Cheers to that: What makes prestige British cuveés so special?

Over the past few years, English wine has become the sparkling gem of the British drinks industry, despite it not being as well known globally as its French and Italian counterparts. England’s sparkling variety has especially benefited from the land’s chalky soil and cool climate to produce a unique variety that highlights floral notes, crisp acidity, and a fresh fruity flavour – a combination that has enabled it to beat the prestigious Champagne varieties in blind taste tests at the world-renowned Effervescents du Monde. 

As a staunch champion of local brands and artisanal producers across the British Isles, we have been serving English wine to passengers for more than a decade. So, when we decided to showcase some of England’s first-class sparkling cuveés to customers, it made perfect sense. We have taken this effervescent success story to new heights by curating an award-winning line-up of English prestige cuvée sparkling wines for First passengers, while Club World travellers will enjoy a handpicked offering of premium English sparkling wines such as Hattingley Valley’s Blanc de Noirs, produced exclusively for us.  

From recommended tasting notes to what makes this curation unique, read on to find out why you should raise a toast to these sparkling new additions. 

They’ve passed the Master of Wine blind taste test

As one of only 424 Master of Wines around the world, Tim Jackson is part of an exclusive club of tastemakers who spend years perfecting their craft and learning everything, from wine production to chemistry to the intricate world of wine trading. Tim tastes more than 70 wines a day before suggesting which bottles to include on our wine lists. And with every single choice having passed a blind tasting assessment, you can rest assured that only the best of the best make it on to our menu, whether on the ground or in the air.

Southeast England’s geology is similar to Champagne

Unbeknownst to many, the terrain of West Sussex and much of England’s southeast is identical to the chalky soil found in France’s Champagne region. When it comes to English sparkling wine, the distinction of being a prestige cuvée puts it at the same level as only the top wines produced by Champagne houses. Both English sparkling wine and Champagne are made using the same méthode champenoise technique, where a second fermentation happens in the bottle. This approach produces the fine bubbles that make drinking the wine so much more enjoyable. 

A complex, versatile sparkling wine kicks things off

Pioneering English sparkling wine producer Nyetimber was the first to start growing the three classic Champagne grape varieties in the country, and it’s this world-renowned sparkling brand that has opened the show for us over May and June with its 1086 by Nyetimber Rosé 2014 sparkling wine. Of our debut choice, Tim says that the wine “stands out for its depth and complexity of aroma and taste, alongside superb balance between crisp acidity and flavour”. This 2014 vintage has also been aged for almost a decade, which is really impressive considering the average Champagne is aged for between two to four years. When deciding on what to pair with your glass of 1086 by Nyetimber Rosé 2014, Tim suggests having smoked salmon, lobster or scallops to go with the versatile wine, which features notes of freshly baked bread. 

British craftsmanship at its finest

In line with our A British Original campaign, we are constantly on the lookout for the most innovative, progressive homegrown brands to champion, and the premier wine houses showcasing their products on board are no different. Nyetimber’s female Head Winemaker Cherie Spriggs was the first woman and the first person outside of Champagne to win Sparkling Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine Challenge, while Gusbourne Estate (whose 51 Degrees North 2016 prestige cuvée is next on the rota from July to September) is one of only 14 wineries certified under the Sustainable Wines of Great Britain scheme, so you can be sure to discover only the best forward-thinking British brands during your flight.  

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