France is the unchallenged leader in matters vinous. No country produces more great wine, and in greater variety. Britain’s role has historically been the grateful neighbour. Our climate was not seen as warm enough to ripen grapes. But over the last twenty years prices have risen across the Channel, and temperatures have risen generally, so that investment has flowed into the warmer, drier counties and some undeniably very good sparkling wines are being made. You have probably all seen headlines of Champagnes being upstaged in competitions by the English (and indeed Welsh) pretenders, but that often depends on who enters; and it is only the sparkling category. The intent of this tasting was to see what the reality is; how close can English wines come to their French counterparts, matching grape varieties, styles and price points, of both still and sparkling wines. We tasted all the wines blind in pairs and asked ourselves two questions. Which wine is French; and which wine do we prefer?
The wines included an English rosé as an aperitif, two Blanc de Blancs (ie Chardonnay), two Blanc de Noirs (ie sparkling Pinot Noir and possibly Pinto Meunier), two still Chardonnays, two still Pinot Noirs and an English Bacchus against a Burgundian Bourgogne Aligoté; so this was a little bit pricier than usual!
Organised by Richard Pearey