Andrew Jefford on English Sparkling Wines on BBC Radio 4

by former winemerchant July 27, 2008

Andrew Jefford takes over the Radio 4 Food Programme on Sunday 27 July 2008 with a look at the English Sparking Wine business. He presents on radio as well as he writes - informative, inquisitive and entertaining - his book The New France: A Complete Guide to Contemporary French Wine (Mitchell Beazley Wine Guides) provided a great insight into the way in which France and french winemakers are developing and improving.

There is little doubt that English Sparkling wine is enjoying a big boost in sales as quality improves and can seriously challenge wines from Champagne.

Andrew Jefford investigates the growing popularity and quality of English sparkling wine and finds out how it matches up to its French counterpart - Champagne and if there’s any truth in the rumours that the French are buying up English chalky downland on which to plant their own vineyards.

He and Suzy Atkin blind taste 4 English sparkling wines and one from Champagne, and whilst the Champagne still wins, the margin is not huge, The runner up and best English sparkling wine was the Ridgeview Grosvenor Blanc de Blancs 2001 - available from South Down Cellars in Hurstpierpoint in Sussex (£21.95) - shop and online.

Suzy Atkin makes a very valid point that whilst many consumers will use Champagne as a benchmark, there are in essence a wide variety of Champagne and Sparkling Wine styles, some of which appeal to some palates and not others. France’s Alsace and the Loire Valley produce some excellent sparkling wine, as does the New World - all slightly different in style. Whilst English sparkling wines are seldom cheap, they are consistently well-made and surrounded by less hype and snobbishness than the French fizz.

The programme is repeated live on BBC Radio 4 on Monday 28 July 2008 at 16.00 or is available online on the Listen Again section of the BBC website for 7 days.