These are straitened times in the UK and Champagne sales are falling. The middle classes are turning away from conventional supermarkets and shopping at discount stores such as Aldi and Lidl but more of that in a later blog.
Champagne is a much better indicator of economic confidence that GDP growth figures. Most of the UK GDP growth is in the property market and most of this good feeling factor has not filtered down to ordinary folk with families to keep.
We can still afford to drink Champagne because we do not have a family to keep and the house is paid off and we know producers in France who can supply good quality fizz at a reasonable price; otherwise we would be drinking Prosecco and going to Aldi as well.
http://www.forbes.com/2010/05/19/clever-economic-indicators-2010-entrepreneurs-management-business-survival-10.html
So here are my recommendations:
England
Nyetimber Classic Cuvée 2004 dry sparkling wine: not cheap but great vintage wine which can genuinely rival Champagne. I can only describe this as elegant. It is very expensive but it is worth having a whip round to taste how good some English wines can be. In my opinion English sparkling wine is the best of English wine.
You have to pay for the risk of crop failures in bad years and that it is why it is so expensive. You pay more too because the English winemakers cannot enjoy the same economies of scale of Spanish, French or Italian producers.
English wine producers deserve our support and we should buy their products not out of sympathy but because they try hard to produce good results from unfavourable circumstances. Sometimes, they make really good wines and Nyetimber is a classic example.
So come on all you Americans and Australians show the UK a bit of support too.
What better way to start off a party than with some UK fizz which has regional character? No, it has its own unique flavour so it does not taste like Champagne.
Fino Sherry: drink the youngest available chilled. This is one of my favourite wines. You can drink it as an aperitif and with all of the fish courses and it goes with virtually any food including cheese. There is nothing to beat the fresh, dry and nutty flavour of a good Fino or Manzanilla Sherry. It is so under-rated. I recommend you try it at least once over the festive period;you will not be disappointed. Somewhere, on one of my blogs I describe how it is made and why it is such good wine.
France makes almost every style of wine including the Port style and the Port method was invented in France. France has not mastered Sherry styles and does not make these style of wines.
No other country can mimic Spain's unique wine and this is good enough reason to try it.
Gonzalez Byass Tio Pepe Palomino Fino is a good example. Once opened, the bottle should be finished straight away so you must drink it with friends . It is the key to sociability.
Australia
Montenegro
Vranac: This full bodied dry red wine is difficult to find in Britain but it is delicious and good value for money. It has a good structure and will keep for years. Made from the Vranac grape, pronounced vraanats, it shows regional character so what else could you ask for? Invite your friends around for some Balkan specialities. The Wine Society has got some suggestions for what food to eat but surely not Macaroni Cheese or Beef Curry! Macaroni cheese needs Italian wine and Beef Curry needs Kingfisher or Cobra beer.
Try, Pljeskavica made from ground lamb, beef , pork or veal or a mixture with onions: this is absolutely delicious with mashed potato or pita bread. It is a bit like a Hamburger but much tastier. Vranac and Pljeskavica: now this is something a bit different and exotic for the New Year.
The Maghreb
These wines are difficult to find in the UK but if you are making a wine buying trip to France they are freely available in the supermarkets and it makes a change from Bergerac.
Canada
Once upon a time Canadian Ice Wine was banned in the EU but now everyone has seen sense. Canadian Ice Wines are made from grapes that have frozen on the vines and shrivelled up to make the sweetness very concentrated. These are delicious wines and a real change from European dessert wines and just as delicious. They have regional character too; so try Peller Icewine Riesling 2007.
Slovenia
Slovenia has a fine wine making tradition and makes some of Europe's finest wines. Unfortunately I could not find a supplier in Britain. But, if you are completely fed up why not spend Christmas or New Year in Ljubljana. The city is stunning but cold at this time of year and full of Christmas and New Year spirit. You can spend a nice long weekend there eating and drinking well.
Try the As restaurant for fish. I would give it a Michelin Star.
But most of all try visiting the Movia Wine bar right in the centre. Movia is the top wine producer in Slovenia their wine bar is a good place to discover Slovenian wines.
I have tried most of the wines on the Jancis Robinson website and can confirm that they are of superior quality - not bad for a Master of Wine?
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