IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT CHAMPAGNE!

WHOSE CORK WILL YOU POP ON VALENTINE’S DAY?

Popping the cork on a bottle of sparkling has forever signalled the start of celebrations. Not so long ago, that cork tended to come from one of the great Champagne houses, a mark of sophistication and good taste, but today it’s a different matter completely.

Now, alongside Champagne, we have Prosecco, Cava, Crémant, and even English Sparkling Wine, and they all love a good party!

HERE’S HOW TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT PARTNER FOR YOUR VALENTINE’S DAY CELEBRATIONS:

Champagne:

The original bottle of bubbly has long been associated with good times. Made in the Champagne region of France where the climate is cool, Champagne is made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, or Pinot Meunier grapes. To be classed as Champagne, it must be aged for at least 18 months using a two-step fermentation process called the méthode champenoise, where the second fermentation takes place in the bottle that it will be sold to the public in.

We love it because: you can taste the skill, time and dedication needed to create quality Champagne

Prosecco:

Prosecco has become synonymous with good times and is not surprisingly the world’s most popular fizz. It sells more bottles than Spanish Cava and French Champagne combines, not bad for a sparkling wine that only came into being in 2009! It is made using the Charmat method, undergoing a second fermentation in a steel vat (not bottle) which reduces time and costs.

We love it because: its low cost makes it great for when you’re celebrating en masse

Crémant:

For a bottle of French bubbly that is made using the same traditional methods as Champagne, then Crémant is a good alternative. The name crémant comes from the French word crémeaux which means creamy, used to describe the texture of the wine. Crémant is a popular drink throughout France, usually hailing from the Loire or Burgundy, and is renowned for its delicate texture and soft bubbles.

We love it because: its delicate bubbles and refined flavour makes it a good low-cost match for Champagne

Cava:

If you prefer to go Spanish, then Cava is another good option. It is also made in the ‘traditional method’ like Champagne but has a different flavour profile thanks to the Spanish grapes it uses: Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel-lo. It is much brighter in colour and flavour than its French counterparts, with zingy lemon and lime flavours and beautiful golden bubbles.

We love it because: there are many different styles of Cava out there giving greater versatility

English Sparkling Wine:

The breakout star of the last decade is our very own sparkling wine which in 2024 outpaced Champagne sales. As the UK’s winemakers gain better knowledge and skills, so they are turning out more and more award-winning bottles of bubbly which rival those made across the channel. With an increasingly warmer climate and fantastic terroir, English vineyards are popping up all around the country.  

We love it because: it’s home-grown, it’s local and you can taste the English countryside in each glass

 

This Valentine’s Day, take the plunge and pop the cork on something new, with 20% off all Sparkling Wine for Taste Club Members 10th -16th February!