer a refreshing and crisp tasting experience ideal for accompanying time

spent in the sun / shade.

Vintage – A serious wine with highly complex aromas and a lengthy taste explosion of many layers.

Winter Warmer – Perfect on a winter’s evening sat in front of the fire, likely to be a fuller flavoured wine.

Zesty & Zingy – A wine that will likely be citrus flavoured with a definite zing to it.

Michael Edwards Award – A wine that stands out most for our honorary judge.

The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly – This wine will be superior in impressing the judges and will have received the overall highest point score and gold star ratings.

Sustainability Award by Slow Food * Gastronomy will be split in to varied food categories: Sea food, Game, Curry, Oyster Companion, Chocolate Dessert and more

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The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly 2019 Gold Meal Winners - Mediation Bisol – Valdobbiadene Superiore Di Cartizze Dry 2018 – Italy Champagne Duval-Leroy – Femme de Champagne – France Motzenbacker – Rosé Brut – Germany Gold Medal Winners - Gastronomic Celebrity’s Champagne – MyGirl Champagne – France Champagne Frerejean Frères – Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru NV ‘VV26’ – France Champagne Roger Brun – La Pelle 2013 – France Fox & Fox – Midnight Dark Dry Rose Brut 2011 – England Kerin – Penina Marija Brut 2015 – Slovenia Pere Ventura – Tresor Rosé Brut – Spain Gold Medal Winners - Vintage Arunda – Extra Brut Cuvèe Marianna – Italy Champagne Colette Bonnet – 13/14 – France Champagne Colette Bonnet – 11/12 – France Geko – Evana Premium Sparkling Wine 2012 – Slovenia Vinska klet Metlika – Metliška Penina Zelo Suha, 2015 – Slovenia

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Ferrari – Ferrari Perlé 2013 Trentodoc – Italy House of Wine Doppler – Diona Brut Nature 2010 – Slovenia Gold Medal Winners - Fireworks Vina Kobal – Tera-Teranova Penina – Slovenia Gold Medal Winners - Classic & Elegant Bjana Winery – Cuvée Prestige 2013 – Slovenia Cantina Rotaliana – R Riserva 2011 Brut Trentodoc – Italy Champagne Frerejean Frères – Blanc de Blanc Premier Cru NV – France Champagne Frerejean Frères – Premier Cru “Cuvée des Hussards” 2012 – France Ferrari – Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore 2007, Trentodoc – Italy Medot – Brut Cuvee – Slovenia Motzenbacker – Riesling Kalkstein Brut – Germany Roger-Constant Lemaire – Les Haute Priéres Vintage Blanc de Blancs – France Schlumberger – Chardonnay Reserve – Austria Villa Sandi – Opere DOC Serenissima – Italy

Gold Medal Winners Oaky & Toasty

Gold Medal Winners - Hint of Spice

Champagne Roger Brun – Reserve Familiale 2004 – France

Societa Agricola Bruscia – Bru’ Blanc – Italy

GLASS of BUBBLY - WINTER 2019

The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly 2019 Tenuta Amadio – Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut – Italy Weingut Steininger – Muskateller Sekt 2017 – Austria

Millesimato – Italy No. 1 Family Estate – No.1 Reserve – New Zealand

Gold Medal Winners - First Date

Gold Medal Winners - Forget Me Not

Champagne Royal Riviera – Champagne Royal Riviera – France Schlumberger – Rosé Klassik – Austria Gold Medal Winners - Summer Day Camel Valley Vineyard – 2016 Pinot Noir Rose Brut – England Cantine Ceci Spa – Terre Verdiane Lambrusco Amabile – Italy Champagne Albert Beerens – Cuvée Signature – France Raimes – Vintage Rose – England Silveri – Brut Rosé – Slovenia Villa Sandi – Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut Millesimato 2018 – Italy Wein und Sektgut F.B.Schönleber – Brut Nature Riesling – Germany Gold Medal Winners - Spring Fling Bolney Wine Estate – Cuvée Rosé – England Istenič – Prestige 2013 Extra Brut – Slovenia Vipava 1894 – Zelen 2015 – Slovenia Weingut Johann Schneeberger – Brut Rosé – Austria Gold Medal Winners - Creamy

B.Brut – Rosé – Luxembourg Jazbec Estate – Zelen 2007 Dry – Slovenia Lumiere – Delaware – Japan Lumiere – Kakitsubata – Japan Radgonske Gorice – Renina Pet-Nat Brut 2018 – Slovenia Gold Medal Winners Winter Warmer Vinska Klet Mastnak – Penina Valentina Rose Posuho 2016 – Slovenia Gold Medal Winners - Dessert Familia Schroeder – Deseado – Argentina Familia Schroeder – Deseado Rosé Argentina Vinska Klet Mastnak – Penina Valvasor Rumeni Muskat Polsuho 2016 – Slovenia Gold Medal Winners - Zesty & Zingy Champagne Julien Prélat – Les Reines Brut Nature – France

F.lli Pisoni – TrentoDoc Pisoni Brut

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The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly 2019 Silver Medal Winners Light & Fruity: Bisol – Relio Rive Di Guia Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Brut 2018 – Italy Bjana Winery – Brut Rosé 2015 – Slovenia Bolllicine – Prosecco DOC – Italy Bolney Wine Estate – Blanc de Blancs – England Cantine Ceci Spa – Otello Nero Di Lambrusco 1813 – Italy Fitz Sparkling Wine – Fitz Pink – England Giusti – Rosalia Prosecco DOC Extra Dry – Italy Graham Beck – Rose NV – South Africa Hic et Nunc – Mète – Italy No. 1 Family Estate – Cuvee No.1 – New Zealand Radgonske Gorice – Zlata Radonska Penina Rose Extra Dry 2015 – Slovenia Radgonske Gorice – Zlata Radonska Penina Brut 2015 – Slovenia Terre de la Custodia – Colli Martani Spumante Met. Class. Gladius 2014 – Italy Venturini Baldini – Graniers Malvasia Colli di Scandiano e di Canossa DOP – Italy Vina Povh – Rose Prèstige – Slovenia Vinarstvo Rebula – Rosa – Slovenia Weingut Steininger – Grüner Veltliner Reserve Sekt 2016 – Austria Silver Medal Winners Meditation: Graham Beck – Blanc de Blancs 2014 – South Africa Le Morette – Metodo Classico Spumante Brut – Italy Pere Ventura – Tressor Cuvee 2015 – Spain Puklavec Family Wines – Friends Sauvignon Blanc Sparkling – Slovenia Vina Gjerkeš – Brut Rose 2016 – Slovenia

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Vinakoper – Capris Marine Sec – Slovenia Silver Medal Winners - Creamy Champagne Roger Brun – Cuvée des Sires 2014 – France Hic et Nunc – Marsia – Italy Pere Ventura – Tresor Organic – Spain Tohu – Reserve ‘Rewa’ Blanc De Blanc 2013 – New Zealand Silver Medal Winners Gastronomic Braunewell – Pinot Prestige – Germany Cantine Ceci Spa – Terre Verdiane Lambrusco Secco – Italy Graham Beck – Pinot Noir Rose 2014 – South Africa Luretta – On Attend Les Invitès – Italy Motzenbacker – Blanc de Blancs Brut – Germany Roger-Constant Lemaire – Cuvée Trianon – France Silver Medal Winners - Vintage Domaine les Dieux – Claudia Brut MCC 2013 – South Africa Vinska klet Žorž – Sparkling Wine Rose Rea – Slovenia Silver Medal Winners - Fireworks: Vina Kauran – Victoria 2010 – Slovenia

The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly 2019 Silver Medal Winners - Classic & Elegant Cavas Naveran – Perles Roses – Spain Champagne Colette Bonnet – Pinot Noir 2014 – France Champagne Paul Launois – Monochrome – France Fox & Fox – Inspiration 2014 – England Graham Beck – Cuvee Clive 2014 – South Africa Paolo Ferri – Preja VSQ – Italy Societa Agricola Bruscia – Conte Giulio Brut – Italy Tenuta Mazzolino – ‘Cruasé’ Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico Pinot Nero Rosé – Italy Venturini Baldini – Cadelvento (Lambrusco Spumante DOP) – Italy Silver Medal Winners Hint of Spice: Cavas Naveran – Perles D’Or – Spain La Leccia – BOH Brut Rosé – Italy Motzenbacker – Riesling Sandstein Brut – Germany Steyer – Vaneja Diseca Penina – Slovenia Stoka – Prima White Sparkling – Slovenia Stoka – Prima Teran Sparkling – Slovenia Vina Gjerkeš – Brut Nature 2014 – Slovenia Silver Medal Winners - Zesty & Zingy Champagne Bernard Pertois – Cuvee de Reserve Grand Cru – France Bisol – Jeio Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra Dry – Italy Champagne Autréau – Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV – France Champagne Bernard Lonclas – Blanc de Blancs Brut – France Citra Vini Soc. Coop – Spumante di

Qualità Fenaroli Pecorino 12 Months – Italy Foss Marai – Strada Di Guia Extra Dry – Italy Frank John Das Hirschhorner Weinkontor – 2014 Riesling Brut – Germany Graham Beck – Brut Zero 2012 – South Africa Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery – Grand Reserve Entourge Sparkling Brut – Canada Medot – Extra Brut Cuvee – Slovenia Medot – Millesime 2011 – Slovenia Poulton Hill Estate – Bulari Sparkling White 2016 – England Radgonske Gorice – Zlata Radgonska Penina ‘Selection’ Sans Dosage 2015 – Slovenia Radgonske Gorice – Zlata Radgonska Penina ‘Selection’ Brut 2016 – Slovenia Silveri – Brut Nature – Slovenia Silveri – Blanc de Blancs – Slovenia Vinakoper – Capris Marine Brut – Slovenia Wein und Sektgut F.B.Schönleber – Prestige Riesling Brut – Germany Silver Medal Winners - First Date Champagne Bernard Lonclas – Blanc de Blanc Extra Brut – France Champagne Duval-Leroy – Prestige Extra-Brut – France Woodchurch Wine Estate – Blanc de Blancs 2014 – England Silver Medal Winners Sea Breeze: Bisol – Jeio Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut – Italy Giusti – Giusti Asolo Prosecco

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The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly 2019 Superiore DOCG Extra Brut – Italy Lantieri – Franciacorta Satèn – Italy Radgonske Gorice – Zlata Radgonska Penina Brut Nature 2012 – Slovenia Radgonske Gorice – Zlata Radgonska Penina Extra Dry 2015 – Slovenia Wein und Sektgut F.B.Schönleber – Creation Riesling+Pinot Noir Brut 2012 – Germany Silver Medal Winners -Summer Days Denbies Wine Estate – Sparkling Bacchus 2016 – England Venturini Baldini – Rubino del Cerro (Lambrusco Spumante DOP) – Italy Villa Sandi – Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Dry Rive di San Pietro di Barbozza – Italy Vina Kobal – Rose Penina – Slovenia Silver Medal Winners - Oaky & Toasty Citra Vini Soc. Coop – Spumante di Qualità Fenaroli Pecorino 36 Months – Italy Silver Medal Winners - Spring Fling Ciodet Spumanti – Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra Dry Millesimato 2018 ‘Giosuè’ – Italy Citra Vini Soc. Coop – Waitrose Sparkling Pecorino – Italy Fitz Sparkling Wine – Fitz Classic – England Graham Beck – Brut NV – South Africa Motzenbacker -Mond Brut Nature – Germany Sosolič Vina – Virus 7 – Slovenia Tenuta Amadio – Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra Dry – Italy

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Villa Sandi – Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze La Rivetta 2018 – Italy Vino Cooperativo Abruzzo – Vin.Co Spumante Rosé Extra Dry – Italy Zonin – Zonin Prosecco DOC Cuvée 1821 – Italy Silver Medal Winners - Forget Me Not Ducal – Sontia 2015 Brut Nature – Slovenia Foss Marai – Roos Brut – Italy No. 1 Family Estate – No.1 Rose – New Zealand Weingut Reiterer – Rosé Schilcher Sekt – Austria Silver Medal Winners - Winter Warmes Champagne Roger Brun – Rosé Romance 2015 – France Vinakoper – Capris Refošk – Slovenia Vinarstvo Rebula – TerraVita – Slovenia Silver Medal Winners - Dessert Glöet White – Sparkling Glögg – Spain

Bronze Medal Winners - Light & Fruity B.Brut – Tradition – Luxembourg Domačija pr’ Cenetovih – Teranova Penina – Slovenia

The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly 2019 Giusti – Giusti Sparkling Rosé – Italy Vino Koznic – Joker Bela Frankinja – Slovenia Vinogradništvo Štemberger – Šentjernejska Penina White – Slovenia Weingut Jordan – Black Edition VeltinerSekt Brut – Austria Weingut Reiterer – Schilcher Sekt Engelweingarten Alte Reben – Austria

Fox & Fox – Essence Brut 2014 – England Lantieri – Franciacorta Brut Arcadia – Italy Motzenbacker – Marie Brut – Germany Woodchurch Wine Estate – Classic Cuvée 2015 – England

Bronze Medal Winners - Gastronomic

Citra Vini Soc. Coop – Primae Lucis – Italy Sparkling Wine Hause Frangež – Traminer Brut Nature – Slovenia Steller’s Jay – Mountain Jay Brut – Canada

Čarga 1767 – Donna Regina Brut Nature 2013 – Slovenia Domaine Roland Van Hecke – Cremant de Bourgogne Cuvee Chardonnay – France Martincic – Penina Plus 2015 – Slovenia Penine Simonic – Semiska Penina Barrique – Slovenia Penine Simonic – Semiska Penina Brut – Slovenia Vinska Klet Mastnak – Penina Valentina Suho 2016 – Slovenia

Bronze Medal Winners - Classic & Elegant

Bronze Medal Winners Sea Breeze:

Luretta – Pas Dosè – Italy Vinosimcic – Penina Simčič – Slovenia Bronze Medal Winners - Fireworks

Cantina Rotaliana – R Extra Brut Trentodoc – Italy Bronze Medal Winners Hint of Spice: Bolney Wine Estate – Blanc de Noirs – England Čarga 1767 – Donna Regina Noir 2013 – Slovenia Bronze Medal Winners - Zesty & Zingy

Bronze Medal Winners First Date:

Bisol – Crede Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut 2018 – Italy Giusti – Giusti Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut – Italy Vinska klet Frelih – Frelih Brut Nature 2016 – Slovenia Bronze Medal Winners - Summer Days Fiol Prosecco – Fiol Prosecco DOC – Italy Foss Marai – Cartizze Dry – Italy

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The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly 2019 Lantieri – Franciacorta Brut – Italy Luretta – Principessa – Italy Schlumberger – Grüner Veltliner – Austria Societa Agricola Bruscia – Bru Rose – Italy Stoka – Prima Rose Sparkling – Slovenia Villa Sandi – Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut Biodiversity – Italy

Abruzzo Spumante DOP Rosé Brut – Italy

Bronze Medal Winners Oaky & Toasty:

Puklavec Family Wines – Seven Numbers Brut – Slovenia Vinogradništvo Štemberger – Šentjernejska Penina Rose – Slovenia

Brič – Penina Sivi Pinot – Slovenia Bronze Medal Winners Spring Fling: Bjana Winery – Brut – Slovenia Cantina di Solopaca – Falanghina del Sannio DOP VSQ Brut – Italy Martincic – Penina Rose 2017 – Slovenia Vino Cooperativo Abruzzo – Vin.Co Abruzzo Spumante DOP Bianco Brut – Italy Vino Koznic – Joker Zara – Slovenia Vinska klet Frelih – Frelih Rosé Brut Nature 2016 – Slovenia Bronze Medal Winners - Forget Me Not Vino Cooperativo Abruzzo – Vin.Co Spumante Bianco Extra Dry – Italy Vino Cooperativo Abruzzo – Vin.Co

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Bronze Medal Winners - Winter Warmer Brič – Penina Brič – Slovenia Highly Commended Winners Light & Fruity

The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly 2019 Highly Commended Winners - Fireworks Finndeli – Glubbel – Spain

Highly Commended Winners = Oaky & Toasty Vipava 1894 – Theodosius 2017 – Italy

Highly Commended Winners - Zesty & Zingy Arunda – Extra Brut Riserva 2013 – Italy Citra Vini Soc. Coop – Rina Passerina – Italy

Highly Commended Winners Spring Fling Pere Ventura – Tresor Brut Reserva – Spain Vino Koznic – Joker Nord – Slovenia Žaren – Albiana Brut – Slovenia

Highly Commended Winners - First Date Vipava 1894 – Brut, 2016 – Slovenia Highly Commended Winners - Sea Breeze: Vina Gjerkeš – Brut 2017 – Slovenia

Highly Commended Winners Forget Me Not Citra Vini Soc. Coop – Rino Pecorino – Italy Gozy – Sparkling Rosé Sangria – Spain

Highly Commended - Winners Dessert Highly Commended Winners - Gozy – White Sparkling Sangria – Spain Summer Days Valentino Butussi – Ribolla Gialla Brut – Italy

“thankWeeverywouldwinelike to

label that submitted their wines to be judged.

Chris and Eve Walkey

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T

here remains a fascination, bordering on fandom, about Napoléon Bonaparte 250 years after his birth and almost two centuries after his death.

Rheims-based craft Champagne house Frerejean Brother has released its “homage to the great man” who ruled France with “a cuvee worthy of our savoir-faire.”

The cuvee is made from 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay, all from premier cru vineyards. It has spent five years on lees in the cellar. Once disgorged, the house left it resting for around six months. It is a limited run of 8,000 bottles, all numbered, and

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priced at €49 from the vineyard’s website. This Champagne offers aromas of dried fruits, some honey, almonds, with fresh notes of apple and pear, creamy brioche.

It is ideal as an aperitif and with aged Iberico ham or risotto.

Here’s the thing. The Revolution wasn’t working out too great for France. The beheading of the King was only the beginning of the Robespierre reign of terror. Revolutionary France was an incredibly violent place, and no solid government was able to maintain power.

There was a lack of good government, full of corruption and orchestrating more killings.

Napoléon was not a violent dictator who killed a beloved group of leaders and gained power.

Vive L’Emperur!

A Corsican of middle status, the French Revolution allowed him the opportunity to rise up through the ranks of the French army and gain more power that would not have been possible in pre-Revolutionary France. Once he gained power, he restructured the entire country, combining ideals from both the Revolution and the monarchy in order to create a powerful, more unified France.

This is the legacy that this wine is celebrating.

According to Thomas Jequece, Frerejean Brother marketing and communication manager, almost 10% of production was sold in little more than two months after release. He says: “For now approximately 700 bottles have been sold but the number is growing day by day.

“If we could sell all the bottles for €49 it would be amazing but a lot of them will be sold to worldwide distributors. We won’t get a €400,000 income for this cuvee but we will still obtain a significant share of revenue for our business.”

With 30 years of Champagne expertise, the Frerejean Brother team is rooted in the region.

That’s why they are “proud to call Avize home.”

The company was created in 2005. Founders, Guillaume, Richard and Rodolphe FrerejeanTaittinger, live between Paris and Champagne, with their families. The family has a direct link with Napoleon: they are the latest generation in a line of

cannon-makers who supplied the French army defending the region against the Prussians, during the Napoleonic Wars.

Jequece says: “We are small producers and we are not looking to do millions of bottles, the quality of the grapes we are using (Premier and Grand Cru) have a really small yield and even if we wanted we could not produce as much bottles.

“We are a niche house looking to provide the best wine of Champagnes we could craft to the consumers and to give them transparent cuvees, low dosage, a long aging in cellar, late disgorgement.”

Most of wine sold so far has been in Australasia and France.

The Frerejean Brothers developed this cuvee along with the largest association relating to Napoléon Bonaparte, Le Souvenir Napoléonien. Among its members are the heirs of Joachim Murat and Napoléon Bonaparte who agreed to let the house to develop this cuvee in partnership with the Association, allowing it to be enjoyed by history lovers and collectors.

As this a limited edition, the brothers will sell it for no more than two years. That is why Jequece hope that all bottles will be sold from this year to end of next years. In addition, the brothers also launched 38 Jéroboams (3 litres - 100% chardonnay - Blanc de Blancs) of the cuvee.

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OPENING THE BOTTLE THE LATEST SPARKLING WINE NEWS

Forty years in the making

CHAMPAGNE AR Lenoble will be releasing 100 bottles of AR Lenoble Collection Rare Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Vintage 1979 at the end of 2019.

These bottles will be disgorged in the weeks to come after 39 years on the lees. The 1979 vintage is already legendary in Champagne but these particular 100 bottles have been ageing in their 18th century chalk cellars at AR Lenoble since June 1980 “so imagine the legendary 1979 vintage after 39 years on the lees in absolutely perfect conditions,” says Christian Holthausen Export Sales and International Communications Director at Champagne AR Lenoble. Each bottle cost €275s. All 100 bottles were sold out in 15 minutes!

The name’s Bollinger, Champagne Bollinger IN 1979, Champagne Bollinger appeared on screen with the release of Moonraker, becoming the Official Champagne for the famous British secret agent. The partnership has evolved over the years and is now a recognisable part of the legacy of both brands.

"It brings me an immense amount of pride to be celebrating 40 years of partnership between Bollinger and James Bond, it is a testament to the friendship started in 1979, between my father Christian Bizot and James Bond producer Cubby Broccoli. A friendship based on our shared values such as excellence and elegance,” said Etienne Bizot, Société Jacques Bollinger CEO. Moonraker, released forty years ago, featured James Bond whose mission took him on an outer space adventure. It was also the movie on which the Bond and Bollinger partnership began. To celebrate their 40 year partnership, Champagne Bollinger 20

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and 007 pay tribute to their shared heritage and revisit the space shuttle created by legendary production designer Ken Adam.

Champagne Bollinger enlisted designer Eric Berthes to re-imagine the Moonraker space shuttle.

Crafted from pewter and wood veneer, encasing a Saint Louis crystal ice bucket and a Magnum of Bollinger 2007, the Bond vintage par excellence.

Each numbered piece has been crafted and finished by hand, making it unique.

Limited edition of 407 copies.

RRP £4,500.

The 40th anniversary of the partnership will be celebrated in Paris on the 7th November, with a special unveiling of the Bollinger Tribute to Moonraker Luxury Limited Edition.

Champagne Frerejean Frères is proud to be the official Champagne partner of the Championnat de France de Polo 2019.

Müllerlight launches G&T yogurt, but no sign of a Champagne one

THE UK’s favourite yogurt brand Müller has launched its first gin & tonic-inspired yogurt.

Made with milk from British farms, the yogurt is fat free, high in protein and contains 0% added sugar.

However, there are no plans to develop a Sparkling Wine version.

Jack Gorman, Communications Manager, Müller UK & Ireland, says: “There are no pkans currently, but our R&D team always have new products in the pipeline (currently over 100) so perhaps in the future!”

Zardotto releases new packaging and updates range ZARDOTTO, a leading producer of Prosecco, has released new packaging and an updated range of wines.

The new dual-layered labels, which were created by

award-winning Italian design agency Robilant Associati, are designed to be peeled back, unveiling an inside layer of colourful artwork that is unique to each wine.

Surprise phrases on the inside of the peel-away label on the Prosecco DOC Brut and Sparkling Rosé Extra Dry share contemporary Italian expressions, translated into English, Additionally, a new bottle shape was designed for the range, carrying the Zardetto name embossed in glass.

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ALBION FIZZES

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CRY GOD FOR ENGLAND

C anopy Market King’s Cross in London’s up-and-coming St Pancras quarter was the setting on August Bank Holiday Weekend for retailer Wine Pantry’s Nathan Mey-

ers and Julia Stafford to work closely with the Market and producers to host what promises to be a fantastic 2019 vintage.

The free event was an extension of the Canopy Market’s resident traders and where you could taste award-winning English wines by the glass, sample and choose bottles to take away or book tailored wine tastings in advance.

The day offered a £20pp Sampler where visitors were greeted with a glass of English Sparkling Wine and offered a tutored walk-around tasting of award-winning wines.

English Sparkling Wine was in great form, with the bus from Hambledon parked up to entertain guests.

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OPENING THE BOTTLE THE LATEST SPARKLING WINE NEWS

Cherries, zingy and very red

THE brand notorious for flipping the world of wine on its cork, Apothic announced the US release of its first limited-edition Apothic Sparkling Red. The colour of an iconic 80s red leather jacket, Apothic’s scarlet sparkler was masterfully crafted to be surprisingly refreshing with its lines of ruby bubbles and its notes of bright cherries, zingy citrus and red apples.

“Our fans love sparkling wine, but wish it could be less

pretentious, less delicate and more flavorful,” said Heather Austin, Apothic’s Director of Marketing. “Apothic Sparkling Red is a departure from all things conventional sparkling wine. It’s not white, it’s unexpectedly red and surprisingly refreshing. It’s not arrogant or pretentious; it’s rocking out with friends or watching your favourite streaming show.”

Limited-edition Apothic Sparkling Red pairs with everything and is now available in the US for $15.99 (SRP)

A NEW KIND OF WILD LIFE WILD Life Botanicals is a pioneering sparkling wine that is set to raise the bar by introducing the exciting new concept of #BubblesWithBenefits.

Ultra-low in alcohol yet ultra-high in goodness, this unique English bubbly crafted in Cornwall, is infused with an uplifting elixir of vitamins, minerals and botanicals each chosen for their health-giving properties. Its elixir also delivers a minimum 15% of your daily reference intake.

At only 0.5% ABV and less than 35 calories per glass, Wild Life Botanicals champions a 'no limits' lifestyle.

HUSH Heath Estate in Kent. E Marine to create bespoke bot Brut Rose for the launch of th centre in Portsmouth. in the s

Billionaires Ro BILLIONAIRES Row Global is set to release its Champagnes William L. Benson, Cuvee Billionaires Row “Magnifique” Brut and Cuvee Billionaires Row “Glamour” Rose Brut this holiday season in the United States. Billionaires Row Champagnes are already sold in many countries around the globe.

William Benson, founder of Billionaires Row Global. said: “Billionaires Row Global plans to introduce our Billionaires Row branded Champagnes, caviar, merchandising, clothing and lifestyle to larger world audiences than ever before.”

What’s in a name? I

What’s in a na

BBC bosses have banned Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood from using his ‘fab-u-lous’ catchphrase on wine bottles as he prepares to build a vineyard, according to the Daily Mail.

There were reports last month that the 54-year-old has been blocked from cashing in on the term by flogging wine from his Hampshire vineyard estate. The Australian had been hoping to use the term to adorn his white wines, which he described as “Champagne” - which he has been dreaming of making alongside horticulturalist boyfriend Jonathan Myring.

UK media reports in the summ winemakers ditched the name ‘ market volumes had cheapened Instead, names such as “Valdobb the area in northern Italy wher The recognisable name of Prose ENTLY as some growers, have a vineyards, of making the brand its popularity.

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Sparkling Wine Advent calendar with 24 mini-bottles of seasonal cheer

England worked with Viking ttles of its signature Balfour he new Virgin Voyages training south of England.

ow set to expand IN the run-up to Christmas this year, there is a warning that you better get really good at popping corks in a new way. London-based website retailer The Pip Stop says: “Our Sparkling Wine Advent calendar is a decadent mixture of 20cl bottles white and rosé fizz includ-

ing Prosecco, Cava and Champagne. It is perfect for putting an element of sparkle into your festive season.”

Advent calendars can be fun, but it can also get a little dull to eat the same mediocre piece of chocolate every day, which spurred the development of this

delectable selection.

The set is priced at £125, with 24 mini bottles of white and rosé sparkling wine, the bottles are hidden inside a seriously chic black and silver advent box that honestly makes a great holiday decoration in and of itself.

Pre-orders opened in September.

ame? II

mer suggested that “snooty” Italian ‘Prosecco’ from labels as mass d the brand’s name. biadene” and “Conegliano”, after re it is produced, are being used. ecco is being changed APPARaccused new, industrial-scale cheap and tasteless to cash in on

IN August, La Marca Prosecco launched Celebreaks, a campaign that invites consumers to take a moment to celebrate the small wins in life. A survey revealed that nearly one third of adults

rarely or never celebrate their own successes, despite the fact that approximately half of people feel happier and more energised when taking time for themselves.

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OPENING THE BOTTLE THE LATEST SPARKLING WINE NEWS

SPARKLING S NEW COCKT

The #MYCHAMPAGNE experience is back THIS second iteration brought together 10 new influencers representing nine European countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom. During the four days of activity, they were able to discover the secrets of Champagne and its exceptional terroir with the Champagne professionals.

Through their social media, they shared their exceptional week with their Instagram followers, all the publications were relayed with the hashtag #MYCHAMPAGNE: discovery of the vineyard, meeting with the growers and the Houses, tasting, cultural discoveries.

As the message-deliverers, these 10 influencers shared their experience to the new generation and less traditional target audience and aroused interest for Champagne.

If you have missed this event, do not worry ... you can find the highlights on Instagram with the hashtag #MYCHAMPAGNE and on the official account of Champagne, @Champagne_Officiel.

IN September 2019, the bar at Simpson’s in the Strand will launch its new menu concept, which explores cocktails designed for different moments in the day. The cocktails range from short and invigorating ‘Sharpeners’, designed to enliven the early evening, to ‘One for the road’ tipples to be enjoyed after a meal in the Grand Divan.

Effortlessly mixing the finest spirits, fruits, tonics and bitters, the bartenders will create understated yet unforgettable serves and a welcoming bar

Check out these 10 personalities via their Instagram accounts: Thai-Hien LAM, Germany - @thai.lam Leonie-Rachel SOYEL, Austria - @leonie_rachel Jens FISSERS, Belgium - @jensfissers Patricia FERNANDEZ ORDIZ, Spain - @compartemimoda VIRGIN Sarah BENZIANE, France - @lescolonnesdesarah Voyages, the Paulette CHEVALIER, France - @paulettedittout new lifestyle Nadia EL FERDAOUSSI, Ireland - @nadia_dailyself brand set to disrupt the travel industry, has Ezio TOTORIZZO, Italy - @eziomrlifestyle revealed an exclusive on-demand Champagne Sarah KIM, Nederlands - @lusttilldawn delivery service, Shake for Champagne. Continuing Katy KATKOVA, UK - @eastlondonmornings to create the most irresistible experiences at sea, Virgin Voyages is enabling ‘sailors’ to request Follow the Champagne official account on Champagne, anywhere on board Scarlet Lady, with Instagram: @Champagne_Officiel a simple shake of their phone.

Those looking to take indulgence to the next level, 26 GLASS of BUBBLY - WINTER 2019

SIMPSON’S TAILS

Luck of the Irish bubbles up in 2018

atmosphere.

The cocktail menu will be divided into six sections. Capricious drinkers will be able to choose a libation that suits their mood; a long day can be redefined with an enlivening Pisco Punch (Pisco, peach, grape, gentian, English Sparkling Wine) from the peppy ‘Pick me up’ section, while Sharpener | Death in the afternoon | Champagne, banana, absinthe. The bar at Simpson’s in the Strand provides a convivial haven away from the bustle of the metropolis.

SALES of sparkling wine, including Prosecco and Champagne, almost doubled in Ireland between 2017 and 2018.

In 2017, sparkling wine made up 2.7% of wine sold. A year later it accounted for 4.7% of the Irish wine market.

White wine was the drink of choice for the Irish, as 49% of wine drinkers in 2018, followed by red wine at 46%.

Furleigh’s premium launch

ONE of England’s premier vineyards, Furleigh Estate, has released a new range of super-premium sparkling wines.

The prestigious ‘From the Oenothèque’ range was unveiled in time for English Wine Week this year.

Oenothèque means ‘wine cellar’ and range reflects the lengthy production and cellaring process the wines in this range undergo before they are released.

Releases are very limited and are only made in exceptional years.

Displayed in a beautiful presentation box with a RRP of £49.50.

BA GOT A LITTE MORE BRITISH BRITISH Airways celebrated its centenary year in 2019 with the launch of its own English Sparkling Wine from the

award-winning Hattingley Valley in July. a 2015 Blanc de Noir, a Pinot Noir dominant blend,.

VIRGIN VOYAGES TO FEATURE ON-DEMAND CHAMPAGNE

can also treat themselves in the newly revealed luxurious Champagne lounge and caviar bar, Sip. “It is never too early for Champagne and there is always something to toast to while aboard Scarlet Lady. We want our Sailors to enjoy a glamorous holiday and what better way to feel like a RockStar than a sip of bubbly whenever and wherever you want it,” said Tom Mcalpin, CEO of Virgin Voyages. , When the Virgin Voyages Sailor App is shaken,

a secret Virgin Voyages Champagne button is revealed and, with just one press, a bottle of Möet Chandon Impérial will be delivered to the Sailor.

“There’s nothing more luxurious than having Champagne at your beck and call or even a shake.

We are committed to creating the world’s most irresistible travel brand, so we thought long and hard about how to help our sailors effortlessly get a sip of bubbly during their voyage, and presto Shake for Champagne was conjured up!” said Nathan Rosenberg, CMO Virgin Voyages.

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GOGGLEBOX USA L

ast month, the US Television Academy chose Ferrari Trentodoc as the official sparkling wine of television’s most glamorous celebration for the fifth year in a row.

Ferrari Trento was served as the sparkling toast of the Emmy Awards season, bringing a taste of The Italian Art of Living to Hollywood. The 71st Emmy Awards aired live coast to coast in the US from the Microsoft Theater at L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles on September 22.

Immediately following the telecast, the official Emmy Awards after-party celebration – the Governors Ball – kicked off as bottles of Ferrari sparkling wines are uncorked for the winners, nominees and other television luminaries.

The Emmy Awards are the most prestigious annual event for the US television industry. The design concept of this year’s Governors Ball, Brilliance in Motion, “…uses rays of colour and a sense of upward motion to reflect the brilliance and energy of today’s television

industry,” noted Maury McIntyre, president and COO of the Television Academy.

Ferrari Brut Trentodoc welcomed guests as they stepped into the exclusive gala alongside a glittering tower of Ferrari large format bottles.

Throughout the evening, guests toasted the winners and all who contribute to excellence in television with a choice of scintillating Trentodoc sparklers including Ferrari Brut, Ferrari Rosé and Ferrari Perlé.

“We are genuinely proud that for the fifth consecutive year, the Television Academy has selected Ferrari Trento as the official sparkling wine of the Emmy Awards Season,” commented Matteo Lunelli, president of Ferrari Trento. “Once again we will bring a touch of Italian style to one of the most glamorous events in the city of Los Angeles, celebrating the creativity and dynamism in the television industry with our Trentodoc sparkling wines.”

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The Glass of Bub

London's biggest trade and press tasting for and food pairings.

London’s Champagne and Sparkling Wine annual trade and press tasting attracting international buyers and merchants.

Taking place for the first time at the magnificent Savoy Hotel in London on April 7, 2020 (10am - 4pm).

Stands from just ÂŁ500 + VAT.

REGISTER NOW: WWW.GLASSOFBUBBLY.COM

Our event is open exclusively to trade

bbly Show 2020

r Champagne, Sparkling Wines, Fizz cocktails Get your wines in front of buyers, importers, distributors, sommeliers, Masters of Wine, hotels, restaurants, bars, press and many more - the perfetcway to showcase your wines at one of London’s most prestigious and luxury locations - The Savoy Hotel

REGISTER NOW: WWW.GLASSOFBUBBLY.COM

e, and press and social media influencrs

Christmas gifts drive Bentley’s conclusion of its centenary B

ritish luxury motor manufacturer Bentley has curated a selection of exquisite gifts to celebrate its Centenary year as it draws to a close, inspired by the luxury automotive brand’s renowned craftsmanship and design excellence.

The Bentley Collection includes something for everyone: from stylish and practical men’s accessories such as a Bentley umbrella, ‘B’ logo cufflinks or a car key USB, to ladies’ accessories such as driving gloves, a leather clutch or jewellery case.

The Bentley Collection also features stunning homewares such as Flying B bottle-stopper, a lambswool Bentley blanket and silver-plated photo frames.

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Bentley’s ongoing partnership with renowned pen and pencil maker Graf von Faber-Castell continues with a new collection of pens, including a Fountain Pen, Ballpoint Pen and Rollerball Pen. Featuring an exquisite barrel crafted from ebony and platinum-plated metalwork, the new pens make the perfect gift for a loved one or finishing touch to your holiday cards, or just a self-indulgance.

The Crooked Handle classic umbrella is designed for the most debonair of men.

Its hand-stitched leather handle and distinctive matrix grille pattern on the canopy underside are evocative of classic and iconic

Bentley automobile designs.

The Bentley ‘B’ Cufflinks and Bentley Car Key USB Stick might be the perfect size for stocking-fillers, but these gloriously elegant gifts embrace the refined and modern style for which Bentley is noted, and will not disappoint the wellheeled Bentley Boy. For proud new owners of the Bentley Jewellery collection – a range of diamond-set fine jewellery pieces crafted in 18k white and rose gold, inspired by Bentley – a safe new home exists: the leather Jewellery Case.

A handsome addition to any dressing table and the ideal gift for the jewellery lover.

FIRST UK VINEYARD HOTEL

The UK’s first vineyard hotel has opened its doors in Hensol in South Wales.

L

lanerch Hotel is the result of a £2 million investment by Ryan Davies, owner of Llanerch Vineyard, which is home to the award-winning Cariad wines.

The two-storey hotel, situated in the heart of the vineyard, which is just 20 minutes from Cardiff, comprises 26 rooms and suites, each with uninterrupted views of the Welsh countryside.

As well as Llanerch’s popular wine tasting and vineyard tours, Llanerch is also home to an award-winning restaurant, which serves lunch, dinner and afternoon teas in the vineyard throughout the week.

As well as the new rooms, including several accessible rooms and dog-friendly rooms, the new hotel includes additional meeting and conference rooms for corporate events.

“To become the first vineyard hotel in the UK is a fantastic achievement for the team at Llanerch,” said Ryan Davies, owner of Llanerch Vineyard. “Across Europe, wine hotels are very popular and we wanted to bring that unique experience to south Wales.”

Davies took over the vineyard, which is one of the oldest in Wales, in 2010 with the aim to replicate the successful wine tourism models he had seen whilst working in

Ryan Davues

vineyards in New Zealand and Australia, where vineyards are tourist attractions in their own right, offering restaurants, weddings and events, in addition to traditional wine tasting and vineyard experiences.

Llanerch is now the largest commercial vineyard in Wales. It attracts visitors with its award-winning restaurant and bar, unique marquee and lodge wedding venues, on site cookery school owned by Angela Grey and wine tasting and vineyard tours.

Llanerch now harvests up to 12 tonnes of grapes and produces around 10,000 bottles of Cariad wine annually. Available as a sparkling blush, a sparkling brut, a dry white, a medium dry white and a rose, the wines are available in Llanerch restaurant and the vineyard shop.

Davies said: “The popularity of Cardiff, which is just 20 minutes away, as an events destination for everything from rugby to concerts has also pushed up demand for high quality accommodation in south Wales.”

The vineyard’s existing courtyard rooms, set in an original stone outbuilding, have also been fully refurbished in keeping with the new hotel.

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A t Sek

M

any people associate German with fine beers, beer festivals and lederhosen. However, what is not generally known is that the country also consumes higher than average volumes of Sparkling Wines. Germans enjoy some five bottles per person annually.

This consumption figure sits around three million hectolitres, which in turn works out to be a volume of around 10,000 Olympic swimming pools.

The size of Germany’s thirst for fizz means that a lot of it is home produced Sparkling Wine that is initially purchased as wine from abroad and then given its bubbles on German soil.

In relation to production, then Germany also performs very well, sitting in third place for the amount produced annually.

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Much of this wine produced is of lower alcohol level and there is only a small proportion of Sparkling Wines grown in vineyards and produced within the country. This is a trend is starting to grow.

Many Germans in the past ventured over to France, specifically the Champagne region, to study and learn the art of making fizz which led to many staying and forming some of the now most well-known labels such as Piper Heidsieck, Mumm, Krug and Bollinger.

German sparkling wines are still not as popular regarding export compared to the likes of Prosecco, Champagne and Cava. Germans tend to drink what they produce and over 80% of what is made in Germany is consumed there.

Exports are growing and there is great excitement bubbling away in expectation that there is a whole new world of great fizz yet to be discovered by those outside of the country.

l a e App

Styles of German sparkling wine

We put some German sparkling wines to the test so we selected four award winning sparkling wines from our library to taste and review:

Sekt: Cheaper, produced sparkling wine, usually lower alcohol level and grape juice purchased from abroad .

German Sekt: Pretty much the same standard as Sekt, though you are assured that the wine comes from Germany grape production not abroad.

German Sekt b.A.: Improvement from German Sekt in that the wine is made within a protected and classified wine growing region from the 13 official German wines regions.

Winzersekt: Even more details on the production method are shared: where the grape variety, the production year and method are stated as well as the wine having to be grown and produced within the same region as stated.

Oberhofer – Spatlese Cremant Pfalz Chardonnay 2014: A warm golden colour.

Honey, floral, ripe yellow fruits on the nose. Crisp, refreshing, golden fruits, touch of green grass / herbs in flavours. The sparkling wine was most enjoyable and of a great standard.

Braunewell Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay Brut Nature: Touch of honeycomb, floral, dried apricots on the nose.

Crisp, touch dry flavours including green fruits, lemon zest, bruised apples and more.

Easy to drink and enjoy.

F.B. Schönleber Riesling – Spatburgunder Rheingau

Creation: Nose offers golden fruits, honey, herbs, olives and greengage. Touch dry though fine and complex flavours, most pleasing – Touch of citrus, green fruits, brioche, floral and more. This is a gold medal winning wine within the category of ‘Gastronomic’ at The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly Awards 2018.

Stengel 30 Cuvee Brut: Tropical and faint citrus / honey on the nose. Touch of sweetness though overly and annoying, easy to drink and enjoy anytime with yellow and greengage fruits and a delicate honey undertone. Big thumbs up for this bubbly!

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Chris’s champagne clinic

THINGS YOU WANT CHAMPAGNE, BUT

Our co-founder Christopher Walkey tackles some tricky concerns that come with enjoying Champagne.

SO you have bought or earned that bottle of Champagne. It is totally down to you how you enjoy it right? I am not going to tell you how to drink your well earned bubbles, there is no “perfect way”, but I’d question you if you have ever been guilty of any of the following Champagne crimes.

Champagne for many of us is a special treat; something we associate with celebrations. We receive as a gift or that treat which we add to our weekly shopping basket.

There are thousands of labels and styles to enjoy and many a fantastic memory will have no doubt involved Champagne in our lives. Here are a few little hints and tips to take note of for the next time you get that chilled bottle out from the fridge and start unwrapping the foil from around the neck of the bottle.

e ou serv y d l u o e sh peratur m may e t t a e there il h w At wh agne? ; s e ld? Y , did Champ u serve it too co arm Champagne pagne CAN yo g worse than w oling your Cham both be nothin that by overco l lose qualities in emw t you kno served you wil recommended -10°C is e when it nd flavours. Th hampagne is at 8 a aromas to be serving C e Popping the cork r u t pera corking with a ‘w loudly over gently unWE love that soun hisper’ d we? We are remin of the popping cork don’t ded, especially by Sommeliers, that the best way to pagne is to hold it open a bottle of Chamat your thumb on th a 45 degree angle, place e top of the cork, un cage and twist the bottle whilst grippi twist the cork so to release ng the it whisper sound over gently omitting more of a a loud popping sound.

Not reading the label correctly know THE ;abel is there to not only let you and that the wine is indeed Champagne you give who the maker is, but it will also and such facts as the alcohol content, age t / importantly the style such as dry / bru 36

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extra brut / rosé. r many Make sure you read the label as I hea that times that people will pick up a bottle ing is simply too sweet for their liking hav t. bru picked up a demi-sec rather than a

TED TO KNOW ABOUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK Using Champag n WHAT I am saying e as a weapon have you opened a here is how many times without taking care bottle of Champagne pointing. Make sure of where the cork is and anything that it is away from people co to remember that uld break as you need se each year from fly veral people are killed ing corks which ca n travel around 25 miles pe r ho ur (4 0 kp h) .

The danger was sh own clearly when contestant of the UK version of popua former show Love Island, lar reality T in a freak accident heo Campbell, lost his sight .T gram as he showed he star, 28, took to Instabeen fitted with, an off the eye patch he has with his charitable d asked fans for their support ca He remained posi use. tive and cracked jo kes about the accident that sa after a Champagne w him blinded in one eye split the eyeball in cork flew into his pupil and half, requiring major surgery.

Associating the word Champagne with expensive YES Champagne is not the cheapest of wines to purchase and it will normally be the most expensive option on the wine menu at the local bar, but you needn’t have to pay lots in order to enjoy a fine Champagne. Supermarkets will usually have a sale or two on Champagne putting them in the region of £15 – £20 and some outlets, such as Aldi, you can even enjoy a great bottle of Champagne at under £10!

Of course, you can pay lots and you will get a very fine Champagne, there is a limitless spend in this area, though for those of you simply wanting a great Champagne and no matter what the label then it doesn’t have to be expensive.

Overfilling your glass I’M sure a few angry faces here as we’d prefer a fuller glass over a stingy serving, though it is recommended that you should have no more than half your glass filled which will allow the Champagne to breathe and for you to enjoy the aromas (dependent on glass being used).

Thinking that vintage means old WHEN you see a year on a bottle of Champagne it will mean that it is a vintage, though this does not necessarily mean that the wine inside is old. Vintage means that the grapes used to make the wine were all used from the same year, thus you could be enjoying a vintage Champagne that is only three years old (mostly two/three years for non-vintage) or something back from the last century!

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WINE BROUGHT TO BOOK

The Finest Champagne & Sparkling Wines: Vol. 1 by Christopher Walkey & Stefania Ruffo with a foreword by Michael Edwards.

DISCOVER award-winning Champagne and sparkling wines from The World's Finest Glass of Bubbly Awards with their recommended food pairings. Travel around the world and be inspired by these delicious dishes that you can recreate at home. There are 43 recipes with Champagne or sparkling wine pairings. ÂŁ20.00 from Amazon

The authors

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I have been around the Champagne and sparkling wine scene for a few years now and chalked up over 10,000 tasting notes. Along the way I have enjoyed many marvellous wines around the world that us writers get to enjoy from dining with the wine maker to launching a new vintage; many times this involves some kind of gastronomy.

What struck me towards the beginning

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of my sparkling wine journey was the array of aromas and flavours that these wines offer.

It was clear that they would surely be great to accompany many styles of food both and for refreshing the palate during courses.

I started writing on the subject and soon became acquainted with Stefania Ruffo who shared an equal passion to myself on the subject of fizz and food.

Between us we decided

to put together a series of books dedicated to the subject and have released our first volume.

Each wine in the series will be an award-winning label from the Glass of Bubbly Awards and will have had the exact dish paired with it via either the wine maker or by a local chef; most times it will be a dish of the region that is suggested.

We are now working on volume two, hoping for release in mid-2020.

ONE MINUTE

EXPLAINER:

Prosecco

Where does Prosecco come from?

It is an Italian sparkling wine from the Northern region, Veneto, and only some 25km north of Venice

for now if you spot a rosé fizz from Italy it is likely to be a Spumante.

flavours if you do. There is though a growing trend to experiment and produce more aged vintage Proseccos.

Why is Prosecco so cheap compared to say Champagne? Which is the best Prosecco cocktail?

This will be mostly down to Where did the name Prosecco how Prosecco. It uses a quicker There are so many to chose and more economical system from yet the most popular and originate from? called the Charmant Method easiest to prepare and enjoy is An easy answer here in that the whereas the process for making the Bellini which is simply peach nectar and Prosecco! You can name came from a village in the Champagne is a lot longer, the Northern eastern region of Italy Méthode Champenoise, and will add either fresh mango juice, require a second fermentation tropical fruit juice and even called Prosecco! It is said that orange juice should you prefer this village was where the grapes as well as a minimum of 15 or if that’s all you’ve to hand! for Prosecco originated from. months to be aged (average is 18-30 months for many ChamWhich is the best style of glass What grapes go in to making pagnes). to drink Prosecco from?

Prosecco?

So considering some Prosecco can be ready from the grape Any glass that is handy I hear It will legally be the Glera grape, picking process to popping the with many Prosecco being made cork and enjoying a glass within many people say? Well this is not far away from being fact for from 85% to 100% Glera grapes. three months on some many of us, yet or course we The other varieties which can occasions and Champagne love our flutes with Prosecco be added (up to 15% maximum) needs to be stored a lot longer though you can also equally include Verdiso, Bianchetta then the price points will differ enjoy Prosecco via a white wine Trevigiana, Perera, Chardonnay, considerably. glass.

Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir vinified white.

Can I buy Vintage Prosecco?

How do I become a connoisseur of Prosecco?

Why can I not find pink / rosé There will be some Prosecco Prosecco? that are vintage or as you will Practise and taking an interest in read on the label ‘Millesimato’. what you drink. Though the best Because the prominent grape of This will mean the grapes used Prosecco is a white grape Glera are those harvested only within way to learn about Prosecco is to read educational Prosecco as are all the other permitted that year stated, not that the grapes that can be added (up wine will be old. With Presecco articles or experiment with different styles (brut, dry, extra to 15% only) which then means you can be drinking a there is no way to naturally Millesimato wine the same year dry) and wineries such as Villa Sandi, Ruggeri, Le Marca, Zonin make rosé sparkling wine from it is produced and usually they and more who will likely this region, thus we have no are not meant to be aged for produce a long list of labels to rosé Prosecco! This regulation more than two to three years, taste through. may change in the future, though you will likely lose quality in WINTER 2019 - GLASS of BUBBLY 39

Excellent Sparkling Wines f

If you’re searching for new sparkling wines to try, then you need to s

40 GLASS of BUBBLY - WINTER 2019

from Brazil you need to try

sample these Brazilian sparkling wines, writes Christopher Walkey

M

ost people who think of South American wines think of those from Chile, Argentina or Uruguay.

Brazil probably isn’t the first country that comes to mind, if at all.

However, Brazil’s wine industry is up and coming, and definitely something you need to taste.

In Brazil, wine production is nothing new. In fact, winegrowing in Rio Grande do Sul, which is Brazil’s major growing region, dates back to at least the 17th century.

However, these vineyards were destroyed by slave-gathering gangs called bandeiras.

The country did not start growing and making wine until the mid 19th century when Italian immigrants settled in the region.

The Italian immigrants brought with them wine-growing traditions and equipment, allowing the creation and production of wine in Brazil to flourish.

Five Sparkling Wines you should try “Brazil specialises in sparkling wines, both rosés and whites. The majority of wine is still consumed within the country itself and is rarely exported to Europe or North America,” says Beatriz Oliviera, a spokesperson from reviewbox.com.br.

“Although, with more popularity surrounding these great tasting wines, you’ll be sure to see more Brazilian wines in restaurants and supermarkets near you.”

1. Ponto Nero Blanc de Blancs Ponto Nero Blanc de Blancs is made from 100% Chardonnay and is a sparkling white wine. Ponto Nero comes from the Vale dos Vinhedos in Rio Grande do Sul. This wine incorporates dried fruit flavours with toasted notes.

2. Maria Valduga Maria Valduga is a sparkling white wine that is produced in Rio Grande do Sul. The wine is created by Casa Valduga, which is a family operation that has been making wine for more than a century.

3. Guaspari Vista do Chá Guaspari Vista do Chá is one of the few wines made in the state of São Paulo.

The wine is made by Vinicola Guaspari in Espirito Santo do Pinhal. When they produced their first 30 bottles in 2008 the winery experienced scrutiny about whether it would be successful or not.

But over 10 years later, the winery is still going strongly and making delicious wines, such as Guaspari Vista do Chá.

4. Cave Geisse Rosé Mario Geisse is the man behind Cave Geisse wines, he was one of the first winemaker to see the potential in Brazil. Cave Geisse Rosé is a sparkling rosé from Bento Gonçalves, in Rio Grande do Sul (pictured).

5. Pericó Brut If you’re looking for fine bubbles and a creamy tasting sparkling wine, which is produced similarly to Champagne, then you need to try Pericó Brut. This sparkling white is from Vinicola Pericó.

WINTER 2019 - GLASS of BUBBLY 41

IT’S A TOUGH JOB, BUT SOMEONE HAS TO DO IT M

any hours were spent seeing, swirling, sniffing, sipping, swishing and spitting or swallowing as Glass of Bubbly’s invited panel of industry experts judged the best bubblies in the world.

The serious-minded judging was led by Chairman of Judges Marin Berovic and Champagne author and our Honorary Judge Michael Edwards.

The work was undertaken with blind tasting; ensuring organisers are not involved in the judging nor giving scores to wines.

After hours spent swilling, sniffing and spitting, as they emerged into the light all who took part agreed: “It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.”

42 GLASS of BUBBLY - WINTER 2019

WINTER 2019 - GLASS of BUBBLY 43

Champagne Armand de Br Blanc de Noirs Assemblage Champagne

Armand de Brignac announces the UK arrival of its Blanc de Noirs Assemblage Three (A3), the third assemblage of its ultra-prestige cuvée. The highly-anticipated debut follows the inaugural blend, awarded #1 Blanc de Noirs champagne in the world in 2016, following a blind tasting of 250 cuvées as part of the annual rankings by FINE Champagne Magazine and Tastingbook. com, and the Blanc de Noirs Assemblage Two (A2), which received 96 points from Decanter Magazine.

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GLASS of BUBBLY - WINTER 2019

Only 3,535 bottles of Armand de Brignac Blanc de Noirs A3, disgorged on April 9, 2019 after resting on lees for six years.

Produced by 13th-generation champagne growers, the Cattier family, the cuvée is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes carefully sourced from some of the best Pinot Noir producing villages in the Montagne de Reims including Bouzy, Verzenay, Chigny-les-Roses, Ludes and Rilly-la-Montagne.

A winemaking signature of all the Armand de Brignac champagnes, only the very first and freshest portion of the cuvée press is used to create the Blanc de Noirs A3, and a trio of vintages (2009, 2010, 2012) create more depth and character than a singular vintage expression.

Fruit reigns supreme in this cuvée, chiefly from the 2012, which is the principal part

of the blend. 2012 was a tage that is at its peak now derful complexity, red fr butter to the A3. The 20 and richness, while the 20 ture and good balance. this trio roduces a whol than the sum of its part that is rich and complex of apricot, blackberry bread. The wine opens complemented with eleg of white flowers, light to olate, strawberries, plum blossom. On the palate, fruit with notes of straw berry, blackcurrant, pastr plum. Hints of lemon create a complex wine

freshness while kindling aromas of chocolate, blackcurrant and pepper provide extraordinary length.

“We first released a Blanc de Noirs in 2015, almost exactly one year after our owner acquired the brand,” says Sebastien Besson, CEO, Armand de Brignac.

“The first release of this extraordinarily rare cuvée, was the result of our winemakers’ first ever attempt to create a 100% Pinot Noir prestige champagne. We are fortunate to have achieved exceptional critical acclaim for both the first and second assemblages of Blanc de Noirs, and having tasted the A3 with our winemakers, we are confident it is perfect and ready for release now, and will certainly not disappoint.”

“Because of the power that comes from using 100% red fruit, it can be challenging to achieve a balanced Blanc de Noirs,” says Chef de Cave, Jean-Jacques Cattier. “Because we do not have any pressure to create volume, we are able to be extremely selective. Using small parcels of only the very best Pinot Noir, we’re able to meticulously balance the acidity and sugar, achieving a Blanc de Noirs with integrity to the powerful style, but with balance and elegance,” he adds.

“The Blanc de Noirs A3 is an extraordinarily gourmet wine with richness, intensity and length but it is not too heavy, as some can be,” Cattier notes. “This wine is in harmony with its duality; think sugar and salt pairings with spice, richness, and sweetness. Pair this cuvée with Foie Gras, tagine of lamb or a roast chicken with cranberry sauce.”

Every bottle of Armand de Brignac Blanc de Noirs A3 is inscribed with its unique nuuber (1 to 3,535), in addition to its disgorgement date, showcasing the rarity, exclusi ty and collectability of this ultra-prestige cuvée. As a signature mark of all Armand de Brignac cuvées, each dark metalised bottle of Blanc de Noirs

rignac debuts The iconic champagne brand, owned by Shawn ‘JAY-Z’ Carter, announces the UK release of its rarest cuvée

an exceptional vinw, and brings wonruits and notes of 009 gives intensity 010 provides struc. Altogether, le far greater ts, a bouquet x with notes and gingers luminously, gant touches obacco, chocm and orange , vibrant red wberry, blackry, cherry and and walnut with elegant

A3 is finished by hand with the application of a French pewter label and a final hand polishing before being placed in a handcrafted wooden lacquered gift box.

A highly-trained team of just 18 craftspeople touch each bottle throughout the process from pressing the fruit to departure from the cellars in France.

A highly-limited number of bottles of Armand de Brignac Blanc de Noirs Assemblage Three were launched exclusively at Harrods, available for purchase from 16th September 2019.

The Champagne Armand de Brignac collection is available in limited quantities around the world and is comprised of Gold Brut, Rosé, Demi Sec, and the ultra-prestige single varietals, the Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noirs.

750ml RRP: £1,095

WINTER 2019 - GLASS of BUBBLY 45

On The W KERRIDGE’S BAR & GRILL We have a selection of 220 sparkling wines from 21 different countries at the moment on the list.

We currently have 15 sparkling wines on offer by the glass between our two floors.

We always have on offer a selection of well-established Champagne houses along with grower Champagne, English sparkling wines and alternative options (Languedoc-Roussillon in France, South Africa, Spain, Austria, Czech Republic, Greece…).

Champagne is always very popular with Taittinger being one of our top sellers, along with Bollinger. Our grower Champagne selection is also very popular with Donht-Grellet, Nathalie Falmet and Frederic Savart being listed at the moment.

Our English sparkling wines by the glass are Coates & Seely from Hampshire and Blanc de Noirs, Rathfinny Estate from Sussex, Gusbourne and Nyetimber being also very popular.

Our top seller from the selection of our Sparkling wines are: NV Cavendish, Ridgeview, East Sussex - emblematic for its freshness and fruit (apple and some honeysuckle on top) zippiness you find in South East England. Served by the glass. Higher in its Pinot noir to Chardonnay proportion.

NV Furleigh Rose, Dorset Fine bubble, a lot of strawberries, currants finished off with some lime zest.

Outstanding quality at its value point.

NV ‘Sainte Anne’ Brut Chartogne Taillet Another clear example of where to look for quality with the Owner/producer champagne from the Montagne de Reims. Full of life, combining brioche, orchard fruits and a saline minerality.

No.10 Northumberland Avenue London

Emmanuel Cadieu Deputy Head Sommelier 67Pall Mall London SW1Y 5ES

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GLASS of BUBBLY - WINTER 2019

PETERS NURSE

Our diners choice are mostly Our top 5 are champagne and below are few of them.

-Prosecco Mille (Non dosage),V 1. Bruno Paillard Premiere Veneto Cuvee NV (Champagne) -Monterossa P 2. Nyetimber Tillington Blancs, Franciac 2013 (West Sussex) Lombardy

3. Chartogne Taillet Cuvee -Maximum Bru Sainte Anne NV (Champagne) Trentino Alto A 4. Jacques Selosse Initial NV (Champagne) 5. Philipponnat Rose NV (Champagne) Toru Takamatsu MS Assistant Wine Manager Hide 85 Piccadilly London W1J 7NB

-Brut Vintage 2 Bosco, Franciac Lombardy

-Saten brut 201 Franciacorta, L

Petersham N Floral Court London WC2E 8JD

Winelist

SHAM ERIES the following:

esimato EGO Villa Marcello,

PR, Blanc de corta,

AUTHENTIQUE TATE EPICERIE & BAR BRITAIN Our most popular sparking are Champagne Gallimard Les Riceys NV £75 Delamotte Blanc de Blancs, NV £120 Henriot Rose NV £112

Sparkling Cava Mestre Gran Reserva, ut Rose, Ferrari, Visol, Brut nature £70 Adige Bolney estate Cuvee rose Brut £86 2010, Ca Del corta, Yves Demaris Sommelier 34 Charlotte 14, Bellavista, St, Fitzrovia, Lombardy London

The top 5 sparkling wines for us are:

Our favourite are:

Nyetimber Classic Cuvée Champagne Grumier Reserve Brut NV Perpetuelle West Sussex, England, abv Cremant d'Alsace Brut from 12% Mochel £62.00 Cremant de Bourgogne Brut Nature from Tripoz Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé Cremant de Limoux Brut NV cuvee NV from Collin abv 12% Pet Nat from Tour des Gen£78.00 dres Jacquesson Cuvée No. 741 114 - 116 Fortess Road Extra Brut NV London abv 12% NW5 2HL £75.00

Nurseries t

We asked a number of London restaurants and bars and asked one simple question: What are your best-selling Sparkling Wines?

Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut NV abv 12% £83.00 Billecart-Salmon ‘Cuvée Nicolas François’ 2002 abv 12% £140.00 Gustavo Medina Tate Catering Head Sommelier Tate Britain Millbank London SW1P 4RG

WINTER 2019 - GLASS of BUBBLY 47

By Monica Sabbatucci

the bigger I

s bigger always better? The age old question that is always up for debate no matter the subject!

With Champagne the answer is always yes - bigger bottle - more Champagne. It is not a hard answer. May it be Magnums, Jeroboams, Methuzelahs and all the way up to Mabuchadnezzars (15 litres!), who wouldn’t want to splurge a little bit more and taste a little bit more for that special occasion?

As the bottles get bigger, you will notice the unusual names. In fact, these bottles are aptly named after Biblical kings who ruled in ancient times.

Someone was doing something right when naming these bottle; they believed Champagne rules!

Here are five excellent reasons why you should opt for larger bottles of bubbly next time you are entertaining:

1.

They look impressive! Just imagine your guests arriving at your house, gasping at those Magnums, Jeroboams or even Methuselahs beautifully presented on the dinner table or bar. What will they think? ‘Holy %$#@ that’s a big bottle of Champagne!’ Will no doubt be their first response!

Complete with ‘Wow that’s amazing!’ Or ‘Our wonderful host must’ve gone to great lengths to get those bottles at our party!’

Either way you look at it, you come out looking pretty darn good as a host.

2.

The quality of wine is inherently better. Although in the

48

GLASS of BUBBLY - WINTER 2019

end purchasing a larger bottle may not be the cheaper option, it is what’s inside that truly makes up for it! The larger the bottle, the less exposure the wine has to oxygen.

Oxidisation is good for wine, however too much can ruin that beautifully crafted cuvée.

Larger bottles like Magnums or Balthazars keep the wines fresher and younger than a standard 750ml bottle.

They make great 3. keepsakes. Pinterest has many ideas for leftover magnum bottles - candles, lamps, vases, you name it! Keeping these beauties once empty will always remind you of that wonderful night.

4.

They look good. Those likes on Instagram and Facebook will just roll in with the desirable aesthetic of a larger bottle in your posts. Your followers will have

the better Magnums - The Next Step Up Magnums of wine are efficient for larger gatherings, are aesthetically elegant, and impressive to your guests.

Magnums are the perfect size bottle for parties of as little as four and most respectable wine shops and restaurants carry a decent selection. They are inherently festive and tend to keep wine younger and fresher.

Magnums of wine age better and slower in this size of bottle and taste consistently better than when matured in normal size bottles.

The proportion of exposed wine to unexposed wine decreases exponentially as the bottle size increases which means that larger bottles (like Magnums) have less exposure to the effects of oxygen, which are beneficial but eventually turn wine into vinegar.

Not surprisingly, the ageing process of wine in a Magnum takes around 1.5 times longer than in a 750ml bottle, one more reason to seek out a Mag over a traditional 750.

Champagne envy!

5.

They are perfect and practical for parties.

It avoids you having to leave the table or head to the fridge to retrieve another bottle and risk missing out on conversation and any moment.

Use this handy guide to easily work out which bottle suits your next event.

(Make sure your servers have

strong muscles! These guys can get huge!)

Bottle (750ml) = 6 glasses Magnum (1.5L) = 12 glasses Jereboam (3L) = 24 glasses Rehoboam (4.5L) = 36 glasses Methuselah (6L) = 48 glasses Salmanazar (9L) = 72 glasses Balthazar (12L) = 96 glasses Nabuchadnezzar (15L) = 120 glasses

The important point to reiterate is that the larger wine surface area of a Magnum or Jeroboam allows for the optimum balance of freshness and flavour intensity so prized by wine lovers.

Thanks toi Kyla Kirkpatrick of Emperor Champagne in Australia for this material.

Graphic by ComitĂŠ Champagne

WINTER 2019 - GLASS of BUBBLY 49

J

enkyn Place is a small boutique vineyard in Hampshire. Originally a hop farm producing highly prized hops, Simon Jennings planted the land with vines in 2006. He did this without any prior wine-making experience. A decade-

Irene Caswell

A FAMILY AFFAIR

Travel and food writer Irene took herself off to the south coast of England for an exciting opportunity to enjoy the first-ever tasting of the Blanc de Blancs 2015 and the new vintage Brut Cuvee 2014 at Jenkyn Place Vineyard in Hampshire. She also took some spiffy photos. and-a-half later, Simon’s daughter Camilla is now involved in the family business in a marketing and sales role.

The same chalky soils in Hampshire that produced hops are now home to the grapes producing some of the most exciting English sparkling wines.

Nestled in the North Hampshire Downs near the quintessentially English village of Bentley, its vineyards cover 12 acres (or around five hectares).

After the first vines were planted in 2004, further vines were added in 2007 and 2010. The vineyards are now at full capacity, with their rows filled with some 15,000 vines. Steve Williams and Stewart Sandy started out working on the estate but are now full time in the vineyard.

“We have a great history in England of producing fine sparkling wines on greensand,” explains winemaker Dermot Sugrue.

“The greensand topsoil at Jenkyn Place is actually scattered with eroded fragments of chalk, creating an unusual – maybe unique – combination, which is beginning to be translated into the wines.

“If chalk is associated with more gently-fruited wines of notable finesse and greensand delivers a rounder fruit profile, then we are seeing an element of both in our 2013 vintage.

“Indeed, the older Jenkyn Place cuvees from 2006 to 2010 have, over the years, achieved quite brilliant levels of completeness once maturity was reached.”

All photos by Irene Caswell

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GLASS of BUBBLY - WINTER 2019

Irene’s Blanc de Blanc 2015 tasting notes 100% Chardonnay, single estate, made from 8,500 Chardonnay vines. No Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier grapes at all. Low yields and oncentrated fruit provides weight and complexity. Beautifully fresh with a yeasty nose after four years on the lee.

An explosion of lemon sherbet and verbena, combined with rich fruity plums. The grapes were handpicked and gently pressed in the same way as in making Champagne, fermented in stainless steel at 17-19 deg. Ageing was in old oak Burgundian barrels adding complexity and creaminess.

Winemaker Dermot Sugrue – formerly of Nyetimber – used 100% malolactic fermentation to add a soft buttery flavour and freshness.

The wine rested for four years on the lees and this sparkling wine will continue to mature nicely.

Versatile, will pair well with smoked salmon and seafood as well as lighter cheeses and succulent white meats such as chicken and turkey.

WINTER 2019 - GLASS of BUBBLY 51

By Christian Holthausen

Champagne AR Lenoble

AFTER the successful introduction of the very first wines in the AR Lenoble “mag series” last year, AR Lenoble Intense mag 15, the second edition of Intense in the “mag series” from AR Lenoble. has been released.

AR Lenoble Intense mag 15 is a blend of 45% meunier from Damery in the Marne Valley, 40% pinot noir from the Premier Cru village of Bisseuil and 15% chardonnay from the Grand Cru village of Chouilly. The percentage of reserve wines contained in this blend is an unprecedented 45%, many of which were aged in magnums under natural cork under a pressure of 1.5 bars between 2011 and 2015 before being blended with base wines from 2015 resulting in the final blend. After 52

GLASS of BUBBLY - WINTER 2019

just over three years of ageing on the lees, the wine has been disgorged and has a dosage of 3g/l.

2015 is remembered for its very hot summer which resulted in relatively high maturity for all three grape varieties. The year was also characterized by a lack of rainfall. The average weight of a cluster rarely exceeded 90 grammes. The grapes were very concentrated with alcohol levels often between 10.5 and 11.3 degrees. General acidity levels fell but thanks to strong malic acid levels, pH remained low, often around 3.05. To maintain this acidity, we decided to block the majority of malolactic fermentation in 2015.

The meuniers from Damery (where the vineyard has hectares of vines) were incredible, so much so that the

e releases Intense mag 15

vineyard had the idea to create a wine made from 100% meunier for the first time in its history, but in the end it was decided to put all of these beautiful meuniers into its Intense because a Champagne house should be judged on the quality of its brut non-vintage and they really loved the 2015 Meuniers.

The Meuniers from 2015 were blended with excellent base wines from their 10 hectares of Chardonnay in the Grand Cru village of Chouilly and from its six hectares of pinot noir from the Premier Cru village of Bisseuil.

WINTER 2019 - GLASS of BUBBLY 53

I

f you are lucky enough to have your very own wine collection and it is big enough to be filling the spare gaps / corners in your home and you are getting tried of seeing wine boxes everywhere then you are probably at the stage of needing a wine cellar.

Depending on the type of wine you have, there will be certain criteria that need to be met in order to store the wine correctly and safely. There will importantly be certain questions that you need to ask yourself in order to make the right wine cellar decision for you and your wines.

Have you the space to accommodate a wine cellar?

A wine cellar will require space and this could mean a corner of a room, the garage, an outbuilding, digging downwards, converting an existing cellar and much more in ways to maximise the space you have to accommodate wines.

Have you decided on the best place to store your wines?

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST WINE CELLAR FOR YOUR HOME Where the cellar is to be placed will effect the likes of how it should look (will it be on show ie in the front room / kitchen) or will it simply be

out of the way and not required to be visually pleasing.

Some wine collections may need to showcase those wines that are ready for drinking

Wine Cellar Innovations debuts the Rev

CINCINNATI, Ohio-based Wine Cellar Innovations announced the creation of its new metal wine racks line, Revue Wine Racks. The Revue Series is a visual delight in wine storage, employing strong metal holders to create a label front wine bottle rack.

The Revue Series metal wine racks are made in the United States and are currently offered in two finishes; black stain or silver metal with additional colors and configurations coming soon.

Revue Wine Racks are safe, secure, and easy to install. When purchasing

54

GLASS of BUBBLY - WINTER 2019

them at a two or three bottle depth, there are gravity stops between bottles to ensure the wine bottles do not touch. They are also naturally earthquake resistant. The metal racking has a 5 degree angle on the

arms to kee forward the quake.

Each rack is using bracke ceiling wine you can add grow your c "The Revue brand for W It offers easy front wine b customers a creating mo Deckebach,

now and also a separate section for those wines which are for long-term storage. Let us not forget that you may wish to have the likes of a tasting

room incorporated in the how likely is the collection to exwine cellar to really impress pand? your guests!

You will need a space big How many bottles have you and enough for now and possibly

vue metal wine racks series

ep the bottles angled back e wall in case of an earth-

s securely wall mounted ets to create a floor to storage arrangement that d on additional racks to collection.

Wine Racks are a new Wine Cellar Innovations. y wine storage with label bottles which is what our are excited about when odern wine cellars," says Jim CEO and owner

of Wine Cellar Innovations.

The Revue Series is now online and available for purchase. Currently offered in 3 and 4 foot increments and two finishes, there is a "Buy More, Save More" option for clients with affordable discounts.

WINTER 2019 - GLASS of BUBBLY 55

your future wine collection growth!

If you are a collector then the passion will certainly be in you that you might not be able to resist adding to your collection so a wine cellar solution for today might very well become outdated and a problem again if you have not calculated the correct size for your wine collecting journey.

What style of wines are you collecting?

Most professional wine storage solutions will allow you to adjust temperatures and control humidity which are important for those looking to store wines and not lose quality. Still wines and sparkling wines will all require their own set ways for storage, some solutions such as fridges will come with com-

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GLASS of BUBBLY - WINTER 2019

remain very similar, for example a fridge at 100 bottle capacity for £100 / $120 or a large unit with a 1,000 bottle How much are you looking to capacity at £1,000 / $1,200 (£1 / $1.20 cost per bottle). spend?

Possibly the most important factor that will decide the type of wine storage you will Why are you collecting? be choosing is your spending If you are collecting wines for investment then the storage budget.

A small wine rack on the solution can vary compared kitchen counter to convert- to those of collecting wines ed rooms containing thou- and looking to open and ensands of bottles, the spend- joy them. in the future. ing could be from a little as Sometimes it may pay to be a few £ / $’s to many thou- safer for those collecting for investment reasons to hold sands.

Most times it will pay to the wines at professionplace a price per bottle for al temperature controlled your storage / wine cellar warehouses.

Wines on show might not solution.

The bigger the collection be a good idea for more you have the more like- valuable wines that are being ly it will be that costs will stored to age and improve increase, though you will them as they will suffer from generally find that a price ight / movement / changes in of storage per bottle will humidity etc. partments allowing for split temperature controlling.

Learn the Five S’s of Wine Tasting 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Swirl Sniff Slurp Swish SPIT

) ! ff u t s e h t k n i r d t s u j d l u o c u o y (Or

www.glassofbubbly.com

WINTER 2019 - GLASS of BUBBLY 57

First impreSSIONS OF THE 2019 CHAMPAGNE HARVEST Another superb Champagne harvest

ACCORDING to Comite Interprofessionnel Du Vin De Champagne, Champagne has experienced the effects of global warming, with an increase in average temperature of 1.1oC across the past 30 years.

This has so far proved an advantage for our wines, and the winegrowing year 2019 is no exception. Periods of frost in spring did destroy a proportion of buds, but the main factor was heatwave, especially in June and July, which caused scalding that burned up more than 10% of the potential harvest,” said the Epernay-based Comite.

This was a year Champagne experienced its highest temperatures on record, with 42.9oC recorded on 25 July.

With hot and sunny conditions in August and Sep58

tember, combined with cool nights on the run-up to the harvest, the vine displayed an exceptional ripening dynamic, producing musts with a good balance of acidity and sugar plus an aromatic concentration that promises well for future cuvees.

The Comite said: “The network that monitors maturation helped winegrowers to time their picking so they only harvested grapes at peak ripeness. The picking started in the very first days of September and is now close to completion.

“Despite considerable variations from sector to sector, volumes should exceed 10,000 kg/ha on average, which is close to the economic yield required to satisfy market demand.

“The exceptional harvest of

GLASS of BUBBLY - WINTER 2019

2018 had in any case replenished the “Champagne reserve” (which serves as insurance if climate conditions produce an eventual harvest shortfall).

“So winegrowers and houses were relaxed about the outcome of this harvest,” it said.

Since the 2000s, Champagne has pursued a policy of sustainable development, and has widely reduced its environmental impact in that time.

Two major objectives are now established: zero herbicides by 2025 and all areas of production environmentally certified by 2030.

Winegrowers and houses are meanwhile preparing for the future with a “tool box” that helps them adapt winegrowing to global warming.

Reader’s Competition

Class of Bubbly magazine and writer and wine journalist Christopher Walkey are pleased to offer a copy of his book with Stephania Ruffo ‘THE FINEST CHAMPAGNE & SPARKLING WINE’, published this year, for a competition prize.

There are 43 recipes with Champagne or sparkling wine pairings as well as gorgeous photography and first class recipes. All you have to do is to answer the question below.

Send your answer to: Book Competition Glass of Bubbly magazine 259 Sydenham Rd, Croydon, Surrey, United Kingdom CR0 2ET or james.graham@glassofbubbly.com Competition closes at 12:00 GMT on November 30, 2019. The winner will be contacted The judge’s decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.

In which country is Sekt produced?

1. Austria 2. Australia 3. Germany WINTER 2019 - GLASS of BUBBLY 59

TRAVEL

Champagne tour with a private guide: Moët, Veuve Clicquot & Ruinart From from $7,900 per person

T

here’s nowhere quite like Champagne. Tailored to your tastes. Clos19 offers a personalised Champagne tour.

Wander Ruinart’s cellars, sample Moët & Chandon vintages in an

60

exclusive salon visited by Napoleon, and explore the Veuve Clicquot vineyards.Yes, this is Champagne, Clos19-style.

Take four days (longer if you like) for your Champagne break – and let the company handle the details. Celebrating a special

GLASS of BUBBLY - WINTER 2019

occasion? They will see if there’s a vintage to match. Each day they can delight with Michelin-starred dinners and five-star luxuries that are sure to suit all clients’ preferences. A private driver and Clos19 ambassador will ensure every need is met.

Prices from $7,900 per person (€6,900), based on three nights and four guests sharing Royal rooms at the Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa five-star hotel. Includes all elements described above: private Clos19 Ambassador, hotel, tours with a private guide, Michelin-starred dinners and other lunches described, including all alcoholic drinks as mentioned. Excludes options specifically mentioned as “Additional fee applies” and denoted with an asterisk.

Programmes are individually created and will be adapted to your needs and budgets.

DAY ONE A driver is arranged to meet guests at Reims railway station to take them to the hotel – the fivestar Royal Champagne. With panoramic views of the region's natural beauty and an exceptional spa, it’s the perfect spot to relax and replenish. That night, enjoy dinner at the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, The Royal. There, Chef Jean-Denis Rieubland will use local produce to wow the palette for the next few days.

DAY TWO A private Moët & Chandon guide will escort you around the historic cellars, as you explore the House’s 270 years of innovation and appreciate how Moët & Chandon has become a symbol for celebration. Then, discover the unique characters of different vintages through a vertical tasting, in the very salon where Jean-Rémy Moët, the founder’s grandson, entertained the Emperor Napoleon himself.

Enjoy lunch at the Royal Champagne’s Brasserie Le Bellevue – French for “beautiful view.” And as you gaze across the Champagne region from your window seat, you’ll understand why.

For those who need some time out, enjoy a massage in the hotel’s exceptional spa. If you're a history buff, private tour of the Reims cathedral’s towers and a visit of the Palais du Tau with a private guide can be arranged for an additional fee. For dinner, experience the two Michelin-starred restaurant Le Parc, at five-star hotel Les Crayères. Its classic, elegant surroundings are a delightful backdrop for you to enjoy the work of celebrated chef Philippe Mille.

DAY THREE Today, you will explore Ruinart and Veuve Clicquot. Ruinart is the oldest champagne house, founded in 1729. Here you’ll learn how Ruinart was inspired by the monk Dom Thierry Ruinart. Your host will reveal the House’s long association with the artistic world, which is reflected in its many works of art. Then embark on a personal tour through the majestic crayères, or cellars – part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Finally, head to a private salon to taste two Ruinart champagnes and vintages.

After lunch at the Brasserie Le Jardin of nearby Château les Crayères, you’ll be ready to visit Veuve Clicquot – a House which still reflects the pioneering spirit of Madame Clicquot, the Grande Dame of Champagne. Your Veuve Clicquot guide will share the House’s stories as you explore its cathedral-like cellars. Finally, you’ll taste vintages, rosés (Madame Clicquot created the very first blend of rosé champagne too), and perhaps a rare Grande Dame vintage – a tribute to Madame herself.

As your stay draws to a close, we invite you to enjoy one last delight: dinner at the Michelin-starred restaurant Racine.

Showcasing French cuisine with Japanese influences, it’s the perfect setting to share your favorite moments, and perhaps plan your next Clos19 experience.

DAY FOUR After breakfast, return to Reims. Or, if you’d like to extend your stay to explore more of the region,: For instance, for an additional fee, a stay in nearby Reims, a splendid city that's central to the story of champagne – and the backdrop to the coronation of 34 French kings, can be arranged. If you haven’t visited Reims yet, we can offer a private tour of the Cathedral’s towers and its museum – the Palais du Tau.of champagne – and the backdrop to the coronation of 34 French kings. If you haven’t visited Reims yet, a private tour of the Cathedral’s towers and its museum – the Palais du Tau – is available for a fee.

WINTER 2019 - GLASS of BUBBLY 61

TRAVEL

An appetite for St Emi Restaurant review

WITH torrential rain and the pool out of action, we looked further afield for some entertainment. Saint Emilion did just that, so much so that we went three times that week.

On one of the visits, our group of 10 had the pleasure of eating at Logis de la Cadène.

was light eno power the d

For the main had fish, bu see a bottle way around what a phen We had pan potatoes do foamed, cr With its one Michelin star and and tiny crisp being owned by the Boüard fle everywhe de Laforest family living in nearby Château Angélus I don’t mean since 2013, we couldn’t re- just mean it sist the wine pairing with the ken shaving; Menu du Jour. After some that this dish mini delights of fois gras balls the truffles. P and garlic flower and cauli- truffle eleme flower puree cups, we were pairing with presented with a wonder- Grand Cru C fully colourful bowl of white natural. fish ceviche with bright radish and carrot salad, on celeriac Many peop espuma decorated with edi- red wine wit ble flowers. earthy flavo to the pairin This was paired with Châ- um bodied w teau Bel Air la Royère Blanc up from pep 2018. It had citrus and apri- chocolate an cots coming through to give a with earthy bright and fruity wine, which ly no wine w

62 GLASS of BUBBLY - WINTER 2019

ilion

Camilla Jennings of Jenkyn Place vineyard in southern England recently packed a bag for a trip to Bordeaux for a friend’s wedding that proved somewhat wetter than planned.

nough not to over- a double espresso helped us delicate fish dish. finish our picture-perfect fig cream and sponge slice, with n course, again we fresh fig and fig leaf ice cream, ut I was thrilled to and gave us enough energy of red making its to remove ourselves from the d the table. And stunning private dining room nomenal pairing. and back out for more wine n fried Hake with tasting! one four ways – rushed, mashed, One on my list for next time py curls. And truf- I come back, as the Menu du Jour rarely the same – Chef ere.

Baumard is a real talent, and n it was too much, I the restaurant itself inviting really wasn’t a to- and cosy with an exceptional ; you couldn’t miss level of service. h really showcased Possibly it was this ent that made the Chateau Bellevue Classé 2012 seem so

ple wouldn’t put th fish, but such an our lent itself well ng with this mediwine that opened ppery notes to give nd plum flavours undertones. Sadwith pudding but

WINTER 2019 - GLASS of BUBBLY 63

The last drop

What a waste!

64

THE wasteful habit of smashing a bottle of Champagne over the sharp end of a ship dates, it seems, as far back as the Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians. All these people held ceremonies to ask the gods to protect sailors. We all know that.

A few minutes with my friend Mr Google dug up some perhaps less well-known facts. Two hundred years ago, the christenings of ships began to follow a familiar pattern. A “christening fluid” would be poured against the bow of the ship, though it was not necessarily wine or Champagne. It seems there are accounts in US Navy records of 19th century warships being christened with water from significant American rivers.

At this point, the christening of ships was becoming great public events. Large crowds assembled to watch and it became standard for Champagne, as even then the most elite of wines, to be used for the christening. A second tradition developed in the same period. A female would do the honours and be named the sponsor of the ship. This despite a superstition about women being on board.

Also, maritime superstition held that a ship that wasn’t properly christened would be considered unlucky. And if a Champagne bottle didn't break, that was bad news as well ...

The curse of Camilla Back in December 2007 it seemed a simple idea: get Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and from a great wine-industry family, to christen a cruise liner named after her husband’s Great Great Great Grandmother.

Shipping line Cunard entrusted a bottle of bubbly to the wife of Prince Charles to christen the liner only for the bottle not to smash.

Just to prove there is some something to the old sea dog’s

GLASS of BUBBLY - WINTER 2019

tale, the first cruises of the Queen Victoria were marred by outbreaks of viral illness, an intense "vomiting bug," that afflicted many passengers.

On the winner’s podium Popping bottles of bubbly has now been adopted in many sports upon a big win.

This wasteful habit seems to have seen the light of day at the Monaco F1 circuit is that this is the sport where the celebratory move started out.

At the exact middle of the 20th century, the first-ever French Grand Prix was held at the Gueux circuit in Reims in 1950.

Obviously, for a race held down in the green, vineyard-heavy hills of the Champagne region, the winner was presented with a bottle on his win. The 64-lap race was won by Alfa Romeo driver Juan Manuel Fangio However, as for the victor spraying the crowd with the beverage, you have to fast-forward over a decade.

As with many great traditions, it happened for the first time by complete accident.

After winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966, Jo Siffert accidentally sprayed the crowd as the bottle of Champagne had been sitting out in the sun.

This caused pressure to build up inside the Magnum. The next year, Californian racer Dan Gurney deliberately copied Siffert's gesture when he won the same race and the tradition was born.

While the original, loosely-corked bottle was a Magnum of Moet & Chandon, today's F1 winners have had an upgrade in size to a Jeroboam. From 2000 to 2015, all Formula One race podiums were supplied cbottles of GH Mumm Cordon Rogue.

In 2017, Carbon was announced as the sport's new official supplier at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The bottles presented to the top three drivers have markers -- gold for the winner, silver for second and bronze for third.

The bottles are coated in the same carbon fibre used in manufacturing race cars.

The Love Issue L'édition D'amour La Edición Del Amor Die Liebesausgabe

l’edizione love IN Issue #19, it can only be Love. Can there be a better combination than Champagne and Sparkling Wine and the Day of Love? Cupid will be busy shooting his arrows of love just as corks from millions of bottles of sparkling wine are popping around the world.

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