Domaine Pfister Cremant d’Alsace

We get so used to thinking of champagne as the ultimate fizz that it’s easy to overlook the many excellent sparkling wines that are made in other areas.

This is a bottle from an Alsace producer called Domaine Pfister that I opened yesterday uncertain if it would still be showing well. In fact it was absolutely perfect - with the attractively creamy character typical of a blanc de blancs but, softer, fruitier and more approachable than many champagnes that are made in that style. The blend is normally 50% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Blanc and 25% Auxerrois.

The estate is now run by the Pfister’s very bright, articulate daughter Mélanie who trained as a winemaker and is the the first woman in the family to take over the reins. The rieslings, which are drier than average, are good too.

The big surprise was how well it went with some early season asparagus and mayonnaise - by no means an obvious pairing - which suggests that it would be a food-friendly option with a wide range of dishes, including sushi I would guess. It’s apparently on the list at Zuma in London.

It would also be a good choice for a summer wedding.

You can buy it from TheDrinkShop.com for £103.77 a case of six (£17.29 a bottle), £110.50 a case from Winedirect and £19.95 from The Old Bridge Wine Shop in Huntingdon and Carruthers & Kent in Gosforth, Newcastle who I'm sure would do by the case deals too.

Price isn't the only issue though, particularly if you're buying in quantity. Deal with a retailer who can reassure you that they sell a significant amount. That way you can be sure they have a good turnover of stock.