Christmas sparklers
Fizz, bubbly, sparkling – whatever name you call it by (the word Champagne is reserved for the real stuff, from the famous region in north-eastern France), wine with bubbles is popular, especially at this time of the year.
The penetrating flavours and appetising acidity of New Zealand’s white wines are well suited to the production of top-class sparkling wines. The best are all made by the methode traditionnelle, in which the wine has its secondary, bubble-creating fermentation not in a tank, but in the bottle itself, where it is matured on its yeast lees, often for several years, gaining in richness and complexity.
Alpha Domus Cumulus Méthode Traditionelle 2018
A stimulating aperitif, this distinctive blanc de blancs-style wine was hand-picked from chardonnay vines planted in 1991 in Hawke’s Bay’s Bridge Pā Triangle. Pale straw, with a very yeasty bouquet, it has good intensity of vigorous, lemony, slightly appley flavours that are bone dry and appetisingly crisp. (13% alc/vol) $30
Cloudy Bay Pelorus Rosé NV
This classy
