2. Albury Vineyard organic sparkling rosé
Region: Surrey Hills, England
Vintage: 2015
Grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Approx retail price (UK): £33
Medal in the Organic Masters 2018: Gold
It’s often said that English fizz can now compete on qualitative terms with Champagne, but it’s very rare to see anything bearing the organic tag from either region. And here we have a pink sparkling wine from the Surrey Hills that uses organically-grown grapes to excellent effect.
The wine, which hails from the 2015 vintage, is extremely pale for a rosé, but displays a delicious combination of ripe crushed strawberries and gently creamy, bready characters, along with a refreshing rhubarb-flavoured bite on the finish, and a dry, cleansing, chalky sensation.
A surprising quality find in the small world of organic sparkling wines.