Champagne and sparkling wine
We continue our Champagne theme, and why not? The summer months, even with this unpredictable and changeable weather we are experiencing at the moment, are a great time to enjoy a sparkling treat. Grab a barbecue when you can and as you are waiting for the coals to reach cooking temperature, sip your chosen favourite with patience and live the moment.
Although there are still some great Champagne bargains around I know it is not always within our budgets to sample these delights at every occasion, so seek out some of the other sparklers available. There are also some great bargains to be found in all wine outlets of Italian Proseccos, Spanish Cavas and even some German Sekts, although some of these can be a little sweet so check the label first. All are complemented with a complete array of different styles from around the ‘New World’, Chardonnay being the chosen grape variety of most producers.
But if you wish to get closer to Champagne and want French, try a Cremant de Bourgogne. This famous Burgundy Sparkling Wine received its own appellation in October 1975 and is recognised as ‘the best alternative to Champagne’ and can certainly stand alone in individual quality. The roses are also particularly good, made of course from the Pinot Noir grape variety so famous in this region, which gives these wines their rich pink colour, subtly of dryness and fullness of fruit.
Try a Sparkling Saumur, Touraine or Vouvray from the Loire, great value and delicious dry [Brut,] or if you wish a little sweetness, go for a semi sweet, Demi-Sec, or sweet ,Doux. Here the best roses are made from Cabernet Franc and the whites from Chenin Blanc, also known locally as the Pineau de la Loire, with sometimes up to 20% Chardonnay ,allowed by the local AOC regulations.
One of my favourites from the Languedoc Roussillon region of South West France and vey famous in this area, is Blanquette de Limoux. Not so readily available here in the UK, but you will find some if you take the time to look so ask your local wine merchant, they shouldn’t be too expensive either. There are 3 styles of sparkling from this region: Blanquette méthode ancestrale, Crémant de Limoux and Limoux, with the main grape variety being Mauzac, known locally as Blanquette.