Wine tasting event: English sparkling wine challenge

England v the Rest of the World - the sparkling wine challenge

We've all read the articles. English wine regularly beats champagne at blind tastings, but do you believe the hype? Is it really world class? Well why not come along and make your own mind up with our very own English wine challenge. The aim is for you to try some of England's finest back to back with likes of champagne and prosecco. If you have yet to try some of our fantastic English wines this will be a great introduction to what this fair isle has to offer. If you are a regular why not try this as a useful recap and a chance to compare your favourites glass for glass.

The contenders (wines on tasting)

FOR ENGLAND
1. Nyetimber Classic Cuvee. I first tasted the Nyetimber Classic Cuvee at a friend's dinner party. It is immediately evident why Nyetimber has earned it's sterling reputation in sparkling wine making. Gorgeous depth and complexity of flavours, lasting finish, soft toasty notes. Please don't judge English sparkling wine without judging Nyetimber's Classic Cuvee, for me, it is hallmark Sussex.
2. Ridgeview Knightsbridge. Only 3800 bottles of this wine were made. And it's going fast. Blanc de Noir = white wine made from black grapes. This white sparkly is made from 55% Pinot Noir 45% Pinot Meunier grapes. It's sharp, fruity, deep, dry. My favourite of the white English sparkling wines. Taste the heights that English wine is able to reach and savour.
3. Camel Valley Sparkling rose. This is a beautiful wine, a real pleasure to drink. If I wanted to spoil myself, or treat someone special, this is a wine I'd use. Delicate, pale rose colour, made in the traditional Champenoise method, it's got a real luxurious mouth feel. Love it up now!

FOR THE WORLD
1. Prosecco. Casa Coste Piane, Veneto, Italy/ This Prosecco is one of the few made in the champenoise method; however, in this case, disengorgement is not practised, giving the wine a hazy, natural appearance. Big lemon flavours and aromas, not your usual prosecco!
2. Champagne Fleury. 100% Pinot Noir, 12.5% abv. Champagne Fleury, France. I was really excited to get Fleury on board at a&v. The estate has been biodynamic since 1989, which would be rare for any region, but particularly so for Champagne. Jean-Pierre Fleury is an iconic, multi-award winning winemaker, and the Carte Rouge is very demonstrative of his style. Light, frothy bubbles; yeasty red fruits (from Pinot Noir grapes) and a good backbone of acidity. You'll really struggle to drink “normal” champagne ever again.
3. Pinot Noir frizzante, Austria. 100% Pinot Noir. I'm quite obsessed with this wine. I'm ready to wager you won't have tasted anything like it… well… except for a strawberry sponge cake… if you've tasted a strawberry sponge cake then you have tasted something like this. I heartily heartily recommend this one. We took it with us for a picnic on Wimbledon Common on a sunny May's day & it absolutely stole the afternoon. A real luscious, pleasurable tipple in quite a funky bottle.
 

Price
£20 in advance or £22 on the night. Price includes tasting of 6 wines.

Buying online
When buying tickets via the online wine shop (recommended), select "Store collection" as your delivery option, which carries no additional charges. There are no additional charges to you for buying tickets for our wine tastings online, this is the most efficient way to reserve your place. You will be notified in advance of payment and unable to purchase tickets if the tasting is sold out.