The festive season can’t be festive without bubbly – whether it’s a Cap Classique or a true Champagne – which is why I’ve rounded up some favourites for you to try over the upcoming summer holiday. Whether you’re keen on a sweet nectar or a luxurious brut, here are some options I can highly recommend:
J.C. Le Roux bubbly
The festive season is here and there is so much to celebrate with J.C. Le Roux, one of South Africa’s most loved sparkling wines. Apart from J.C. Le Roux’s range of Nectar Demi-Sec and Demi-Sec Rosé’s delicious fruity flavours, it also comes in the most spectacular packaging, making it the perfect bubbly to pop (or pop into a festive stocking). J.C. Le Roux is also giving consumers something to celebrate up until 25 December – from daily prizes and festive inspirations to many other exciting surprises. Visit their website for more information here.
Price range: R95 (can also be bought online)
Bubbly by Simonsig
Simonsig won Best Rosé for their Kaapse Vonkel Brut Rosé 2020, as well as Best Nectar for their Kaapse Vonkel Satin Nectar Rosé 2020 at this year’s Amorim Cap Classique Challenge Awards.
South Africa’s first Cap Classique ever made – the iconic Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel – was conceived at Simonsig in 1971 from the passion and perseverance of Malan Family patriarch, Frans Malan. Since then, Simonsig and the Malans have proudly continued the pioneering tradition and developed Kaapse Vonkel to an international benchmark of quality and standard bearer for South African-made, bottle-fermented sparkling wine, better known as Cap Classique.
The Kaapse Vonkel Brut Rosé, with its light coral colour, is a vibrant Cap Classique with an energetic, yet delicate and persistent mousse. You’ll find captivating aromas of field flowers, red apples and strawberries on the nose, followed by hints of lightly baked shortcrust pastry. The palate is refreshing with hints of nectarine, cherry and red apple.
The Kaapse Vonkel Satin Nectar Rosé is embraced by a delicate string of fine bubbles and has a beautiful coral pink colour. On the nose you’ll notice decadent aromas of red apples, wild strawberries, and cherries, followed by flavours of sun ripe peaches and fresh melon.
Price range: R190 (available online and at most leading retailers)
Charles Fox
If you’re looking for a perfect stocking filler for that special someone who loves bubbly, then look no further than the Coeur de Cuvee, the latest Cap Classique from the acclaimed and award-winning Charles Fox estate.
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Coeur de Cuvee means ‘the heart of the vintage’ and this Cap Classique has recently been released to mark the 10th anniversary of Charles Fox Cap Classique. The bubbly has an alluring warm biscuit, brioche aroma with hints of honeysuckle flower overlaying the complexed sourdough and digestive biscuit tones. You’ll also get a glimpse of ripe white fruits after exposure, followed through with succulent white fruit and a burst of zesty and refreshing mid-palate delight.
Price range: From R735 (Available online and you can only order six bottles minimum)
Pieter Cruythoff’s new bubbly
The Swartland’s renowned Riebeek Valley Wine Co. has added a delicious bubbly to its award-winning portfolio. Joining the sought-after Pieter Cruythoff Brut is a Brut Rosé and with its arrival comes abrand-new label for the range as well.
The Pieter Cruythoff Brut Rosé is made in a rare style that combines the traditional Champagne technique to create flavour and French “Charmat” method of carbonation, for fizz. The age-old blend of Chardonnay and Pinot noir that is common in the making of Champagne is also used, along with selected Champagne yeast, to create a luxurious sparkling wine for everyday enjoyment.
The Brut Rosé has a 2% portion of Shiraz, which adds notes of red berries and a hint of spice. It also displays bright red berry notes and a hint of rose petals, making it perfect with a variety of dishes including rich chocolate desserts.
Price range: R96 (available online, as well as at selected Spar Tops and Checkers stores)
Stellenbosch Hills
The 2018 Anna Christina Cap Classique – of which only 3000 bottles were made – is made entirely from Chardonnay. It forms part of the Sense of Place range and is enticingly elegant. It shows fresh Granny Smith apples and citrus blossoms with a nutty yeastiness on the nose. Crisp acidity tingles the palate, while a delicate mousse delivers a satisfying, mouth-filling explosion of bubbles with every sip.
Price range: R223 (available online)
Moët & Chandon Impérial
If ever there was a Maison that forged the association between celebration and champagne, it’s the 279-year-old Moët & Chandon, the Grande Maison that brought champagne to the world. Choose the Moët & Chandon Impérial that best suits your preference. This year, they have been released in three beautiful, special edition gift boxes that cue the festive spirit. I prefer the Brut Impérial.
Price range: R649,95 (available at most leading retailers, including Makro)
Ruinart Blanc de Blanc Skin
With a reputation for innovation and stringent sustainable practices, Ruinart’s second skin case is part work of art and part environmental champion. Setting a new standard for champagne, this alternative to the champagne gift box has some seriously impressive eco credentials. It is recyclable, crafted from 99% paper and lands with a 60% CO₂ reduction. The sensuous shape of the case nods to the way in which maîtres d’s wrap their bottles in a white napkin. A perfect champagne for aperitifs, particularly in spring and summer, the Blanc de Blanc pairs beautifully with seafood and shellfish.
Price range: R1 399,95 (available at select liquor stores like Norman Goodfellows)
Veuve Clicquot
When it comes to this famous champagne, I’d most likely opt for the Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Fridge x Smeg. The Clicquot Fridge is the result of a collaboration between the champagne house and Smeg in celebration of Veuve Clicquot’s 250th birthday. This latest edition of its ICONS collector’s edition pays homage to a history of ‘solaire’ culture, design and innovation, and it is 100% sustainable. The characteristically yellow fridge gift box was modelled on the classic fridges of the 1950s and while it is fun, it is also isothermal, keeping your bubbly cool for up to two hours!
Price range: R799.95 (available at Makro and select liquor stores)
Dom Pérignon
Taste the stars with Dom Pérignon’s Rosé Vintage 2008: Lady Gaga Limited Edition.The champagne brand’s bold collaboration with the equally iconic Lady Gaga has been explosive, with the crossing of their paths being based on a shared belief in absolute creative freedom. The result is a high-toned balance of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with beguiling packaging cued by rippling, shifting elements in a shock of liquid magenta. Tempered by a slow, masterful transformation during nearly 12 years in the cellar, Dom Pérignon Rosé is untamed and carnal, both light and dark, magnetic.
Price range: R4 399,99 (available online)
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