5 Sparkling Wines Worth the Splurg

You’re hosting a party for your boss and other executives and, naturally, you want their experience to be first rate. Because it’s a celebration, you have decided on serving sparkling wines. Sparkling wines are the embodiment of joie de vivre, so what could be better?

Before you head to your favorite sparkling wine online UK store to go shopping for wines, check out some of these sparkling wines you may want to sample and are worth the splurge.

1. Nyetimber 1086 Prestige Rosé 2010

Nyetimber is an estate based in Sussex, England, and it is world-renowned for its premium sparkling wines. And if you want one of the best wines from this producer, get the 1086 Prestige Rosé 2010.

The 1086 is made from 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay, and the 1086 2010 is one of the most elegant and highest-rated vintages from Nyetimber. Red fruit aromas dominate, underscored by iron, honey, and pastry notes. It has a rousing acidity, striking boldness, round body, and silky, creamy texture.

This wine pairs superbly with salmon, crab, langoustine, and duck. You should seriously consider this wine if you’re serving Asian and Japanese dishes, particularly sushi.

The 1086 Prestige Rosé 2010 currently retails for GBP 174.99 (USD 234.40). Yes, that’s a bit expensive, but it is worth it and ought to wow your guests.

2. Philipponnat Royale Clos des Goisses 2010

Is your heart set on Champagne? Yes, it’s Champagne with a capital “C” because it’s a proper noun.

Trivia: Did you know that only sparkling wines from the wine region of Champagne in France can be properly called champagne? Sparkling wines from England, California, and Germany are not considered champagnes, even if they are made using the traditional method used in Champagne, France.

Philipponnat is a French Champagne house in Champagne, France. Clos des Goisses is a line of Champagne made using grapes harvested from one of the estate’s oldest and walled vineyards. The vineyard has a remarkably steep slope of 45 degrees and faces south, ensuring optimal sun exposure and development for the grapes.

Aside from making Clos des Goisses from superior grapes, Philipponnat also vinifies this line in wooden casks without secondary fermentation. The result is a rich and full-bodied wine with a dense texture, fine perlage, a delicate mousse, and an exquisitely long finish. It is wonderfully expressive with aromas of bergamot, candied lemon, and pastry.

Philipponnat Royale Clos des Goisses 2010 retails for GBP 172.79 (USD 231.59), but it’s worth it, especially if you’re planning to serve haute cuisine for dinner.

Pair it with caviar, cheese, and truffles as it can adequately hold its own.

3. Gosset Celebris Rosé Extra Brut 2007

When you think of celebrations, you usually think of fizzy Champagne. Gosset Celebris Rosé Extra Brut 2007 perfectly fits the bill.

This is real champagne as it originates from the Champagne wine region in France. It is made from a mixture of chardonnay (59%) and pinot noir (41%), with 7% of the latter still in red wine.

It is fruity, dominated by strawberry, raspberry, and red fruit aromas intertwined with pastry aromas like brioche and toast, and nutty aromas like almond. The entire bouquet is underscored by zingy orange, tangerine, and citrus notes.

Gosset Celebris Rosé Extra Brut 2007 is a fresh, bold, bright, and fizzy sparkling wine. It has excellent body, texture, and finish, and this extra dry wine makes a delicious accompaniment to pork, buttery pasta, tomato gazpacho, salmon, crispy duck, and shellfish.

Gosset Celebris Rosé Extra Brut 2007 retails for GBP 124.79 (USD 167.22).

4. Billecart-Salmon Cuvée Nicolas François 2007

Cuvée Nicolas François is a champagne created by the Billecart-Salmon Champagne house in 1964, a tribute to the house’s founder, Nicolas François.

It is a blend of 40% chardonnay from the estate’s Côte des Blancs Grands Crus vineyards and 60% pinot noir from the estate’s Grands Crus and Premiers Crus vineyards in Montagne de Reims and Grande Vallée de la Marne. Its composition is 79% Grands Crus and 21% Premiers Crus.

Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Nicolas François 2007 is a millésimé cuvée. In other words, it is assembled from wines made in 2007 (obviously, from grapes harvested that same year). This is usually done after an excellent harvest year, which 2007 obviously is for the house of Champagne Billecart-Salmon.

Cuvee Nicolas François 2007 is a dry sparkling wine, exquisitely balanced, mineral, elegant, and delicate with a beautiful golden yellow appearance.

The aroma of peaches in syrup with apple tart and butter is followed by notes of fresh fig and wild berries on the nose. It evokes plum, cherry, and a long floral note on the palate.

Serve with poultry or premium veal and watch it do its magic.

Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Nicolas François 2007 currently retails at GBP 105.89 (141.89).

5. Wiston Estate Blanc de Blancs 2015

Wiston Estate is a wine estate in Sussex known for making remarkable English sparkling wines, and it is home to Blanc de Blancs 2015.

Most of the time, sparkling wines are a blend of red grapes (pinot noir is the most popular) and white grapes (chardonnay is a preferred variety). Rosé sparkling wines, meanwhile, may be made through the addition of red still wine. Blanc de blancs is a category of sparkling wines made exclusively with white grapes.

Wiston Estate Blanc De Blancs 2015 belongs to this blanc de blancs sparkling wines category. This is a dry white sparkling wine made entirely from chardonnay harvested in a single year (2015) from a single vineyard. In other words, it is a single varietal, single vineyard, and single vintage wine, and it is so excellent that it took home the Blanc de Blancs trophy at WineGB Awards 2021.

Wiston Estate Blanc De Blancs 2015 is a beautifully pure and elegant sparkling wine.

Even so, it has a surprising brightness and a richly nuanced depth, presenting with notes of tangerine, honeydew melon, and honeysuckle. This is a wine you can enjoy right away or cellar for future enjoyment. Its concentrated flavor pairs elegantly with scallops seared in butter, lobster thermidor, and chicken in white wine sauce.

Wiston Estate Blanc de Blancs 2015 retails for GBP 97.69 (USD 130.90).

Add Sparkle to Your Celebrations

Sparkling wines can add a distinctly festive air to any gathering. Thus, they are perfect for celebrations.  Check out the best winery lunches in Coonawarra for great wine and dine experience.

Try the above recommendations for the most extraordinary occasions.

 

 

Exit mobile version