Some drops to help new year go with a pop
The 6 best sparkling wines for a fitting send off to 2022
New Year’s Eve is almost upon us and our thoughts inevitably turn to sparkling wine. We can’t help it. If an excuse were ever needed to splash the fizz about, this is surely it.
There are a number of suitable options on the Drop app. If you are a Prosecco fan you are in exceptionally safe hands with Frottola Frizzante - it’s gentle on the ABV and there’s just the subtlest undercurrent of residual sugar to perk up those who don’t like their fizz too dry. At the business end of things there’s the Moussé Fils pink champagne, which, we have to say, if this doesn’t get the party started then you’re at the wrong party.
And there is plenty in between. Shop around. Don’t be shy. And have a very, very good New Year’s Eve.
All wines are available on the Drop Delivery App or in any of our shops and bars
WHAT: Glera - Asolo Prosecco Superiore - Case Paolin - Veneto, Italy - £19.50
PRODUCER: The Pozzobon family have been treading these vineyards since 1700s. That is a long time to get to know your land. Its now overseen by the three brothers Diego, Adelino, and Mirco
WHERE: The Asolo Prosecco Superiore comes from low yielding parcels of vines from the Asolo hills in Veneto - one of the best areas for Prosecco. The Glera grapes are farmed organically and no stone has been left unturned in the quest for sparkling perfection
WHY: Gentle palate of white peach and floral notes with a crisp acidity.This is one classy glass of bubbles.
WHAT: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Aligote - "Brut Reserve", Cremant de Bourgogne - Domaine Deliance - Burgundy, France - £25.50
PRODUCER: The Deliance family have been making wines in Givry for as long as anyone can remember. The four siblings Julien, Lionel, Perrine & Guillaume are at the helm these days. Christmas must be fun, if a little worky
WHERE: The grapes are grown on the gentle slopes of the Burgundy's Cote Chalonnaise
WHY: Cremant de Bourgogne is a lovely and usually more wallet-friendly alternative to champagne. It shares the same chalky, limestone soils as its famous cousin as well as the classic grapes of Chardonnay. and Pinot Noir. This Cremant is made following the traditional Champagne method (the second fermentation being completed in the bottle) and aged on the lees for 18 months for extra complexity. This is a real beauty.
WHAT: Arinto, Alvarinho Blend - Folias de Baco - 'Uivo' Pet Nat Branco - Douro, Portugal - 2021 - £28.50
PRODUCER: Tiago Sampaio is the innovative young winemaker of Folias de Baco, a project he started in 2007 that one might say was presaged by his childhood piggybacking on his grandfather through the farms and vineyards, curious and plucky, willing to experiment at every step of the way
WHERE: Douro, Portugal. Where the good stuff happens
WHY: Light and refreshing with a touch of sparkle. Pet Nat is how sparkling wine was made before Dom Perignon tasted the stars, allegedly
WHAT: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir Blend - Westwell - 'Pelegrim' - Kent Downs, England - £38
PRODUCER: Winemaker Adrian Pike took over operations in 2017, having previously worked at Davenport vineyards and, before that, for an independent record label. Edgy, like
WHERE: A single estate vineyard located on the chalky hills of the North Downs in Kent. Seems to have everything, Kent - apples, hops, wine, massive traffic at Dover. Lucky them
WHY: This is a traditional bottle-fermented sparkling wine that is made from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay with reserve wines from previous vintages to give further complexity and a consistent extra dry non-vintage style. Biscuity and complex
WHAT: Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay - 'Invitation' - Huré Freres - Champagne, France - £45
PRODUCER: Raoul Huré and his two sons, Francois and Pierre are in charge, based out of Ludes. Raoul started the whole, quality driven, low intervention adventure with his brother over 50 years ago. Relatively new operation in Champagne terms
WHERE: Champagne, obvs. More specifically the Montagne de Reims- the Northernmost region of Champagne. We mention it because there's a certain caché attached to this area- more Grand Cru Vineyards than the other 4 Champagne growing regions, as well as a centuries-long reputation for producing some of the best wines, year on year. There's no such as thing as bad terroir in Champagne when an acre of vines is routinely sold for nearly 1 million euros, but still, this is some top soil
WHY: Precise, razor sharp and fuit driven, complex champagne is always the goal, and here we get pretty close to perfection on those toasty, creamy notes- not cheap, but, you know, quality isn't...and actually we think it's great value for what's in the bottle
WHAT: Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir - 'L’Or d’Eugene Rose' - Mousse Fils - Champagne, France - £52
PRODUCER: This is proper grower champagne. Cedric Mousse practices organic viticulture, using herbal infusions that act as ‘vitamins’ for the vines, cover crops, zero pesticides, and minimal doses of heavy metals like copper. It's a thoroughly modern operation rooted in tradition. If that makes sense
WHERE: State of the art as the winery might be, the Moussés have been growing since 1750. We're in the village of Cuisles, south-west of Reims. Very much the heart of champagne country.
WHY: Pinot Meunier is, unusually, the star here. It provides structure and depth but also a bit more fruit and, well, fun, which is sort of what you want with pink champagne. And believe us. This is *pink*.
Find all these wines on the Drop App
We’ll delivery expertly curated wines from your local Drop to your doorstep within an hour or for a delivery window that suits your plans if you are within Central London.
Next day delivery around the UK. Please check with the store on orders@dropwine.co.uk for up to date delivery times over the festive season.