Emma Champagne expert reveals his top 7 bottles of festive fizz for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Peter Crawford of Sip Champagnes was recently crowned the UK’s ‘Champagne Retailer of the Year’ (Decanter World Wine Awards 2022). Here he shares his top 7 bottles of festive fizz for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Sip Champagnes, sources and supplies small-batch, handcrafted champagne straight to consumers and the hospitality trade from France’s iconic wine region.
With a collection of 60 Champagne producers and over 236 individual cuvées from across 25 villages in its range, Sip Champagnes only deals with ethically-sourced and artisan products direct from the farmer.
Pin to remember for Christmas!
Pre-xmas parties, aperitifs & snacks
1. Paul Clouet Selection (£37 per bottle)
A fruity blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier based on the 2015 vintage. Chalky, round, fruity with a surprising crisp, dry finish. A great rival to many of the classic blends from the Grand Maisons. A perfect party pour and crowd pleaser and great value too!
2. Beaugrand Blanc de Blancs (£46 per bottle)
A pure Chardonnay from the village of Montgueux. A unique style of Chardonnay with a lovely balance of tropical fruit but a crisp chalky background. Perfect as an aperitif.
Christmas morning – croissants, smoked salmon bagels etc
3. A. Levasseur Blanc de Terroir (£70 per bottle)
Made from a single vineyard in Cuchery. This 100% Chardonnay is much richer in style than a classic Blanc de Blancs Champagne and, as such, the lovely toasty secondary notes that will balance perfectly with all manner of rich Xmas morning treats.
Christmas Lunch – Turkey with all the trimmings
4. Georges Remy Les Quatre Terroirs (£60 per bottle)
People often head straight to red for Christmas lunch, but why not try something a little leftfield? George Remy is an incredible winemaker making Champagne in his own inimitable style. Having started life as a red wine maker, his Champagnes carry that vinous weight and texture. This wine comes from four exceptional villages in and around Bouzy in teh Montagne de reims and has a lovely rich and fruity palate but with plenty of body to hold it’s own with the food.
Christmas Vegetarian Lunch – Nut Roast and plenty of veg
5. Louis Brochet Rose Heritage (£50 per bottle)
A lovely pairing to a rich nut roast and myriad vegetables is this fabulous rose. It offers a bounty of classic flavours of cherry and wild strawberries but with great acidity and finesse, making it a perfect companion to this dish.
Boxing Day – Turkey Sandwiches
6. Dosnon Recolte Noir Zero Dosage (£55 per bottle)
If you’re looking for a treat for Boxing Day, then look no further than this pure Pinot Noir from the most southerly region of Champagne. There is a wonderful palate of blueberries and a little cassis which enables it to work well with a classic turkey sandwich and cranberry sauce.
New Year’s Eve Celebration
7. Famille Delouvin Bis Repetita 2009 Magnum (£160 per bottle)
What better way to celebrate than with a magnum and this is an absolute beauty. After 14 years of ageing, it’s just coming into its own with charming honeyed notes and lovely texture.
In September 2022, Sip Champagnes was awarded the prestigious accolade of
Alongside their online store, which sells individual bottles and curated cases, Sip Champagnes also offers curated monthly subscription packages to help people enhance their understanding of the grower Champagne movement. Alongside truly exceptional bottles, there are tasting notes and even live tasting sessions with the farmers themselves.
All Sip Champagnes packaging is made from recycled material and is 100% recyclable. They also invest in carbon offsetting programmes to reduce their environmental impact and they plant a tree for every order placed.
For more information on Sip Champagnes and its latest UK releases in time for Christmas, visit https://sipchampagnes.com. Gift wrapping is also available.
