New Year Fizz
Buy British bubbly and support our homegrown vineyards. The quality is excellent and producers such as memorably named Breaky Bottom, local to me in Sussex, are ace. For richness and intrigue, pick bottles with a bit more age – my M&S 2016 Cava pick is a great value option. Non-vintage Champagne (look for NV on the bottle) is balanced and ready to drink, but pick lesser-known options such as Italian Pignoletto for a fruity steal to keep everyone knocking back the bubbly into 2022. It’s a welcome glimpse of wine’s tantalising future.
Specially Selected Pignoletto Spumante DOC (11.5%), £6.99, Aldi. The ultimate crowd pleaser, and a bargain. Pristine and scented as pear blossom.
Graham Beck Blanc de Blancs 2017 (12%), from £17.99, Majestic. Rich fizz with depth and almond-lemony layers. Outrageously good South African value!
Les Pionniers NV Champagne (12%), £19, Co-Op. For under £20 this is my top pick for non-vintage Champagne on British shelves right now. Downright delicious.
Cloudy Bay Pelorus NV (12.5%), £24, Tesco. Fantastic aromas of coffee and cocoa beans, this is bubbly brilliance to rival the world’s best.
This article was originally published in YOU Magazine, Mail on Sunday, 26th December 2021 – Prices, stockists and vintages correct at time of publication.
