Glass of Bubbly
Franciacorta, Italian Sparkling Wine
With the hugely successful Prosecco sales, perhaps we should look closer at Italy’s lesser-known sparkling wine – Franciacorta. Franciacorta DOCG is grown in the Province of Brescia (Lombardy). There are 5,400 acres of DOCG vineyards and Franciacorta has had DOCG status since 1995. Franciacorta is known for it’s high quality, often regarded as Italy’s finest wine and compared with an average…
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Pierre Jourdan Belle Rosé
The Belle Rosé derives its name “beautiful rose” from the elegant blush colour, achieved by carbonic maceration of the base wine. This extracts the elegant colour and the flavours of the Pinot Noir, but not the harsh tannins. The base wine then undergoes the traditional second fermentation inside the bottle which yields the beautiful lively bubbles…
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Giffords Hall Sparkling Brut Zero 2012
A beautiful sparkling wine grown in the vineyards of Suffolk, England. A soft mousse, perfect acidity and a genuine zero dosage, with all is residual sugars ‘au natural’. An outstanding achievement from any winemaker. Made by Piers Greenwood, who won winemaker of the year 2012, this wine, from Pinot Noir, Pinot blanc and Chardonnay grapes is light,…
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Giffords Hall Vineyard, Suffolk
In the village of Hartest, between Bury St Edmunds and Sudbury in Suffolk, you can Giffords Hall. A family run winey, Giffords Hall produce a range of English wines, including a superb East Anglian sparkling. The vineyard was planted around 25 years ago and the vines are now in their prime. The sandy, clay soil…
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Celebrity Interview: Michelle Holmes
Michelle is an English actress who has appeared in several television serials including Rita, Sue and Bob Too, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Goodnight Sweetheart. She has also been in Life Begins, Waterloo Road and Above Suspicion. Glass of Bubbly Interview Where’s the most memorable place you’ve ever enjoyed a Glass Of Bubbly? The most memorable…
Read MoreMichel Roux Jr Heads Up Judging Panel of Taittinger Prix Culinaire International in the UK
The winner of the UK competition will be chosen by Michel Roux Jr and announced by Champagne Taittinger’s Marketing Director Vitalie Taittinger right after the cook off. All UK finalists will receive a Jeroboam of Champagne Taittinger and the UK winner will received €2,400, a trophy and a place in the international final which will…
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English Wine Production Figures Hit All Time High
The production figures for the 2014 harvest in the UK reveal a significant growth in volume, breaking all industry production records. 47,433 hectolitres were produced last year – the equivalent of 6.3 million bottles (75cl). This represents an increase of 42% in volume over 2013 – itself a record-breaking figure of 4.45m bottles. The figures…
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GŎNG bar at The Shard, London
This Asian inspired Champagne Bar is located on Level 52, Shangri-La Hotel at the Shard in London. It’s name, GŎNG, derives its name from ‘dougong’ – a unique structural element of interlocking wooden brackets, used in traditional Chinese architecture and also featured in the bar. The modern Asian design inside the bar was inspired by…
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Handsome Brut, Canadian Sparkling Wine
Sparkling personality. Dry wit. At home in pinstripes, equally dapper in denim. Chilled out and charmingly tasteful. Grab a glass, pop the cork and treat yourself. You can take this Handsome Brut anywhere. “My only regret in life is that I didn’t drink enough Champagne,” said British economist John Maynard Keynes. A wise declaration, and…
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