By Greg Reid, Account Manager, Oxenfoord
No other drink encapsulates the festive period quite like a great bottle of sparkling wine. Whether it’s Cava, Crémant or Champagne, popping a cork on Christmas morning or at the bells on Hogmanay instantly creates that feeling of celebration. I keep the house well stocked throughout the holiday season — with family visits and a big party for friends and neighbours, we need quite a few bottles to keep us going, not forgetting a special magnum to accompany the present opening on the big day!
With so much choice it’s sometimes hard to know what to go for, so I’ve chosen four of my favourites to save you the thinking time: a fabulous Prosecco and Cava for parties or a midweek glass, a stunning Crémant that offers a bit of luxury on a budget, and an English sparkling wine from one of the best in the business!
My first pick is the wonderful Sylvoz Prosecco from Le Colture. Owned and run by the Ruggeri family, they can trace their winemaking history in the area back to the 1500s. On top of this wealth of experience, the winery is based in the village of Santo Stefano di Valdobbiadene, right in the heart of the region and in amongst the finest vineyards; how could they fail to make special wines? This is a particular favourite of mine as it’s a Brut, which is unusual for Prosecco. This means it’s not too sweet and it’s full of floral aromas and flavours of conference pear and ripe red apple — hallmarks of the best Prosecco.
A nice pink fizz is always a winner, and we’ve recently added the perfect bottle to our portfolio. Cava Joan Sarda Garnacha Rosat Brut 2022 is produced by a family-run winery in the hills above Barcelona. Made with 100% organically grown Garnacha, the grapes are crushed and briefly left on the skins to extract just the right amount of colour. The wine is then aged for 20 months, which gives extra layers of complexity and a fine, sherbet-y mousse. It’s surprisingly elegant with a refreshing finish — the ideal pairing for a classic prawn cocktail.
After spending years in the shadow of Champagne, Crémant is finally being recognised as a quality sparkler. Made using the same method as Champagne but from one of eight different regions of France, the potential for quality is obvious and many examples are the equal of more illustrious bottles. While Tissot-Maire make a lovely Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay), I feel their Blanc de Noirs is marginally the stronger of the two wines. Made exclusively from Pinot Noir, this is clean, rich and fruit-forward, ideal as an aperitif but also the perfect partner for a light, citrussy crab starter on Christmas Day.
Champagne is undoubtedly special, but it is not the only choice when you’re looking to impress or spoil yourself. Breaky Bottom founder Peter Hall was a hugely significant figure in the English wine industry and a pioneer, having planted his first vineyard on the South Downs way back in 1974. Dedicated to his godmother, the brilliantly named Breaky Bottom Cuvée Marraine Pooks Brut 2016 is made from 100% Seyval Blanc grown on flinty, chalk-rich soils, just two miles from the English Channel. Extended lees ageing has endowed the wine with impressive complexity and texture, it is excellent when served with smoked salmon canapés and it will grace your lavish Christmas dinner with its versatility. A seriously rare treat as only 2088 bottles were produced!