Battle of the Bubbles: New Zealand vs English Sparkling Wine

New Zealand and English sparkling wine to go head-to-head to celebrate the Cricket World Cup

To kick-off the celebrations, New Zealand sparkling wine will compete with English sparkling wine in the “Battle of the Bubbles” on Thursday 19th February in Wellington, the day before the two teams meet for real on the cricket pitch!

Each country has selected a team of eleven players, plus a ‘twelfth man’, to go head to head with each other in a blind taste off. The team captains for each side, Oz Clarke for England and Jane Skilton MW for New Zealand, will be out in Wellington and head up a panel of wine writers, commentators and cricketing internationals to select the winners in the competition, which will then be announced at an evening reception.

“This promises to be a thrilling match,” commented Oz Clarke. “Both countries are now world-renowned for the quality of their fizz and to meet head-to-head in this keenly-anticipated match will certainly highlight the fabulous quality of these two nations’ wines.”

The ‘battle’ will also be held in London on Thursday 19th February in New Zealand Penthouse.

Chris Stroud, Marketing Manager (Europe) for New Zealand Winegrowers said: “I think we’re in for a great match – the final teams are all in place and are great examples of what both New Zealand and England are now producing within the sparkling wine sector.”

This was echoed by Julia Trustram Eve, Marketing Director of English Wine Producers who added: “This is such a great opportunity to showcase some of the best of New Zealand and England fizz, and against the backdrop of the Cricket World Cup – nothing like a bit of healthy competition either! We’re really thrilled that Oz will be captaining our wines out in Wellington.”