Champagne and Sparkling
All Sparkling wine must go through a secondary fermentation where the CO2 (A natural by-product of fermentation) is retained and infused back into the wine creating the all-important fizz. There are 2 main ways of doing this; either in the bottle (bottle fermentation or traditional method) or in a tank (tank fermentation or Charmat method). The rich complexity in Champagne is developed through ageing the wine on its lees (dead yeast cells) inside the bottle for at least 12 months for a non-vintage (NV) and a minimum of 3 years for a vintage Champagne. In reality most champagnes are cellared for much longer; 2-3 years for NV and 4-10 years for vintage Champagne. The variety of styles, aromatic complexity, elegance and poised, precise flavours make it an extremely versatile wine. Most English sparkling wines, new world sparklers, Crémant and Cava are also made using the traditional method as used in Champagne but with less aging requirements. Prosecco from Northern Italy is produced using the Charmat method which ensures the fresh primary fruit character is maintained and the wine is light and fruity.
If you're looking for a celebratory bottle of Champagne for a special occasion, an easy drinking prosecco or a fine English sparkling wine, we've got you covered. We've plenty of options to suit all tastes and budgets. Each of our sparkling wines have all been handpicked and tasted for quality.
