British wine magnifique!
There was a time when the best wine Britain produced was Grandma’s Nettle Variety 1957, 1.4% proof, stings only slightly, undertones of soggy dishcloths, best served with stew and dumplings and a side order of tripe. But not any longer. Ridgeview Estate of Sussex have just had their sparkling wine judged as the best in the world! So, Monsieur Bollinger, stick that in your baguette and wash it down with a nice bottle of English stuff!
Unfortunately, the British bubbly wasn’t up against Champers. The French were running scared no doubt. No one else is allowed to make Champagne so the competition in that category is about as global as it is in that erroneously named World Series malarkey.
Britain’s climate makes it most suited to growing the sparkling variety of grape as the weather in Champagne is almost as wet as it is on this side of La Manche. The land is chalky too, which makes those grapes bubble like nobody’s business. Sometimes they fall from the tree of their own accord from bubbling so much. Also, climate change is credited with having an impact on the quality of our grapes. So Norfolk sinks, we make drinkable wine, it’s swings and roundabouts. We’ll all drink a toast to you when you’re submerged, wet folk of the South East.
Of course, we Brits need something decent to drink since we recently learned how to cook. There’s no point serving up some posh nosh in a swanky restaurant with trendy leather upholstery and modern art on the walls if you can’t accompany it with a suitably upmarket bottle of English plonk. Let’s just hope our pastry chefs follow the British wine trade’s example. Judging from Blighty’s last visit to France, we have some way to go, which is probably just as well as regards the old waistline.
Anyway, talking of wine… toodle-oo!
Posted: June 30th, 2005 under Commentary.
Comments: 10
Comments
Comment from Homo Insapiens
Time: July 1, 2005, 2:07 am
One wonders whether the trade of a decent bottle of English bubbly for the loss of Norfolk is worth it….having spent a month in Lowestoft one night, it just might be a fair trade.
Enjoy your plonk!
Comment from RuKsaK
Time: July 1, 2005, 2:18 am
What we lack in wine making ability we make up for in the production of the mighty pint of bitter - now I am homesick.
Comment from hibiscus anne
Time: July 1, 2005, 4:13 am
You all make very good ale too! Prefer that over wine, French or otherwise.
;)
Comment from Aginoth
Time: July 1, 2005, 8:18 am
As nice as many English Wines are, especially the sparkiling and dry varieties, it’s all so bloody expensive compared to wines produced overseas.
Perhaps a 400% tax on French wine…to provide a subsidy to ur grape growers 
)
Comment from Marlowe
Time: July 1, 2005, 10:03 am
True HI, it’s not much of a competition 
Bitter is very much a British thing isn’t it RuKsaK. Do they sell it anywhere else?
Anne, you surprise me. I thought you’d be a Champers girl!
Aginoth, British wine does seem to be more expensive. Is it because our vineyards are generally smaller? We need more vineyards and less farms!
Comment from Andy
Time: July 1, 2005, 10:11 am
If I may just edit RuKsaK’s comment slightly, it would provide you with my own comment:
What we lack in wine making ability we make up for in the consumption it. Usually at the cost of our trade deficit.
Comment from hibiscus anne
Time: July 1, 2005, 1:54 pm
The smell of ale on one’s breath is less offensive than wine breath.
;)
Champagne’s not too bad, either. I’d take that over wine too.
Comment from Marlowe
Time: July 1, 2005, 3:31 pm
I’m afraid Blighty is as guilty as anyone in adding to that trade deficit then Andy
I never thought about wine causing bad breath :-/ Luckily Ms Blighty likes a drop too so we probably nullify each other
Comment from hibiscus anne
Time: July 3, 2005, 3:08 am
It (wine) smells like puke (vomit) after a while on someone’s breath, Marlowe.
I apologize if anyone’s eating and reads this.
Comment from Marlowe
Time: July 3, 2005, 11:16 am
‘Bouquet of vomit’ isn’t something I’ve ever seen on a label
Write a comment