We are looking forward to Summer and some of the occasions when Champagne is the order of the day.
Whether you enjoy the traditional sporting events of the British summer or have some family celebrations, wines with fizz are always a welcome addition to any occasion.
In advance of summer, we are bringing you one of our ever-popular, virtual wine tastings with the following fine wines which sparkle:
- Nyetimber, Classic Cuvee, MV
- Henriot, Brut Souverain, NV
- Piper–Heidsieck, Cuvée Brut, NV
- Louis Roederer, Brut Premier, NV
These sparkling wines are produced in different wine regions, bringing them a truly unique tasting experience. Let us go over these four champagnes in further detail in preparation of our virtual wine tasting.
Nyetimber, Classic Cuvee, MV
I have chosen to compare the award-winning English sparkling wine from the Nyetimber estate with three traditional Champagnes.
Nyetimber grown in the cooler climate of Sussex, Hampshire and Kent than its French counterparts, means a slower, longer ripening of the grapes. Together with the meticulous production process overseen by Cherie Spriggs and Brad Greatrix, results in a wine with complex and distinctive flavours.
Henriot, Brut Souverain, NV
The second fine wine I have chosen for tasting is from the house of Champagne Henriot, Souverain Brut, a family-owned estate.
Whilst the family owns about 87 acres of vineyards in the Vallee de la Marne, around Montagne de Reims and the Cote des Blancs, these only produce about 20% of the grapes required, with the remainder supplied by local contract growers. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are blended in equal proportions together with a small amount of Pinot Meunier.
Piper–Heidsieck, Cuvée Brut, NV
By contrast, the Cuvee Brut from Piper-Heidsieck, with its distinctive red label, is predominantly Pinot Noir with smaller additions of Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier.
Appointed the Champagne of choice for the Oscars and a favourite drink of Marilyn Monroe, Piper-Heidsieck has a history steeped in romance...but for more anecdotes, you’ll have to join us on our tasting session on May 19th 2021.
Louis Roederer, Brut Premier, NV
Finally, we turn to Louis Roederer Brut Premier, from another family-owned estate in the Champagne region famous for its flagship Cristal wine.
This Champagne with its warm yellow hue and flavours demonstrate the importance of their reserve wines, having won many awards over the years.
In preparation for our wine tasting at home...
To get the best out of your exclusive wine tasting session with us, be sure to prepare certain food pairings to accompany your evening of wines with fizz and prep your palate for an evening of sensory excitement.
Along with your favourite wine glasses, we suggest a pairing of seafood and of course, traditional smoked salmon. Although who are we to suggest you shouldn’t choose some rare roast beef or your favourite cheese!
Having your wine notebook during the session to write down tasting notes can help you build your wine repertoire in no time. It will also be a useful place to refer back to in the future should you choose to host your own event with sparkling wines.
Interested in our future online tasting sessions?
Don't worry if you missed out on our previous sessions. We frequently host virtual wine tasting sessions that you can enjoy at the comfort of your own home. Whether or not you have previous wine knowledge or are a complete beginner, we love to host virtual tastings to share our passion for fine wines and knowledge of the wine industry.
Just sign up for our sessions here and find an event that suits you and we will handle the rest.
We also host corporate wine tastings for special occasions to treat your clients and colleagues to a touch of luxury. More information on this can be found here.
