Champagne Route – Traditional Sparkling Wine Selection

Saturday 11th September – Champagne Tasting And Lunch – £85

Starting at 11 a.m, Vivienne Franks will tutor a tasting of six growers’ Champagnes.  A buffet lunch will follow.  This will be accompanied by glasses of French sparkling wines from Champagne Route’s varied selection.

Only 15 places available.  To book, just send an email.

Hankies at the Montcalm Hotel

Located just a few minutes walk from Marble Arch tube station on the central line of the underground and leaving behind the busiest street in Europe (Oxford Street) you enter Great Cumberland Place and spot the inviting Montcalm Hotel. An entrance to Hankies can be found within the reception area of the hotel and you at once feel in the mood for some fine Asian cuisine dining as the welcoming staff, joy-filled and relaxing music along with the interior design splendour greets you.

Champagne and Sparkling Wines at Hankies

The Champagne list included grower (Bernard Remy Brut Rosé) to the highly regarded labels peaking with the Krug Grand Cuvee. Prosecco was also present with the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Caspene Malvolti and their Extra Dry version. Still wines were also quite varied with a wide selection from France and Italy along with fine options from the new world too.

Rather like the atmosphere at Hankies, the foods are all calming. The rich and fine flavours of the dishes incorporate a relaxing spice taste sensation, enough to enhance flavours of the ingredients and never once annoying the palate. For this tasting I chose from the vegetarian options of which there are many and paired with the house Prosecco (extra dry):

Bhindi Bhel

Bhindi Bhel: “Refreshing, sweet and smooth spicy flavours wrapped up in a nicely presented and crispy dish.”

Mutter Choley

Mutter Choley: “Soft and subtle spices with a creamy taste sensation with fine savoury flavours. Most pleasant.”

Tarragon Paneer Salan

Tarragon Paneer Salan: “Light and yet filling. Delicate creamy flavours. Very moreish.”

Hankies Dal

Hankies Dal: “Smooth and savoury flavours again with elegant spices in the background.”

Kachumber

Kachumber: “Light and refreshing dish with tightly packed flavours bursting alive in the palate.”

Sweet Potato Bomb

Sweet Potato Bomb: “Sweetness meets spiciness, smooth yet containing a welcoming kick of flavours.“

You are in the heart of the theatre land of London with just a few minutes walk to the likes of The National Gallery, Somerset House and The River Thames. The Me London Hotel is a stylist looking and trendy location with many varied events taking place inside along with guest rooms should you wish to stay the night – The Radio rooftop bar with terrace area is also a must visit.

As you walk in to the Me London you are welcomed at the door and soon walk into the STK on the ground floor where the colourful bar area with its display of spirits call you over – The design and atmosphere is a new age style over anything traditional, young and trendy with detailed design layout with leather booths and countless mirrors offering a vibrant and spacious setting.

My invite was to explore the Champagne menu and sample one of their famous steaks:

STK London inside seating

“STK Steakhouse artfully blends the modern steakhouse and a chic lounge into one, offering a dynamic, fine dining experience with the superior quality of a traditional steakhouse.”

The menu offers you a fine hearty meal where meats take prominence with fine starters to main courses including fish and lesser choices for vegetarians / vegan requirements.

Champagnes at STK London

The best place to start was with a look at the Champagne menu over sipping the house Champagne of Taittinger, the list is bold in offering Dom Pérignon, Cristal, Billecart Salmon and Krug plus allowing you to push the boat out with magnums and jeroboams including 1999 Cristal and Jacquart Mosaique. There is also an extensive still wine menu.

Lil Brg’s

I suggest you start you meal with their signature Lil Brg’s which are mini juicy and very tempting USDA beef with special sauce burgers.

Fillet Steak at the STK London

There is a wide selection of steak options to choose from with small, medium and large cuts – You can indulge in the likes of fillets, rump, T bone and more. I opted for the USDA grain fed fillet (200g) with Parmesan truffled chips.

There is also a wide selection of cocktails to tempt you with many including Champagne – Twisted Bellini was the perfect ending to a relaxed afternoon spent reviewing STK London.

For those loving Asian cuisine then the menu at ULI offers a fine selection of fresh and vibrant dishes, innovation in the wide selection to choose from with a focus on clean and healthy options. Their focus is on traditional Chinese, Thai, Malay and Singaporean disciplines so to produce a unique menu that enables you to tour the delights of curries, fish and seafood, stir fried meats, wok fried shrimp and much more.

ULI Restaurant London

A relaxing yet vibrant restaurant, busy though calming and on the evening I visited it was full yet you felt embraced within the atmosphere so you were as one. The design of the interior is a calming mixture of modern art and pastel colours with half the floor area inside and half within the fixed and covered terrace. Their location is on a residential road within touching distance of other bars, restaurants and the likes of estate agencies whom windows boast multi million pound listings.

Food at ULI London

Along with art trader and enthusiast Umberto DiZenzo, we tried a selection of dishes from the small bites to main meal and each were clean and fresh, tempting and more’ish though none were over filling or left you feeling bloated, each led you on nicely to the other. The wok-fried daikon cakes with bean sprouts was presented well and nicely sized rectangular portions of daikon – Soft shell crab with a deep fried style coating though were savoury yet not oily – Thai sea bass fillet, steamed with chilli and lemongrass was a delicate dish with a fresh tasting sea base with plenty of flavours contained within the moisture of the dish – Beef with chilli and garlic was another non too heavy dish that contained plenty of flavours for the palate to enjoy.

So what about the fizz? Well fo a smaller outlet with constraints on storage area undoubtedly, their wine menu was of fair size with a selection of white and red with Lebanon, New Zealand, Chile and USA outside of the usual detailed options from France, Italy and Spain. The Champagne / Sparkling Wine list showed DOC Prosecco, Grower Champagne along with house label of Laurent -Perrier and Dom Perignon for those wishing to make it a very memorable occasion.

Enjoy Champagne in Notting Hill Gate

Stelle d’Itlaia Prosecco NV DOC: “Softer peach, pear and yellow apple aromas. Sweeter flavours of yellow apples and green pears.” £8 per glass

Champagne Claude Renoux Blanc de Noirs Brut NV: “Crisp and clean that paired well with many of the dishes to cleanse the palate between courses. A drier red berry, citrus and mineral taste sensation with subtle toast / brioche in the background.” £12 per glass

Cocktails at ULI London

Cocktails anyone? Certainly a fine location to enjoy one or two from their list of which there were fizzy options:

Japanese Bellini – Jasmin tea & Prosecco

Rising Sun – woki sake vodka, Prosecco, raspberries & blackberries

Gardens at Ockenden Manor

Each of the downstairs rooms from the bar to the lounge is welcoming and tempting you in to enjoy them. A wine list that will cater to many people’s preferences and one that also respects the growing trend and quality of local English fizz labels. The cosiness of the inside will grab you though if the sun is shining then you’ll undoubtedly be drawn outside to the eight acres of beautiful grounds where you’ll be able to sit in the peaceful quietness of the location of this fine manor house.

Bedrooms at Ockenden Manor, West Sussex

There are 28 lavishly decorated bedrooms and suites (as described on their website) and these are indeed just that, you want to just want to unpack and start to take advantage of the amenities both in the room and of course take yourself over to the spa where you can relax in comfort, swim inside or out, dip in to the outdoor hot tub or use the gym.

Champagne and English Sparkling Wines at Ockenden Manor, West Sussex.

English Sparkling Wines:

The bar is rather special in that it is charming, relaxing and cosy – It pulls you in to sit down and pick up the wine list to discover the labels on offer.

What was very apparent and pleasing was the special focus on English sparkling wines and especially those in the local region from Ridgeview to Wiston Estate and including some rarer releases – You will be able to explore the great depth of flavours that we are producing in this country today from the Ockenden Manor wine list.

The purpose of my visit was thanks to Bolney wine estate and Stella PR where dinner was prepared alongside their recently released 2018 still wines – Fine dining can also be enjoyed at Ockenden Manor.

A little piece of heaven located in West Sussex and just 45 minutes from London…

If there is Champagne and sparkling wines on the menu then we at Glass of Bubbly love to be able to review and share our experiences with our readers and this includes live events, for this article we are going to run through our invitation to attend the 2019 Investec Derby in Epsom. This is one of the UK’s biggest sporting events and unquestionably one full of glamour and entertainment from enjoying the thunder of the horses’ hooves as they head towards the winning post to indulging in drinks from the many outside sponsors such as the Coates & Seely vintage bus (1952 British Leyland coach).

Coates & Seely Vintage Coach The Derby

There is also the chance to enjoy The Moët & Chandon Terrace where you can indulge in Champagne NV brut, rosé along with their imperial range. We were able to taste the range to include their Champagne cocktail ‘Moet Marquise Fizz’ that consists of the rosé Imperial, Benedictine, lemon juice and honey syrup.

Moet Marquise Fizz Cocktail

The fine dining really stands out at The Derby and this is thanks to The Jockey Club, the largest commercial horse racing organisation in the United Kingdom. Specialist food and drink catering supplier across the 15 Jockey Club Racecourses in the UK, Jockey Club Catering, set out an amazing choice of luxurious food and drink experiences during The Derby from Chez Roux Blue Riband restaurant to the contemporary marquee that holds the winning post restaurant serving a superb three course lunch along with afternoon tea.

The Winning Post – Ladies Day 2019 The Derby

We were able to review the dining experience at the winning post thanks to our invite from The Jockey Club and probably the busiest man of the day, Neil Phillips aka The Wine Tipster and The Racing Tipster. The moment you walk over the turf to the stunningly designed and laid out marquee you get the feeling of being important as cocktails and friendly staff await you. It’s surely one of the best places to be, right beside the finishing line on the inside track with ample outside area to watch the live racing with a glass of something fizzy in your hand. Complimentary drinks are served throughout the day from beer to wines with a selection of spirits – A mixologist is on site to prepare fine cocktails and Champagne / Prosecco (per bottle) can also be ordered as an upgrade.

Food at The Jockey Club The Derby 2019

Costs for Champagne / Prosecco:

Argeo DOC Prosecco – £42

Pannier Brut NV – £60

Moet & Chandon Imperial NV – £85

Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label NV – £95

Moet & Chandon Rosé NV – £110

Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage 2004 – £110

Moet & Chandon Brut Magnum NV – £165

Dom Perignon 2004 – £200

Krug Grande Cuvée NV – £220

Pouring Champagne Moet et Chandon rosé

Entertainment plays a key part during both Ladies Day and Derby day with the likes of skydivers, fairground rides, celebrity DJ after parties and more meaning all the family will be entertained throughout the day.

It appears I am not the only one, who has discovered a passion for English wines. Rhys Owen, Head Chef at Epsom for Jockey Club Catering, is also an enthusiast. So much so, that he has included a bottle of the Coates and Seely Brut Reserve Britagne in every Luxury Hamper purchased by racegoers at The Investec Derby Festival. It’s complexity, elegance and stunning length compliment the delicious summer menu, which includes Feta, Green Olive and Artichoke Antipasti, Chicken with Salsa Verde and Inverawe Roast Smoked Salmon.

However, racegoers who opted for the equally delightful Great British Picnic, which includes a phenomenal selection of pies, do not need to miss out on a glass of Coates and Seely Brut Reserve. Conveniently, the famous Coates and Seely Albion Bus will be in the picnic enclosure, so everyone is able to enjoy the perfect summer tipple.

“But what about afternoon tea?” I hear you cry, “Will Coates and Seely’s Brut Reserve Britagne suit afternoon tea as well?”. Undoubtedly! However, for an unforgettable afternoon tea at The Investec Derby Festival, I would personally recommend the Coates and Seely Rosé Brut Britagne. This dry sparkling rosé presents aromatic notes of strawberries, raspberries and lovely red berry fruit on the palate, making it the perfect partner for Rhys Owen’s delectable scones with strawberry jam. It’s so refreshing, you won’t be able to resist visiting the Coates and Seely Albion Bus whilst on your way to the parade ring before the start of The Investec Derby.

Coates & Seely Bus

Don’t just take my word for it. Why not visit the Coates and Seely Albion Bus yourself and sample their sparkling wines? I’m sure you’ll agree there is a Coates and Seely sparkling wine for every occasion throughout the Great British Summer. I’ll drink to that! #racingdelicious

Epsom Downs Racecourse

www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/epsom/

Stockists in addition to The Jockey Club:

Coates & Seely Reserve Brut Britagne. Stockists: Lea & Sandeman £29.95, www.leaandsandeman.co.uk Available in restaurants including The Ivy Group.

Coates & Seely Rosé Brut Britagne. Stockists: Lea & Sandeman £31.95, www.leaandsandeman.co.uk Available in restaurants including The Ivy Group.

Photo credits: Alice Kendall Coates & Seely

For wine lovers the Oblix at the Shard is a must visit location, a place open to everyone and not designed to price out anyone from enjoying the atmosphere, you can enjoy a glass of wine from just £6.70 (125ml) and Champagne from just £15.  There are currently 30 wines to enjoy by the glass though there is obviously a wider choice if you wish to order a bottle.

For Champagne and Sparkling Wine lovers, there is a detailed list with a selection dedicated to English Sparkling Wine – Names include Billecart Salmon (house Champagne), Salon, Krug, Exton Park and Gusbourne – £2,850 for the 1966 Krug Collection, Brut.

Cocktails at Oblix Shard

There are also plenty of cocktails with some featuring Champagne:

Rosé: “Liquorice candy and red rose petals on the nose. Great balance, very enjoyable and a Turkish delight flavour.”

Raspberry: “Soft lavender and dry raspberry aromas. Dry flavours initially with raspberry and citrus.”

Vittorio Gentile Head Sommelier

Oblix at the Shard has a total of 6 Sommeliers and for our visit, we were joined by Vittorio Gentile, Head Sommelier, who explained the vision behind the wine list:

Serving champagne at Oblix at the Shard

Q: I am pleased to see such a diversity in your wine list, how do you select your wines?

“People love the stories behind the wines on our list, each wine that you choose you can learn something new from. We are always improving our wine list to make it more and more interesting as we are seeing people moving away from ordering bottles of wines to opting for glasses and enjoying variety. Our Sommelier selection changes every two months.

We have a selection of wines that means people can simply enjoy a glass and the experience of the Oblix at the Shard or they can start to explore in greater details our wines such as by our wine & Sommelier station where you can taste fine and rare vintages.

Beef ribeye Oblix at the Shard

Q: Can guests enjoy wine and food pairing experiences?

“In my mind, there is a pairing for everyone, it is not simply that there is the perfect pairing. The depth of our wine list means that even though we serve many global classic dishes from bar bites of fried squid, chilli and lime to Wagyu beef tomahawk from our a la carte menu, there will be a wine or two that pairs perfectly with the dish you order.“

I remember taking notes when I was with the CIVC on an invited tour of Epernay in the Champagne region only a couple of years back, my scribbling on pages showed that there are over 15,000 growers in and over 300 Champagne villages and these growers hold a mighty 90% of the vineyards in this famous wine region. So growers are what makes the industry turn, I would have the opinion of, thus one really should explore ‘Grower Champagne labels’.

Where to start will be the question. The Champagne region holds a lifetime of explorations from its wines to the foods, tourism, people, history and more. There are famous authors including the honorary judge of the Glass of Bubbly Awards, Michael Edwards, who has written some very factual publications – Though sometimes the best way to get a feel for things is to meet the wines in person, ie some tasting!

A recent visit to London included an invitation to pop in to and review the venue Champagne Route located in Wapping, London.

A Champagne bar for fizz lovers, a place to discover the yet to be discovered, where you can engross yourself in all the splendid flavours and aromas that this wonderful sparkling wine region offers the globe – A growing list of wines by the bottle or by glass, from rosé to vintage, organics to Zero Dosage and of course Blanc de Blancs to 100% Pinot Noir.

London, of course, offers you a wealth of places to enjoy a glass of bubbly, but with the Champagne Route bar and restaurant, you have a place that concentrates purely on French sparkling wines (Cremant is present also) and focuses on educating and entertain guests to a whole new world of undiscovered Champagne labels. If you have loved for many years, and indeed by not, the likes of Veuve Clicquot, Moët & Chandon, Dom Perignon, Tattinger, Lanson and more then you are in for a surprise when you discover grower Champagne!

Guidance is generally needed when exploring outside your comfort zone when buying and drinking wines and the team at the Champagne Route will be able to run you through some amazing fizz at I must say amazing prices to build your understanding of the depth of Champagne labels and their diversity.

If food and Champagne pairing intrigues you then you are also at the right place with a pairing menu to include favourites such as oysters and cheese to duck breast and guinea fowl.