The Queen's Platinum Jubilee marks 70 years since Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne on 6th February 1952. A few months earlier, the first commercial vineyard of modern times was planted on the south-facing chalky slopes of Hampshire's South Downs at Hambledon. Together with the pioneering work of Ray Barrington Brock, Edward Hyams and George Ordish in the 1940s and 1950s, the future of the English wine industry was established.
Fast forward to today and English wine is on a roll, receiving an increasing number of awards in the world's most prestigious wine competitions and gaining new fans at home and across the globe. Enthusiasm and pride in our still and sparkling wines is growing, as is the overall quality and understanding of what is possible on these shores.
Bubbly leads the way in terms of production and worldwide reputation, accounting for over 70% of wines made in England and Wales. Earlier this year, Buckingham Palace even released an English sparkling wine in honour of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, made exclusively from hand-picked fruit from vineyards in Kent and West Sussex.
English sparkling wine is not a cheap product, but that doesn't mean it's not value for money. Au contraire mes amis! A top class wine from an artisan, boutique British producer can offer terrific value. One delicious example, available nationwide and perfect for the Jubilee celebrations, is exclusive to Morrisons, as part of the supermarket's 'The Best' range.
Morrisons The Best English Sparkling Brut Vintage 2010 is an award-winning English wine, made from a blend of Chardonnay (59%), Pinot Noir (33%) and Pinot Meunier (8%). It's available in the supermarket's stores across the UK and costs £25. However, it's now on special offer until 5th June for only £15 online, or £20 in-store. ABV is 11.5% and residual sugar is 10.5g/L.
The excellent 2010 vintage, with its ideal flowering conditions and warm summer, resulted in many wines with good ageing ability. This wine from Morrisons is no exception, having rested happily in bottle for eight years, developing further complexity and richness. It's unusual to find, especially in a supermarket, an English wine that's been aged for so many years. Jarman explains further: "This particular wine embodies everything we look to offer with 'The Best' range - great quality and fantastic value for customers. The Best English Sparkling wine is significantly cheaper than others on the market, yet was awarded a Gold medal in the 2021 Decanter World Wine Awards. It's rare to be able to find a wine of this age and with this level of complexity and elegance on the market at this price. We are delighted to be able to do this for our customers."
Appearance: Pale gold with fine bubbles.
Nose: Floral with notes of apple, citrus and creamy pastry.
Palate: Notes of brioche and custard cream biscuit, allied to lemon and green apple acidity, give a creamy yet fresh mouthfeel with a hint of butterscotch popcorn. The sugar level and acidity remain in balance and the finish is very long.
Food pairing: Wonderful on its own as a celebratory tipple, but will go perfectly with fish and chips or vanilla scones with strawberry jam and cream (see below).
🥂 A glass or two of Morrisons The Best English Sparkling Brut Vintage 2010 is an affordably regal way to toast the Queen's Platinum Jubilee! "This special occasion calls for a special bottle and The Best English Sparkling Brut Vintage offers just that", comments Mark Jarman. "It's the perfect wine to toast the Queen at street parties and a great partner to British classics such as fish and chips. You can even enjoy it with a delicious British afternoon tea during the weekend celebrations! Like the great monarch herself, it is both sophisticated and elegant!", he adds.
So, if you're having a street party or continuing the celebrations over the summer, then this could be just the wine for you! It packs a real punch of flavour and for £25, let alone £20 or £15, represents superb value for money. Also, at only 11.5% ABV, it shouldn't leave you with too much of a spinning head either. Cheers! 🥂
