Here we are, about to enjoy a cracking Christmas and wave goodbye to 2018. It’s been a busy year for The Wine Tipster. I’ve seen some great racing at The Jockey Club courses across the country, presented on wine and bubbles to some fabulous audiences and discovered plenty of top tipples along the way.

I’d love to say I’ll be winding down, but as we all know there’s plenty of racing on over the festive season.  Look out for my Unibet Racing blogs on December 19th and December 26th on King George Day for all my latest tips. 

If you haven’t quite finished your festive shopping I’ve got a few suggestions (not all wine-related, I promise). Peter Stafford-Bow is back with a new book set in the world of wine featuring wine buyer Felix Hart. Brut Force is the sequel to Corkscrew and would make a great gift for the wine-lover in your life (Available from Amazon, RRP £9.99, Kindle edition £3.99).

If it’s music you prefer, I can thoroughly recommend The Nightingales. I saw them at a great gig at The Moth Club in Hackney and their new album Perish The Thought is my album of 2018. (Buy from Tiny Global Productions, CD £15, digital version £7).

At Wine Tipster HQ, we’ll be heading out for Christmas this year and I’m looking forward to seeing what will be served up with our slap-up meal. For me, Christmas is a time full of tradition but also a great time to try different things and experiment with something new. I’m usually a big fan of getting into the kitchen and cooking a proper roast, but sometimes with a bit of a differences – maybe goose or venison. I’m also a big fan of fish and seafood as it pairs so brilliantly with some wines, so will be preparing us a platter for those festive evenings when you fancy something a little lighter.

Have you planned your festive tipples yet? I’ve put together my suggestions for a few different wines and tipples you can try this festive season. I hope you all have a wonderful time and here’s to a successful 2019. 

Merry Christmas from The Wine Tipster!

 

1. Prosecco DOC La Gioiosa et Amarosa NV Treviso, Veneto, Italy

Christmas wouldn’t be complete without some fizz and as we all know, I’m a big fan of Prosecco. Owned by the Moretti Polegato family, Villa Sandi always produces impressive, elegant Proseccos and the La Gioiosa is a perfect example.A delicious match with seafood. £11.99. Stockist: Majestic

2. Astoria Prosecco DOC “Galie” Extra Dry Treviso, Veneto, Italy

Another great example of Prosecco, this “Galie” Extra Dry is grown in the hills of the Astoria Estate approximately 150m above sea level, giving it an elegant, fruity and flowery bouquet with a harmonious flavour. Perfect served with canapes, smoked salmon and delicious Grana Padano. £13.75. Stockists: Gerard Steel, Amazon and at York Racecourse

3. Masottina Prosecco DOC Brut, Treviso, Veneto, Italy 

Masottina founded in 1946 in Conegliano, produce a range of high quality award winning Proseccos, including this award winning Brut, which won a gold medal in the Decanter Wine Awards. Stylish, smooth, with floral and fruity notes, this is top class. £11.99 Stockist: www.winedirect.co.uk www.fmv.co.uk

4. Ridgeview Bloomsbury Sparkling NV, Sussex

Based in East Sussex, Ridgeview is a great example of an English sparkling wine – a brilliant alternative to champagne during the festive season. These are great celebration wine, or pair well with seafood and fish, so try a glass with your salmon at Christmas. £28.99. Stockists: Waitrose

5. Vilarnau Cava Brut Reserva Rosé NV, Sant Sadurni d’Anoia, Spain

This is a high quality, dry pink Cava with an intense crimson colour, red fruits and citrus flavours, which will definitely impress over the Festive period as will the brilliant packaging. £12. Stockists: Tesco, Ocado, Cafe de la Post

6. Croft Twist Fino Spritz

When I first tried Croft Twist a couple of years ago, I thought it was wonderful. A modern British take on Spain’s rebujito cocktail, it mixes cask-aged Croft Fino with sparkling water, English elderflower and lemon and mint cordial. At 5.5% ABV, it’s great for Christmas if you’re after something a little bit lighter. It’s also a great wine to surprise people with. Don’t tell them what it is and see if they guess… For the perfect serve, pour over ice and garnish with a twist of lemon peel and a sprig of fresh basil. £7.00. Stockists: Ocado, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s

7. Chapel Down Bacchus 2017, Kent

One of the most popular English whites around at the moment, Bacchus is a great example of a white wine. And more English still white – Bacchus, Chapel Down. Ironically Bacchus won at Royal Ascot, tipped up by The Wine Tipster! £13.99. Stockist: Waitrose

8. Beronia Rueda Verdejo 2017, Spain

This is a fantastic easy-drinking white from the Rueda region of north-west Spain. You’re bound to be entertaining during Christmas and there’s always someone who says they don’t like Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay so it’s a great one to add to your selection of wines on offer. £8.99. Stockist: Waitrose

9. Peter Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2017, Awatere, New Zealand

Yealands are a great example of environmental and sustainable winemakers and their crisp, Reserve Sauvignon Blanc with flavours of passionfruit, mango and citrus is perfect on its own or with fish and buffets over the festive period. Try their Land Made Sauvignon Blanc across The Jockey Club racecourses. £11.59 on offer to £8.49. Waitrose

10. Côtes de Provence Rosé de Léoube 2017 Château Léoube, Provence, France

This is a top-class, bone dry rosé. Well balanced and with flavours of strawberry and white peach. It works well as an aperitif but would also go well with lighter festive dishes or a Boxing Day buffet of seafood and cold meats. £17.99. Stockists: Daylesford daylesford.com Oxford Wine Company, Charlbury Deli & Cafe, Waddesdon Manor

11. Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Villages 2017, Rhône, France

This wonderful Côtes du Rhône red is so truly French in style with ripe fruit aromas and wonderful spicy fruit flavours. This is great value and always does so well in tastings. A must for Christmas. It also pairs brilliantly with vegetarian dishes so is a great one to pull out when you’re entertaining. £9.99 down to £7.49. Stockist: Waitrose

12. Wirra Wirra Church Block Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot 2015 McLaren Vale, Australia 

This great example of a New World red from McLaren Vale is an Australian favourite and I’m rather partial to a glass too. Approachable yet with an element of consistency, it’s a great one to serve with a full festive roast dinner, or even just a few drinks on its own. £13.49. Stockist: Ocado

13. Louis M. Martini Sonoma County 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, California

This is classic, intense Cabernet Sauvignon is packed with ripe, concentrated and complex flavours of blackcurrant, plum, with sweet spice, subtle oak and a tremendous finish. A classic! Another one that pairs brilliantly with a roast dinner, making it perfect for the festive season. The Jockey Club has also just started listing this wine across its courses, so if you’re heading to Kempton Park on Boxing Day, make sure you look out for it. £19.95. Stockists: Uvinum.co.uk greatwesternwine.co.uk

14. Château Peyredon Lagravette, Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois 2010, Bordeaux, France 

Cru Bourgeois wines offer a tremendous opportunity to get some great value, complex clarets and this wine from the outstanding 2010 vintage just does that. This Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend has lovely, classic Cabernet blackcurrant fruit, with spice and savoury character. Definitely a wine to decant and enjoy with beef or game over the festive period. £14.50. Stockist: The Wine Society  

15. Royal Tokaji Late Harvest 2015, Hungary

If you’re looking for something a bit sweeter over the festive season but want to try something different, head for Hungary for a Tokaji. From the Tokaj wine region in Hungary, this wine has a wonderful balance of sweetness and acidity,which makes it a great pairing with lighter desserts and particularly blue cheese. I think it tastes great on its own too! £11.99 on offer to £9.99 (50cl) . Stockist: Majestic

16. Gonzalez Byass Matusalem Oloroso Dulce Muy Viejo VORS, Jerez, Spain

Who doesn’t want a tot of sherry on a festive evening. This stunning sherry, which gets its dark colour from thirty years of ageing in sherry butts should be on every Christmas table and all year round, for that matter! Matusalem Oloroso (ABV 20.5%) has aromas of dark chocolate and prunes, with delicious, rich, complex, nutty character on the palate. A lovely match with Alex James’ delicious Blue Monday. Stockists: The Oxford Wine Company, Waitrose. £19.99 per 37.5cl.

 

If there was ever a time to crack open the bubbly, it’s the festive season. In the run-up to Christmas and the New Year the satisfying sound of a cork popping is almost an everyday occurrence.

Nowadays, it’s highly likely that the bottle being opened is one of Prosecco – the easy-drinking fizz that has taken the world by storm. Through my work with The Prosecco D.O.C (Registered Designation of Origin) Consortium, I present on Prosecco across the UK and am overjoyed at the level of interest in this fantastic, versatile fizz that is as accessible yet also complex and nuanced.

The different levels of sugar content with the ‘Brut’, ‘Extra Dry’ and ‘Dry’ styles and the different types of effervescence, with Spumante or Frizzante, offer a whole range of flavour profiles. And that’s before you begin to look at different producers across the two regions of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia that make up the home of Prosecco in north east Italy. The Proseccos produced by producers across the nine provinces in these regions – Treviso, Venice, Vicenza, Padova and Belluno in Veneto and Gorizia, Pordenone, Trieste and Udine in Friuli-Venezia Giulia – offer their own unique characteristics that mean there really is something for everyone.

You may be  looking for an aperitif or perhaps you’re on a quest for a perfect pairing with food, whether it’s Grana Padano PDO (Protected Designation of Origin), sushi or Parma ham. Whatever you’re after, there is a Prosecco for you. It’s just a case of knowing which one to choose.

I’ve picked out six top Prosecco producers whose wines will suit a variety of occasions this Christmas and New Year:-

Mionetto Prosecco DOC Treviso Extra Dry, Veneto, Italy, £10.75. Stockist: Tesco, Tesco Wine by the Case

This company, begun by Francesco Mionetto 1887 in Valdobbiadene, has an excellent range. The Extra Dry is a great example with lovely balance and notes of green apples, acacia and apricots, but for me their Treviso Brut is also really impressive.

 

Prosecco DOC La Gioiosa Et Amorosa NV Treviso, Veneto, Italy, £11.99 on offer to £9.99. Stockist: Majestic

La Gioiosa is owned by the lovely Moretti Polegato family, who produce this is delicious, elegant and soft Prosecco, which has floral and citrus character and is a delicious match with seafood. Make sure you have a bottle nice and chilled.

 

San Leo Prosecco DOC Brut NV, Veneto, Italy, £10.99 on offer at £7.99. Stockist: Waitrose

A great one for a party or aperitif, this Prosecco is packed with lively fruit flavours. As well as a standard bottle, it’s also available in magnum for that showstopping moment, currently £20.99 down to £15.99.

 

Prosecco Masottina DOC Brut, Treviso, Italy, £12.99. Stockist: www.winedirect.co.uk www.winetherapy.co.uk

Located in Prosecco’s Conegliano region of the Veneto and owned by the Dal Bianco family since 1946,Masottina produces a range of high quality Proseccos and this DOC remains as popular as ever. This Decenter Gold Medal winner is stylish, smooth, elegant and creamy, it will be a winner at any party and family celebration.

Prosecco Valdo Marca Oro DOC Extra Dry £10.00 on offer at £7.00, Sainsbury’s

This is a very well known producer and popular Prosecco, which should be part of your Christmas selections. Full of freshness and light, lemony fruit flavours, with lovely creamy character too.

Prosecco Biancavigna DOC Brut, £15.00, Armit Wines, www.armitwines.co.uk

Biancavigna make beautifully elegant styles of Prosecco and they are most definitely a Group One runner. Their Brut is soft, floral, creamy, very stylish and delicious. Great as an aperitif with my favourite pairing of Grana Padano aged between 16 and 20 months, which is ideal for any cheese board or the cruncher, intense Grana Padano Riserva aged over 20 months. Grana Padano is available in Waitrose, M&S, Harvey Nichols, Sainsbury’s and Co-op.

The Prosecco story is still developing and its growth and popularity will no doubt continue to expand. The important thing is to try and to understand the nuances between different producers, different regions and different contexts.

You can enjoy checking out Oz Clarke’s new World of Wine (£30 Pavilion Books) and dive into the world of wines, grapes and vineyards. But when it comes to finding the Prosecco for you, you’re best off indulging in a bit of tasting. So pop that cork and get the fizz flowing, and come and join me on one of my masterclasses in 2018.

For more details regarding the Prosecco D.O.C Consortium check out www.discoverproseccowine.it facebook.com/prosecco @DOCProsecco

At this year’s Qatar Goodwood Festival, The Wine Tipster spent the five days presenting for Goodwood TV and Radio, and Racing UK. As well as sharing his tips for the Festival, The Wine Tipster was also involved with the Stewards’ Cup draw on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s big race. He represented Mick Easterby, who had Hoof It and Perfect Pasture running, and managed to draw good numbers for both horses – Hoof It in Stall 4 and Perfect Pasture in Stall 17.

The 10 year old Hoof It, a former winner of the Stewards’ Cup, ran a fantastic race and finished 6^th, while Perfect Pasture didn’t run as well as expected given some of his recent form, but given his listed win earlier in the season, he is well worth supporting on his next appearance.  

Overall, it was an amazing five day festival of racing which demonstrates the depth of the racing, and which The Wine Tipster believes will only continue to grow in terms of racing quality throughout the five days. The spectacle and setting of the Festival make this an exciting and unique racing occasion, and a must for true racing fans and those looking for their first racing experience.

The Wine Tipster’s personal highlights included Expert Eye in the Qatar Vintage Stakes on the Tuesday, who ran a great race and has a good chance for the Guineas Festival next May. On Ladies’ Day, Winter showed what a brilliant filly she is by winning the Nassau Stakes in ground that was far too soft for her to show her real class, but she is undoubtedly an outstanding three year old.

In the Qatar King George Stakes on Saturday, Battaash showed that his Sandown performances had been no fluke as he always travelled like the winner to beat a very strong field, showing that he really is a top class sprinter.

The Wine Tipster had a great time broadcasting with Lee McKenzie and Anthony Kemp on Goodwood Radio, as well as doing exciting features on Course TV with Rupert Bell and Hayley Moore. Racing UK also broadcast The Wine Tipster and his regular partners in food and drink crime, Tom Stanley, Rishi Persad and Niall Hannity.

Food and drink highlights included the Gin Garden, featuring Bombay Sapphire, Hendricks and Goodwood’s own gin. The Secret Garden offered a great buffet experience with wonderfully presented food and a great ambience – a must-go at the course.

Coates and Seely were a great feature with their Sparkling English Wines which have deservedly won numerous awards, rightly so given that the wines are Group 1 performers.

It has to be said that the Goodwood team did an amazing job when faced with such a mixed week of weather, coping with 35ml of rain on the Wednesday. Seamus Buckley, the retiring clerk of Goodwood described the day as the most difficult he has had to deal with in 23 years of working at the racecourse. Despite the weather, the team coped brilliantly and Buckley can certainly retire on a high.

The Wine Tipster enjoyed a wonderful few days of racing, and is looking forward to presenting more at the Haydock Rose of Lancaster Stakes Day this Saturday.

Three days of top class racing, luxury dining and Champagne: it must be Newmarket. This year’s racing culminated in the July Cup on the Saturday – won by Harry Angel who was given a great ride by Adam Kirby, beating the favourite, Caravaggio.

The Wine Tipster spent the festival presenting on Newmarket Course TV and ITV, as well as showcasing some wonderful wines in the Summer House Restaurant and at the daily Moët and Chandon Champagne paired lunches alongside a fabulous menu.

The 2017 Festival marked the launch of this Champagne and Dining experience by The Jockey Club, which was a huge success. It was a great example of how well Champagne can be paired, with dishes such as the Fish Duo of Trout Mousse and Lemon Cured Salmon.

It was great to see so many familiar faces in the Summer House this year, as well as amazing support for English Wines, especially Bolney Estate Foxhole Vineyard Pinot Gris, Nyetimber Classic Cuvée MV and Chapel Down English Rosé.

The Wine Tipster also did well on the tipping front this year, with Tangled at 8:1 on the Friday, and Medahim at 12:1 on the Saturday, both trained by Richard Hannon.

Overall, the 2017 Moët and Chandon July festival was a massive success, with attendances up on last year. The Wine Tipster will be returning next year – don’t miss him!

With Summer in full swing, what better way to relax and enjoy the sun than with a cool glass of Prosecco. Luckily, SPAR is currently stocking two fabulous and well-priced bottles: SPAR Extra Dry Treviso DOC Prosecco (£9.00) and SPAR Superiore Valdobbiadene DOCG Prosecco (£12.00).

The Wine Tipster does not seem to be alone in his love of Prosecco, as the UK currently accounts for 33% of Prosecco exports, making the UK the largest global importer. Following record exports to the UK in 2016, Prosecco DOC continues to grow across key markets – led by the UK returning an average of 30-40% growth over the past few years alone.

Production of DOC (designated area of origin) wines has risen from 1.5 million hl in 2011 to a huge 3.5 million in 2016. You’ll be pleased to hear that o ur thirst for quality Proseccos has led to the Prosecco DOC Consorzio increasing the area under vine. As of July 2009 Prosecco can only be produced in the regions of Veneto and Fruili-Venezia-Giulia in North-East Italy, but thankfully, there are lots of suitable vineyards areas across the nine provinces in the Prosecco region.

It should also be noted that Prosecco is never produced on tap, only in bottle, with the driest style being brut, then extra dry and dry. Prosecco DOC is also a perfect summer pairing with Grana Padano PDO (protected designation of origin) cheese from the North-West and North-East of Italy, as well as complimenting sushi and shell fish.

The two Proseccos available at SPAR are both easy-drinking and elegant, with the DOC Extra Dry excelling in its citrus fruit character and crisp acidity, and the DOCG Valdobbiadene (which is a famous town in the hills of the Prosecco region) has wonderful floral notes. Both are excellent pairings with Grana Padano cheese.

These SPAR stocked bottles are a must this summer, and next time you pop into a SPAR why not have a look at the rest of their wine selection too!

The Wine Tipster had a fantastic Royal Ascot 2017, presenting for Racing UK, BBC Berkshire and Ascot Racecourse. Over four and a half thousand people per day worked tirelessly throughout the week to make it another unforgettable year, which was made even more special with the spontaneous three cheers for the Queen everyday. Nearly 300,000 people attended this year’s Royal Ascot 2017 and the media coverage has never been stronger across the world.

As the official Champagne of Ascot this year, Champagne Bollinger was certainly flowing throughout the week, as was the official cocktail of the Flat season: The Royal Blush. The beautiful pink concoction is a mix of Beefeater London dry gin and rhubarb syrup, with chilled lemonade and fresh raspberries – making the perfect summer drink to enjoy at the racecourse.ITV’s James Tanner’s 

Queen Anne Kitchen was a new feature for the Racecourse, and was a particular favourite of The Wine Tipster, especially the Salt and Pepper Squid and the West Country Crab Salad, which paired beautifully with the Sauvignon Blanc 2016 Spy Valley from Marlborough, New Zealand. Tom Stanley my wonderful colleague from Racing UK enjoyed ‘going in’.

Other new features of Ascot this year included the 1768 Restaurant for lunch and afternoon tea, as well as The Village in the centre of the course which provided a more relaxed racing experience and was home to some stunning food stalls. The Wine Tipster tucked into Eggs Benedict from the wonderful Hotbox, who appear at music festivals across the country with their delicious delights.The Wine Tipster’s highlights of the week included tasting with Rishi Persad such dishes as Raymond Blanc’s Cornish Crab Salad with Coconut Bisque which was beautifully paired with the award-winning Bolney Estate Bacchus 2016 from Sussex. In regards to racing, however, The Wine Tipster enjoyed Gold Cup Day, especially with the 2 ½ mile feature won by his big tip of the week, Big Orange, who gallantly just managed to hold off the favourite Order of St George. Ribchester breaking the course record in the Jersey Stakes in the first race of Royal Ascot 2017 was also an unforgettable Ascot moment, as was Caravaggio in the Commonwealth Cup for the all conquering Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore.   

All in all, another memorable and exciting Royal Ascot, for both the racing and fine dining experiences.

The Wine Tipster spent the week at the 37^th London Wine Trade Fair, presenting an ‘Unlocking Prosecco’s Potential’ session, exploring the versatility of food and Prosecco pairings. He was joined by Italian Embassy chef, Danilo Cortellini, and together they entertained and educated a combination of bloggers, presenters, event organisers, wine educators, merchants and journalists.

The audience were treated to some fabulous canapes courtesy of Danilo, including Sicilian red prawn marinated with sweet red chilli and fresh burrata mousse, Beef Tartare with marinated egg yolk, and a goat cheese bonbon with beetroot powder and hazelnut. Accompanying the array of food, The Wine Tipster explained the background of Prosecco in terms of the Prosecco DOC regions of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia and the effect of minerality on the different styles of Prosecco. He also updated the audience on current and future vineyard plantings, as well as the huge success story of Prosecco in the UK at the moment, with 112.7 million bottles being sold last year alone.

Six carefully chosen wines were featured at this original session, including Zonin Cuvée 1821 Brut, La Jara Extra Dry, Fantinel Brut, Facchin Extra Dry, Raphael Dal Bol Extra Dry and Torresella Extra Dry. This diverse range of wines allowed The Wine Tipster to educate the audience on the importance of different Prosecco styles, as well as the method of production.

A key message that was appreciated and understood by the audience was the range of good Prosecco producers from both Veneto and Friuli, with the range of high quality wines that are available for over £10. All of the wines tasted were well received, leaving The Wine Tipster to highlight the versatility of Prosecco as a great pairing with the delicious dishes prepared by Danilo.

Danilo also talked about how Prosecco is a lovely pairing with Grana Padano, and how he uses this truly tasty cheese in his dishes. The Wine Tipster highly recommends Danilo’s debut book, 4 Grosvenor Square, published by Meze Publishing.

The Wine Tipster will be presenting more Prosecco DOC sessions paired with Grana Padano at Taste of London with Danilo, Foodies Festival, and the Cheltenham Food and Drink Festival.

This weekend saw the 2017 QIPCO Guineas Festival at Newmarket: the first two features of the five Classics for the three year old racehorses. The Wine Tipster attended both the 2000 Guineas on Saturday for the colts, and the 1000 Guineas on Sunday for the fillies, and enjoyed, like the other spectators, the excitement around this festival and the chance to discover the talent of the three year olds. After a fabulous weekend of racing, we are sure to have true champions for the 2017 season.

Saturday 6^th May: The first day of the festival highlighted that Churchill, trained by Aidan O’Brien, has carried on from his two year old days and justified favouritism by winning the 2000 Guineas in impressive style. There were also strong form lines from this race with Barney Roy, Al Wukair and Eminent chasing him home. This leaves Churchill 7-4 favourite for the Derby, and we’ll have to hope he takes his place at Epsom.

Sunday 7^th May: This race saw the favourite, Rhododendron, have a troubled passage, and failing to collar her impressive stable mate, Winter, who travelled superbly throughout the race, showing the potential to be a real champion. Despite her difficult run, Rhododendron showed a fantastic turn of foot and will definitely be winning races in 2017. The Wine Tipster fancied her to win not only for her amazing performance at Newmarket last year, but because, as Alan Titchmarsh says, May is the best month for Rhododendrons. The 1000 Guineas race day also saw good performances from Frontiersman and race debutant, Way of Wisdom.

The Wine Tipster spent the weekend presenting in the Chez Roux Restaurant with fantastic dishes prepared by the legendary Albert Roux. Popular wines throughout the Guineas Festival included Bolney Estate Foxhole Vineyard Pinot Gris, and Prophet’s Rock Dry Riesling.

The Wine Tipster also presented on the course TV, promoting the ‘racecourse experience’ featuring the Purely Prosecco Bar with high quality and stylish Proseccos from the famous producer Bisol. As well as enjoying some bubbles, there were some very tasty Powter Sausages from Newmarket, who were established in 1881 and have been associated with the racecourse for 50 years; A delicious way to celebrate the Guineas.

 

The other three Classics coming up are Oaks and the Derby at Epsom in June, and the final Classic, The St Leger at Doncaster in September. The Wine Tipster is looking forward to seeing how the runners from the Guineas perform in the coming months.

At South Bank Tower on April 10^th, The Wine Tipster had the privilege of attending the international launch of Veuve Clicquot’s Extra Brut Extra Old. This new low-dosage double-aged Cuvée is blended exclusively from the Maison’s famed collection of reserve wines, and was unveiled in a spectacular evening of fine food and company.

The infamous Cellar Master, Dominique Demarville, has selected wines he deems to be most representative of the Veuve Clicquot style to create Extra Brut Extra Old – the first release being an assemblage of 47% Pinot Noir, 27% Chardonnay and 26% Meunier from the 1988, 1996, 2006, 2008 and 2010 vintages.

“Veuve Clicquot’s reserve wines selection has long been at the heart of the House’s identity,” comments President Jean-Marc Gallot. “Extra Brut Extra Old is an exploration of these, born from Demarville’s desire to isolate the very essence of Yellow Label.  By delving into Veuve Clicquot’s abundant heritage, and assembling six years of its finest reserve wines spanning over three decades, he has singled out the properties that make Yellow Label unique, and arrived at Extra Brut Extra Old: a wine unparalleled in purity of taste, intensity and silkiness.”

This exciting new Champagne was perfectly matched with a stunning menu curated by Lee Westcott, Executive Chef at Typing Room, and served to the banquet of 80 guests on Monday. Each course was expertly paired with the Extra Brut Extra Old, Vintage Rosé 2008 or Veuve Clicquot Demi-Sec, giving guests a full Veuve Clicquot experience. The Wine Tipster was particularly intrigued with Demarville’s choice to decant the Demi-Sec – an interesting but enjoyable way to taste this wine. A surprising and original pairing was the Beetroot, Jerusalem Artichoke, Hazelnut and Blackcurrant with the Veuve Clicquot Extra Brut Extra Old, which was also a beautiful match with Scallop, Fennel, Smoked Lardo and Apple.

Overall, the evening was a huge success, with informative and engaging talks from Demarville, who The Wine Tipster greatly admires and has the upmost respect for this wonderful Chef de Cave.

 

Veuve Clicquot Extra Brut Extra Old NV is now available to the UK On and Off-Trades via Moët Hennessy UK, with an RRP of £69.00 – tel: 020 7808 4390.

With the recent warm weather teasing us into summer, it’s the perfect time to relax with a glass of cool Prosecco.  Luckily, The Wine Tipster is already getting ready to entertain and educate punters about this classic summer beverage at this year’s Foodies Festival, and Cheltenham Food and Drink Festival.

Prosecco has been known and enjoyed since the Roman times, made from the Glera grape which gives the wine a fresh and light flavour. The DOC (Origin Controlled Designation) production covers two regions of North-Eastern Italy: Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia, including nine provinces, Treviso, Venezia, Padova, Vicenza, Belluno, Pordenone, Udine, Gorizia and Trieste. The DOCG notates the more challenging growing regions within Prosecco DOC, giving its wines a rarity and speciality. It seems only fitting that such a delightful wine comes from what is considered one of the most beautiful areas of the whole Italian peninsula.

As you will learn if you attend one of The Wine Tipster’s events, Prosecco can be either “spumante” (sparkling), “frizzante” (semi-sparkling) or “tranquillo” (still), but all, nonetheless delicious!

Although it’s common to ask for a glass of Prosecco rather than a brand, the huge variety in producers is not to be overlooked. Here are a few of The Wine Tipster’s favourite Prosecco DOC producers at the moment:

 

La Marca

La Marca represents nine different wineries, 7 within the Prosecco DOC region, and 2 within the Prosecco DOCG region. With knowledge handed down through generations, La Marca is one of the most representative wineries in the Prosecco region.

http://www.lamarca.it/PROSECCOWINE/proseccoDOCspumantiMillage/Prosecco-DOC-Millage.aspx

La Marca’s Prosecco DOC Millage Extra Dry, originating in Treviso, is recommended by The Wine Tipster for its smooth and balanced flavour, with delicate citrus notes and a lovely fresh fruit character making it a perfect pairing with nibbles and starters.

You can find La Marca wines in Majestic: https://www.majestic.co.uk/Prosecco-La-Marca-Treviso-Extra-Dry-zid23305

 

CABERT

CABERT, established in 1960, is an acronym that identifies the Cantina di Bertiolo winery, with vineyards that have covered the land since ancient times, now renowned as one of the most renowned grape-growing zones of the DOC.

http://www.cabert.it/en/component/content/article/26-cabert-wines/sparkling/92-prosecco-spumante

Another favourite of The Wine Tipster’s is CABERT’s Spumante Prosecco Extra Dry with its notes of red apples and white flowers, elegant, refreshing and creamy flavour making it an excellent aperitif, or paired with Grana Padano.

Cabert Spumante and Frizzante are available from South Downs Cellars: http://www.southdownscellars.co.uk/shop_detail/Sparkling+Wine+%3B+Champagne/Prosecco+Spumante/A50P5026

http://www.southdownscellars.co.uk/shop_detail/Sparkling+Wine+%3B+Champagne/Prosecco+Violino+Frizzante/A50P1219

 

Montelliana

Found in the heart of the Treviso region, Cantina Montelliana is a cooperative of growers associated with Prosecco DOC and DOCG, dedicated to making the best wines from their favourable growing conditions.

http://www.montelliana.it/eng/products/prosecco-montelliana/spumanti/prosecco-spumante-doc-treviso-extradry.html

The Wine Tipster recommends Montelliana’s Prosecco Spumante DOC Treviso Extra Dry for its delicious rounded appley and stone-fruit notes with a lovely length of finish.

Available from their website.

 

Cantina Progettidivini

“The yellow-gold canteen” has been produced in the ancient Brandolinin d’Adda Villa by the Masiero family since 2008. Harvesting the grapes exclusively by hand ensures the certified quality the Masiero’s are so dedicated to providing for their customers.

http://www.progettidivini.it/en/prosecco-d-o-c-treviso-brut/

Cantina Progettidivini’s Prosecco DOC Millesimato 2015 Brut is a favourite of The Wine Tipster, renowned for its elegant and harmonious aroma, with a hint of lemon and pear notes. This smooth and well-made wine is creamy and citrusy in flavour. An excellent Prosecco!

Available from their website.

 

So next time you fancy a glass of Prosecco, perhaps retrain your brain and your taste buds to appreciate exactly which Prosecco you really want.

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