Sharpham Sparkling Elderflower

I’m not normally a massive fan of elderflower bubbly which I generally find too sweet but I tasted one the other day from Sharpham vineyard that was in a different league.

It was drier than usual with a really delicate, natural elderflower flavour, more like elderflower champagne to which the drink was at one stage referred but perhaps more similar still to a pétillant naturel the gently fizzy wine that’s become so popular in natural wine circles. It even has the crown cap that is commonly used for pet nats.

The only snag is the price - at £14.95 a bottle it’s not cheap but good value for the quality and the perfect way to celebrate St George’s Day - or a summer wedding come to that. (At 5% it's a great low-alcohol option)

You can buy the 2018 vintage direct from their website - along with their delicious cheese - or, better still, pick it up from the vineyard just south-east of Totnes if you’re holidaying in South Devon this week. I suspect they don't have a great deal of it.

Wine of the week: Louis Pommery England Brut

The standard of English sparkling wine is already high but I can’t remember being as impressed by a homegrown sparkling wine for a while as I am by this bottle. Of course you could argue that it’s not really English at all as it’s made by the team at Vranken Pommery in collaboration with Hattingley Valley in Hampshire.

Pommery is the first champagne house to release an English wine. They have already planted a vineyard in Hampshire but it won’t be productive until 2024 so they have had to source the grapes for this cuvée from vineyards in Hampshire, Essex and Sussex.

It has an elegance depth and finesse that some English sparkling wines lack with a lovely fine stream of bubbles. I’d be amazed if most people could tell it from champagne which is just as well as it’s in the champagne price bracket (£40 normally). However it’s on offer currently at Ocado at £26.66, and at Lea & Sandeman for £34.95 a bottle.

The only thing it lacks is a more stylish label but at least they’re not using the ghastly WineGB logo. It’s made in England so that’s what it says on the label.

Lovely as an aperitif or with some elegant seafood like langoustine ravioli. And a lovely wine to serve at a wedding.

Good bottles to celebrate Hallowe'en

If you’re looking for a bottle to celebrate Hallowe’en on Tuesday here’s couple that hit the spot perfectly.

Philip Shaw Edinburgh Sparkling

This one wins the prize for the best label - it comes as a bit of a surprise to find it’s a sparkling wine. with the bright green skull it’s hard to see when else you would drink it. Certainly not to accompany a proposal!

It’s made by Philip Shaw in Orange in New South Wales Australia and is a classic Champagne blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Perhaps not quite the depth and complexity you’d expect for £22.99 (at Waitrose) so it’s a shame they haven’t got one of their 25% off discounts but it’s original and perfect for the occasion. Maybe pair with a packet of Monster Munch?

Chronic Cellars Suite Petite

There’s also a range of skeleton themed wines from Chronic Cellars in Pasa Robles, California, Try the 2014 Suite Petite, an exuberant blueberry scented Petite Sirah for £17.99 or £15.99 on their ‘mix six’ deal. Most British retailers have at least one from the range - Tesco has a 25% off six bottles deal at the moment which brings their suitably blood red Chronic Cellars La Muneca down from £13 to £9.75 so if you’re buying them online you’ll have to get them delivered by tomorrow (October 30th). They'd all be good with a chilli con carne

Wine of the Week: Weiber Crémant d’Alsace

If you’re popping into Lidl this weekend to buy the wines I’ve recommended in my Guardian column*, try a bottle of this inexpensive sparkling wine too.

It’s from the Alsace region of France and is made entirely from riesling which makes it a bit different from the champagne-style sparkling wines out there. It's light (11.5%) and peachy with a touch of honeyed sweetness which should appeal if you’re a prosecco drinker. I’d serve it as an aperitif or possibly with a light dessert like a fresh fruit tart - or maybe to kick off a summer barbecue. Good value at £7.99

There’s also an attractive 2016 Tüzko gewürztraminer which is part of Lidl’s new Hungarian range. It’s also made in a sweeter style that I think would go particularly well with hot Thai food (though maybe not a Thai green curry) and would be also rather delicious with those milky Indian desserts (especially with mango). That’s just £6.99.

Both these wines are available on a WIGIG (when it’s gone it’s gone) basis so you may or may find them in store when you visit.

* the Zenit Tornai Princeszet 2016 (£5.99; 12.5% abv) and light red Dornfelder (12.5% abv), from the Pfalz (£4.99) Read more about them here.