Wines From Spain Awards 2022: The Champions!

Taste the Winners from the Wines From Spain Awards 2022

When we hear the words Spanish wine, what do we immediately think of? Rioja? Certainly. Cava? Probably. Anything else? If not, then read on to discover a world of vinous diversity in terms of style, region and price points that will blow your mind. 

The Wines from Spain Awards has been running for eight years now and exists to celebrate true excellence in Spanish winemaking and shine a light on the most exciting wines produced in the country today across all styles and categories. From the classic gems to bold, modern finds and each showcasing Spain’s unique heritage and personality, this winner’s list really does offer something for everyone and for every occasion. 

How do the Wines From Spain Awards work? 

Chaired by the inimitable Tim Atkin MW, a team of fourteen professional judges picked out 100 wines before awarding 16 ‘Champions’ in categories ‘Best in Show’, ‘Best Red over £10’, ‘Best Cava’, ‘Best Discovery’, ‘Best Rosado’ and ‘Best Premium White and Red over £20’. Tim said:

“Spain is the most exciting country, certainly in Europe, and possibly in the world, right now. If you are prepared to pay a little bit more, it gets you extraordinary value for money. It is so diverse and exciting. There is a lot happening, not just in the traditional places like Rioja, Navarra, Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Sherry, but also elsewhere. Look under the surface of Spain and you will find lots of wonderful, gleaming jewels.”

Our Top Three Winning Spanish Wines to Try:

Sparkling: Cava

Cava is a sparkling wine made in the same time consuming, ‘traditional method’ as Champagne but it hails from much larger production areas around the North of Spain and is usually made with a blend of local, Spanish grape varieties: Parellada, Macabeo and Xarel-lo. It’s much closer in style to Champagne than Prosecco with its more savoury brioche and umami notes that come from lees ageing and time, though the price point is often much lower than the famous French fizz because there’s more of it. Cava is a much more democratic drink in Spain (and elsewhere) just like Prosecco is in Italy. The perfect aperitif on any day of the week and in Cava’s case, the most versatile food wine you can get and it sings with cold cuts, nuts and hard cheeses.  

Try: Mas Macià Cava

This is a delightful Cava, authentic and fresh with notes of crunchy apple and pineapple with moreish, chalky notes on the finish. A good, savoury fizz that’s perfect with tapas.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Price: £12 - £12.50
Find it at: AllAboutWine and NobleGreenWines.

White, still wine: Garnacha Blanca (White Grenache)

White Garnacha, aka Grenache, to give it its more usual French name, is a grape that has been on the rise in Spain recently and does fantastically well. This is probably due to the popularity of red Grenache (Grenache Noir), even though it’s technically a different grape that behaves very differently. We are seeing a revival of Garnacha Blanca in the regions of Priorat,  Aragón and Montsant but it is also increasingly common in Rioja blends as well as in top end, single-varietal wines. It’s storming it in Navarra too at the moment, with acreage growing from 2.5 to 123H in fifteen years. It is no longer a minor grape variety so if you like rich and weighty white wines, seek out a Garnacha Blanca. Try this grape with rich and creamy poultry or rice dishes. 

Try: Perelada Només Garnatxa Blanca 2021

(Best White over £10)

Hailing from the region of ​​Empordà in Spain, this is 100% white Grenache and a great example of it at that. Think weighty, fleshy and creamy white wine with notes of melon, vanilla, baked apple and white chocolate. Great with food like hard cheese, nutes and poultry. 

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Price: £10.45 -12.45
Find it at: Vinnissimus, AMPS and Lekker Wines.

White, Still Wine: Godello

Godello is a Spanish white wine grape that has been finding favour over recent years as a great alternative to Sauvignon, Soave, Gavi and the usual suspects. It’s most popular in Galicia where Albariño is king, but can be found in other Spanish regions as well as across the world where it is also known as Gouveio (Portugal) and Agudelo (France). It’s a grape whose style will change based on terroir and winemaking techniques but very generally, is often zesty, refreshing, saline and textured with notes of grapefruit and lime and a hint of smokiness. 

Try: Godello Pepa Porter, Adegas Terrae 2021

Hailing from the lesser known, dry and granite-rich D.O. Monterrei, which is located in the southeast corner of the province of Ourense in Galicia, this wine made the top 100 list and is cracking value. Think savoury stone fruit and a slick of salty licorice and lime. Delicious. 

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Price: £12-13
Find it at: Vinissimus & VinoDirect.com.

Red, still wine: Priorat

Priorat is a Spanish wine region loved by oenophiles but not quite yet on every consumer’s lips in the way that Rioja is or Ribera del Duero even might be. Priorat is located in the province of Tarragona to the southwest of Catalonia and is home mostly to some powerful red wines with a distinctive texture and figgy flavour profile thanks in part to special black slate, quartz soils there known as llicorella, which always makes us think of licorice. Red Priorats are usually heavy on the red Garnacha and Cariñena but can also use Garnacha Peluda, Tempranillo, Picapoll Negre, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Syrah so they can feel quite international in style. The main white grapes used are Garnacha Blanca, Macabeo, Pedro Ximénez and Chenin Blanc but the Moscatels, Blanquilla, Picapoll Blanc and Viognier are permitted. Try the powerful, Priot reds like the one below with meat stews, barbecues and grilled vegetables. 

Try: +7 Priorat, Bodegas Pinord, 2019

Concentrated and silky with luscious notes of chocolate, figs, baking spice, licorice and bramble fruit. Big and brooding. A food wine that needs air but is super special. 

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Price: £28.99 -£33.99
Find it at: StrictlyWine and Winebuyers.com

Wines from Spain: The Champion Wines 

Here is a list of the champion wines that were singled out by the competition judges as the best in their category or the best in show generally. You can find a catalogue detailing all the 100 wines that made the cut however, here. 

White Champions:

• Best Cava: Bodegas Pinord Cava +&+ NV, RRP £13.99 

• Best Premium Sparkling: Gramona Argent Brut Nature Rose 2017, RRP £57 

• Best White Over £10: Perelada Només Garnatxa Blanca 2021, RRP £12.45 

• Best Premium White: Rioja Vega Tempranillo Blanco Reserva 2019, RRP £49.99 

• Best White Discovery: Soto Manrique La Viña de Ayer Albillo Real 2018, RRP £13.00

• Best Premium Discovery: Estones PX 2019, RRP £26.00 

• Best White of Show: Familia Torres Forcada 2018, RRP £37.99 

Rosado Champion:

• Best Rosado: Bodegas Gordonzello Gurdos 2021, RRP £10.00 

Red Champions:

• Best Red Under £10: Bodega Casas de Moya Gloria 2020, RRP £9.50

• Best Red Discovery: Bodega Binigrau Bi-Negre 2017, RRP £15 

• Best Red Over £10: Bodegas Arzuaga Navarro Laderas del Norte 2020, RRP £18.77

• Best Premium Red: Conde Valdemar Balcón de Pilatos 2019, RRP £25.75 

• Best Sweet Wine: Bodegas Monovar Fondillón 1996, RRP £66.50 

• Best Dry Fortified: Fernando de Castilla Antique Oloroso NV, RRP: £34 

• Best Sweet Fortified: Fernando de Castilla Classic Pedro Ximénez NV, RRP £22

• Best White of Show: Familia Torres Forcada 2018, RRP £37.99 

• Best Red of Show: Conde Valdemar Balcón de Pilatos 2019, RRP £25.75 

See what Helena tasted this week with Mike Graham on talkTV here!

Great Wine and Spirits to Gift this Father's Day

Words by Colin Hampden-White

With so many choices of premium sparkling wine and Champagne on the market, I wanted to highlight two I’ve had recently. One traditional, and one non-alcoholic and from England. Both excellent. I have also found some amazing rum, cocktail pouches, a big, luscious, marvellous Malbec, and a couple of gins, one with sweet pineapple and ginger because dads like sweet things too!

Roger Daltray

I first tasted this on release before the pandemic. It was released for The Who on their 50th anniversary and having tasted it again a few days ago, I am pleased I thought so much of it in 2019, because I am still hugely impressed. Sometimes when a celebrity has a bottle made for them, it can go horribly wrong, and the juice in the bottle isn’t that good, but in this instance it is excellent. The design is also excellent giving the impression of a premium product yet not being overly showy. The design holds onto the brand identity of The Who well. The Champagne itself made by Charles Orban, has finesse and intensity. Made with 45% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier, there is good complexity with lots of citrus notes and hints of vanilla and brioche. A percentage of the price of each bottle goes to Teen Cancer America too so should you find yourself with your hands on a bottle, you can sip knowing you are doing good.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £95

Wild Idol

A little while ago I tried and very much liked the Wild Idol Rosé, and the white takes off where that left off. There is the same elegance of fruit and balanced acidity giving a satisfying drink, not too acidic like a lot of sparkling wine and not too sweet. Lots of floral aromas and delicate fruit give elegance. This is the second time I’ve tried a non-alcoholic sparkling and thought it benefited from not having any alcohol and the first time was its pink sibling. Bravo Wild Idol!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 0.0%
Find here: £35

 

Santiago de Cuba 11 Years Old Extra Añejo

11 years old is old for a tropically aged rum. So when one comes along from one of the best Cuban brands one expects it to be very good, and this is certainly that. It’s rich with lots of fruity esters and brown sugar flavours which perfectly balance each other, there is huge complexity with pineapple, and spices including cinnamon and cumin. A little banana and caramel and a touch of black cracked pepper on the finish. A decadent rum perfect for decadent dads.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £39.83

Luigi Bosca | Malbec Selección de Vistalba 2020

This is a stonking wine for the price. Wines from Argentina are always good value as they are subsidised for the UK market but this wine punches way above its price mark. It’s a big rich wine with lots of red fruit and floral aromas and dark fruit flavours. There is some spice and liquorice too. It is drinking now but will certainly age for at least 5 years and is a perfect wine to serve up with a big steak or a hearty bean casserole. You might want to pick up two bottles though because once dad gets a taste we’re not sure he’ll want to share!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £16.99

MYXD Dad Box

A box full of cocktails! What’s not to like? Well, not a lot really. Finally, cocktail pouches are delivering very good cocktails akin to one you would receive from a good bartender, and in a lot of cases even better. I’ve been served some pretty dodgy cocktails in my time, and with these pouches not only do you get a good cocktail, but you also get them consistently. Super for sharing and easy to put together. Literally, chill add soda to some and pour. What could be easier?!

In the box:

Long Island Iced Tea where they have combined Flor de Caña 4 year old white rum with vodka, gin, tequila, triple sec, sugar syrup, organic citric acid, lemon bitters and cola reduction.

Smoked Banana Colada combining coconut rum, single cream, banana syrup, coconut syrup and smoky Scotch whisky.

Pinapple & Jalapeno Mai Tai where Flor de Caña 7 Gran Reserva Rum is the star of the show, accompanied by triple sec, jalapeno syrup, orgeat, organic citric acid and pineapple juice.

Popcorn Old Fashioned mixing Benchmark 8-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon, popcorn syrup and fragrant Angostura bitters.

Penicillin combining Benchmark 8-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon with Smokehead peated single malt whisky, ginger and honey syrups, organic citric acid and lemon bitters.

If you wanted to you could add garnishes like orange for the Old Fashioned or Pineapple leaves for the Colada, they make them look pretty, but if you can’t be bothered, they are still going to taste great.

Size: 100ml - 150ml
ABV: 13.7% - 26.5%
Find here: £28.95

 

Bullards Pineapple, Ginger and Lime Gin

Pineapple is a flavour I would normally associate with rum rather than gin, but in this case, it works beautifully giving tropical sweetness to balance the lime and the ginger that comes through to give a little heat and spice. The gin is very smooth and makes a very good G&T, but where it shines for me is with ginger ale. Again, something I’d normally mix with rum or whisky, but with this gin, it makes a great spicy long drink and remains fresh which is perfect for this time of year.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £40

Lind and Lime Gin

A gin with a very nautical feel. This is the first spirit to come from the Port of Leith distillery in Edinburgh and is inspired by Dr James Lind who came from Edinburgh. He noticed that patients who had scurvy and were eating citrus fruits were showing good signs, which explains the lime in the gin, and how we know how to cure scurvy today. Not that I think there is enough lime in the gin to cure scurvy! But it certainly tastes good. The cap label says there are flavours of lime, pink peppercorn and juniper, and that’s the perfect tasting note for this gin. It literally “does what it says on the tin”, and with 44% abv, those flavours are delivered effortlessly. My gin of the moment, and a perfect dad day present for a gin loving dad.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 44%
Find here: £34.95

If you still don’t feel like you’ve found the perfect present, have a browse through our wine and spirits pages as they’re packed full of delicious drinks to try!

Celebrate Pride with these Top LGBTQIA+ drinks

It’s Pride Month, and we’re celebrating all things LGBTQIA+ not only with a hefty dose of rainbow-themed décor, but by toasting to it in style with tipples that proudly support the LGBTQIA+ community. Whether you’re a community member yourself, or a thirsty ally, here are some must-tries to show your spirit…

Gays Who Wine

This wine club, founded by Shaun Houcke, is all about giving people the chance to meet up and mingle with great vino – without having to resort to a raucous bar. You can also shop from a gorgeously curated online offering – including a weekly changing mixed case, with the likes of rosé fizzes and juicy reds (from £65). Beer drinker? An edit of top pours includes tempting nibbles such as artisan cheese, smoked almonds and sourdough crisp breads (£45). If you need an extra feel-good reason to buy, know that 10% of profits go to LGBTQIA+ charities.

Find out more here!

Luv Jus

Following one helluva time at Tel Aviv Pride in 2016, housemates George and Owen decided to launch Luv Jus – a healthy craft vodka pop that comes in two delicious flavours: pineapple, mint, ginseng and jasmine, or blood orange, pomegranate and ginseng. At just 107kcal per tin, with no added sugar, they’re as gentle on the waistline as they are dangerously sippable, plus have the added bonus of being vegan-friendly and gluten-free. We know what we’ll be drinking come London Pride Week this September… 

ABV: 4.8%
Find here: £14.95 for 6

Stonewall Spirits

A family run brand based in Skegness, Lincolnshire, Stonewall Spirits is committed to supporting and donating to the LGBTQ community all year round. Not only do they do this by re-telling the story of the ‘Stonewall Riots’ throughout their brand, but they also donate £1 to Stonewall UK from every bottle purchased to continue the fight for acceptance and equality in the UK. As if that wasn’t great enough news as it is, they also produce absolutely cracking gins. Mix their Pink Rhubarb gin into a G&T for a beautifully refreshing drink this Summer!

ABV: 40% // 37.5%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £36.95

Digby Fine English

It was during a trip to a Seattle winery that married couple Jason Humphries and Trevor Clough had a lightbulb moment and decided to move back to the UK and go into business together with the aim to bring English sparkling wine to the luxury market. Meet Digby Fine English; the high class sparkling English wine from West Sussex that is outperforming Champagne in blind tastings and winning countless awards. 

Find here: From £32

Proud Beer

The UK’s first ‘queer beer’ was launch back in 2018 by boyfriends Ethan Spidey and Sören Scharf and as well as a beer, is a platform for all that they do for LGBTQIA+ charities. They worked around their day jobs to create their ‘LGBTQIPA’: a truly inclusive drinks brand with a clear message to the businesses to put their money where their mouth is if they truly want to support the community. Ethan explains: “We got fed up with people slapping a rainbow flag on their brand once a year and pretending they cared. We thought, why don’t we start a beer company that benefits the charities we have worked with for years?” Quite right. Cheers!

Find here: From £2.30 a bottle

Gentleman Farmer 

Next time you’re in the US, look out for Gentleman Farmer wines, produced by vino extraordinaire couple Joe Wolosz and Jeff Durham. This Californian vintner duo specialises in producing powerful Cabernet Sauvignon – all dark fruity and earthy character – as well as elegant Chardonnays. Looking for something summer-fabulous to toast Pride month with? Grab a bottle of their delicate blushing pink rosé, with refreshing watermelon and brioche notes on the palate.

Find here: From $35

Crystal Head Limited Edition Pride Vodka

In case the whole bottle-shaped-like-a-skull thing wasn’t already theatrical enough for you, we present Crystal Head Pride edition. Painted in dramatic rainbow tones, this will double as a statement decor piece long after you’ve drained the final drop of vodka (which, by the way, is made using pure Canadian water). It doesn’t just look good though – a percentage of sales goes to the Kaleidoscope Trust, an international LGBTQIA+ human rights charity that works across the Commonwealth, for example by ensuring that trans women in Pakistan have access to safe housing. And if that standard 70cl bottle isn’t quite enough? Plump for the brand new 1.75-litre release, available at Selfridges for a cool £140.

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: UK From £46.48 // US $39.99

Tom Savano Finnish Liberation Cosmopolitan

When you can’t be bothered to mix your own cocktail, Tom Savano comes to the rescue with its premixed pours. And this bottling – comes with a splash of Pride, not only because the Carrie Bradshaw’s drink of choice is said, according to Punch, to have originated in the Cleveland gay scene in the 1980s. It’s also mixed up with Tom of Finland Organic Vodka, named after the gay icon and fetish artist. The vodka’s own association spreads awareness about LGBTQIA+ erotic art, so you can feel extra virtuous with every sip. Chill it right down in the fridge, pour it out in Sex and the City-style cocktail glasses and toast to liberation. 

ABV: 20%
Size: 500ml
Find here: £29

Barefoot Wines

Barefoot takes great ‘pride’ in the fact that it’s been an LGBTQIA+ ally for more than 30 years, since 1988 to be exact. Over the decades this Californian wine brand has partnered with dozens of different LGBTQIA+ organisations and popped up at countless Pride festivals, so you know it’s genuinely supporting the community for the long haul. Choose from the range of easy-drinking wines, perfect for celebrations – whether your bag is a fruit-forward Merlot, a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or sweet Moscato, there’s something here to suit. Bottoms up!

Find out more here (UK)! // From $9.99 (US)

talkTV: Jubilee Drinkies!

The platinum Jubilee bank holiday is here! Time for fun frolics and fiestas. Here is an eclectic mix of fabulous booze that will suit all kinds of celebrations.

Soave, 2021

Made for M&S by Casa Girelli in the Veneto, which is the home of Soave, this is a really lovely, refreshing, pear-scented Soave for a ridiculous price. Soave is named after the production area rather than the grape used to make it, which will always be Garganega. It was a style famous before Pinot Grigio but it’s coming back with a bang. Their £7.50 version is even lovelier. 

Find it at M&S for £5.50 in store.

Nerello Cappuccio, 2020

Cappuccio means hood and it describes the shape of the vine leaves that cloak the grapes to protect it from the hot sun. A Sicilian variety that loves the volcanic soils of Etna particularly, this is a grape that used to be used in blends a lot but is now finding its feet as a single varietal. Usually deep in colour with lots of fruit but not too heavy or tannic, this is a textured red that works well lightly chilled. It’s part of the M&S ‘Found’ range championing less known grapes. 

Find it at M&S for £7

The Society's Exhibition English Sparkling Wine NV

Produced exclusively for The WIn Society by the well-loved producer Ridgeview who are based in Sussex, this fizz is a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, the three champagne grapes. With notes of baked apple and topasty spice, it’s apple pie in a glass!

The Wine Society, £24

English sparkling wine to celebrate the Jubilee

With the Platinum Jubilee around the corner, it feels ridiculous to reach for Champagne when we have properly world class fizz on our doorsteps. English sparkling wine has come of age with even the most ‘basic’ bottles now really packing a punch in terms of flavour and complexity. This is thanks partly to more and more stocks of ‘reserve’ wines, which is wine from previous vintages held back deliberately to add to more recent, non-vintage blends. These older, reserve wines tend to add the toasty, brioche and apple pie crust notes to sparkling wine that we have come to love in the traditional method of sparkling wine. Here are some top English sparkling wine picks that should be on your radar.

Hampshire

Hattingley Valley, Classic Reserve

Hattingley Valley winery is found in rural Hampshire where the first vines were planted in 2008 and the first wines released in 2013. Made by multiple award-winning female winemaker Emma Rice with 53% Chardonnay, 31% Pinot Noir and 16% Pinot Meunier grapes, the Classic Reserve is Hattingley’s most widely available and most loved wine. A non-vintage sparkler based on the somewhat challenging 2015 vintage, this is the wine that gives you a true flavour of the Hattingley house style: Golden with fine bubbles, elegant notes of brioche, nougat and a touch of oak with a characteristic hedgerow note on the finish.

Find it at Waitrose for £30 a bottle.

Hambledon Classic Cuvée

Established in 1952 by Major-General Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones, Hambledon is England’s oldest vineyard and can be found nestled in the home of Cricket at Hambledon in Hampshire. Their Classic Cuvée is again, a blend of all three traditional grapes, (56% Chardonnay, 27% Pinot Noir, 17% Pinot Meunier). Grapes are handpicked on the estate and this cuvée uses the 2017 harvest as a base with 20% reserve wines added, giving it the characteristic toasty richness that Hambledon has become famous for. Hambledon also does fantastic tours, tastings and events. 

Find it at Majestic for £34.99 (or £23.99 as part of a mixed 6 case)

Sussex

Rathfinny Estate Blanc de Noirs 2018

Rathfinny has an enviable position on the sunny, south-facing slopes of England’s South Downs in Alfriston, Sussex. It has quickly made a name for itself as one of England’s finest wine producers. Blanc de Noirs is a sparkling wine made only from black /red grapes which in this case are Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier and these wine grapes came from just one single harvest in 2018, which has been dubbed the vintage of the decade. Rathfinny has a style that is rich but precise with a fantastic, lean, mineral character. Seriously elegant and will keep for a while. Rathfinny is another great place for a vineyard picnic too!

Find it at Lea & Sandeman for £38.95 (or £36.95 when in a case of six) 

Kent

Balfour Brut Rosé 2018

A renowned winery located on the Hush Heath Estate in Kent, the Balfour sparkling brut rosé was the first ever English wine to win a gold medal and the Trophy at the International Wine Challenge. This 2018 vintage wine is only ever made in tiny quantities from a single vineyard and it has a special story. The estate has belonged to the Balfour-Lynn family for three generations, but it was Richard and Leslie’s idea to plant vines at Hush Heath in 2002, with a view to making a pink sparkling wine like their favourite ever Champagne: Billecart Salmon Rosé. Their thinking was “If we can’t sell it, we’ll drink it”. But they did sell it and the rest is history. It’s a great place for lunch and a tasting with a lovely walk around the vines and the apple trees too. 

Find it at Waitrose for £39.99

See what else Helena has been tasting with talkTV here.

Pop Your Corks For English Sparkling Wines

Words by Aidy Smith

It’s no secret that English sparkling wines have continued to develop a solid reputation across the country over the past decade. With over 800 vineyards and 178 wineries calling the United Kingdom their home, we’re now at a point where English sparkles are no longer a ‘surprise’ but are becoming an increasingly embraced phenomenon. 

For the factually curious amongst us, let’s backtrack for a second and look at how far English sparkling wine has come. In 2010, they overtook still wine production in the UK and now sit at 64% of total output. Industry folks are now familiar with the style itself, but production rates are still a little unknown, so I decided to delve a little deeper.

I’d like you to clear your mind for a second and take a guess at how many bottles you think could be produced each year. Could it be 500,000? Perhaps 1,000,000 at a stretch? Well, the latest figures show that a staggering 10.5 million bottles were produced in 2019, a colossal increase from the 5.9m in 2017.

But why are our bubbles so good?

Let’s start with the biggest link, the soil. Millions of years ago various parts of England were in fact directly connected to Champagne and as you might have guessed it’s those parts which have the best reputation for producing our sparkles. The soils are full of chalk and rich with minerals giving the grapes a unique and distinct character.

Then there’s the temperature – a steady increase of warmer and drier summers over the years due to climate change has resulted in better vine growth, quality of grapes and has placed us at the sweet spot for producing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier – the 3 major grapes for both English sparkling wines and coincidentally, champagne too.

It would seem that the two have quite a lot in common, especially their production methods which see the same lengthy process of maturation, taking anywhere from 15 months to 2 years. But while champagne has sat atop the pecking order for as many years as one can remember, our crown jewel bubbles are beginning to knock them off their perch.

English wine in the world

Year on year we’re seeing an increase of awards and the highest-ranking medals being presented to English wine producers. In fact, to date, no other country has achieved accolades on such a consistent level during such little time.  We’re now at a point where English sparkling wine is continuously beating both Champagne and Prosecco in universal competitions and when placed in front of some of the most renowned wine experts for blind tastings, they always seem to come top of the pile. There have even been occasions where some of the most reputed and recognised names in the champagne industry have listed English sparkling wine as their top choice when battling the two varieties against one another in a blind competition.

So what should you look out for?

Our most cherished English sparkling wine seems to be produced mostly down south, so look out for those from Kent, Sussex, Hampshire or Surrey.  In terms of variety, much like your favourite champagnes, you can expect Brut (dry), one of my personal favourites being Hambledon’s Premiere Cuvée Brut. We also have a stunning range of rosé brut, of which you simply cannot miss a producer called Gusbourne. Jenkyn Place serves up a cracking Blanc de Noir with Hoffman & Rathbone producing a beautiful Blanc De Blanc. While produced a lot less, you may even find a Millésime or Demi-sec floating around too. 

Finally, one of the biggest misconceptions is that English sparkling wines are too expensive when in actual fact they can hold a similar value to champagne. Not only do the entry level English sparkling wines retail at around £25, their quality rivals that of even established champagne houses.

Well, there you have it, the next time you’re looking for a bottle to celebrate or quite simply want a great glass of bubbles, give your native English sparkle a try!

Try These English Sparkles:

Black Chalk classic 2017, £38.99 from Vivino
Chapel Down Kit’s Coty Coeur de Cuvée 2015, £100 from The English Wine Collection
Gusbourne Rose Brut 2016, £48 from Vivino
Gusbourne Brut Reserve 2018, £33.50 from Vivino
Hambledon Vineyard Classic Cuvée, £30 from Waitrose
Hambledon Vineyard Premiere Cuvée Brut, £45 from Waitrose
Hoffman & Rathbone Blanc de Blanc 2012, £52 from Hoffman & Rathbone
Hush Heath Estate Balfour Blanc de Noirs 2018, £40 Balfour Winery
Lyme Bay Brut Rose NV, £30 from Lyme Bay
Nyetimber 1086 Prestige Cuvée, usually £150 from Nyetimber
Rathfinny Blanc de Noir 2016, £34.50 from The Champagne Company
Ridgeview Bloomsbury NV, £22.49 (on offer) from Waitrose
Wiston Estate Cuvée 2015, £35 from Hennings Wines
Wiston Rose Brut, £28 from Waitrose

For more English sparkling wine recommendations, take a look at English Sparkling Wine to Celebrate the Jubilee or Your Wine Travel Guide to Kent.

Top Jubilee Tipples for Every Budget

Whether you’re having a street party or not, with a double bank holiday, chances are there will be some celebrating going on! Here are a few Jubilee- tastic drinkies that will suit every budget. 

La Gioiosa Prosecco Rosé Millesimato Brut

La Gioiosa Prosecco has released a Limited-Edition Prosecco Rosé Millesimato in collaboration with British designer Yvonne Ellen just in time for us to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee!

The label features Yvonne’s pet budgies, Paul and Simon as well as a parakeet - a breed found in abundance in London’s Hyde Park. The flowers are versions of some beautiful native Italian plants intertwined with leaves from Glera and Pinot Nero grape which are the two grapes used to make this fizz. It’s elegant and aromatic with notes of pear, cherry and almond. 

Find it for £9.50 - £10.99 at Sainsbury’s (on offer),  Waitrose and various supermarkets.

Lateral Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile 2021

With the cost of living crisis, everything is getting more expensive. Enter Tesco to save the day, with a range of wines for £5 and under. This Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon does a great job of actually tasting like the grape it’s made from with notes of ripe blackcurrant, mocha and spice. It’s smooth and medium-bodied - awesome with steak and grilled meats. There are 11 wines in the range from Malbec to Pinot Grigio and Chenin Blanc. 

Find it for £3.89 at  Tesco

M&S Strawberry Gin Liqueur (20% abv)

With a bottle that is so pretty you might not want to open it, M&S are offering a sweet, Strawberry gin with very very subtle juniper notes that’s a bit of a guilty pleasure. Try it neat over ice, with lemonade or in cocktails. Made by the famous Warner’s Distillery in Northamptonshire and a great idea for gifting. 

Find it for £16 at M&S in stores only

Buckingham Palace Gin (42%)

Your splash out option is this small batch, elegant and aromatic gin that has been made with botanicals hand-picked from Buckingham palace’s very own grand including Lemon verbena, hawthorn berries and mulberry leaves. This is an exclusive bottling for Waitrose and it would make the perfect gift. You’ll want to keep the bottle afterwards too.

Find it for £40 exclusively at Waitrose

See what else we’ve been tasting on talkTV here. 

Top white Wines from Sainsbury’s Under £10 for 2022

We’re all feeling the pinch at the moment and it doesn't look like things are going to change any time soon. The impact of Covid, Brexit and war in Europe is taking its toll on the availability and the pricing of  so many things we used to take for granted and wine is no exception. The good news for wine is that as technology and winemaking has come on so much, a cheap wine doesn't have to mean sulphurous vinegar; these days, you can actually taste what the wine is meant to be! Here are four wines you should get into your fridge right now.

Taste The Difference Portuguese Alvarinho, £7.50

In the UK, we tend to know this grape better in its Spanish guise as Albarino. It’s equally famous in Portugal, where you’ll find a lot of it in the north of the country both as a single grape wine or as part of a blend in teh famous, light and spirtzy Vinho Verde wines. This one is still very light and elegant with subtle, peach and lemon notes and a hint of smoke. Super refreshing. 

Find it here at Sainsbury’s.

Taste The Difference Viognier 2021, £8

Viognier is the famous white grape of the Rhone Valley in France, famous for its oily weight nda texture and its gorgeous, ripe aromatics and flavours of peach, honeysuckle, white chocolate and citrus. Made by top French producer Laurent Miquel, this Viognier hails from a little further south. It’s beautifully balanced, showing great Viognier character - hard to do at this price level, but they’ve smashed it.

Find it here at Sainsbury’s.

Taste The Difference Grüner Veltliner ‘Traisental’ 2021, £9

Gru-V, as I like to call it, is the flagship Austrian white grape that is really finding its way into people’s hearts today - and this one is sensational for the price. Steely, bone dry and minerally with notes of baked apple, white peach, white pepper and a ginger kick on the finish. Serious and easy going at the same time. This rally punches above its weight.

Find it here at Sainsbury’s.

Taste The Difference Jurançon Sec 2021  £9 on offer for £7

Jurançon is a little region in South West France in the sun-drenched foothills of the Pyrenees. Here, they use lots of indigenous grapes including the brilliantly named Gros Manseng & Petit Manseng, which are the two grapes in this particular blend. Often, these grapes can make sweet wines but this one is dry, zesty and incredibly refreshing while also having a ton of ripe greengage, tangerine and melon notes. A bit different and totally loveable. 

Find it here at Sainsbury’s.

See what else I’ve been tasting with Mike Graham on talkTV here!