Our English Sparkling Wine is often drunk on its own as a celebratory drink, but you may not know it matches fantastically with a wide range of foods, so you can make it a regular at your lunch or dinner table. With a vibrant acidity which cuts beautifully through salty, fatty or sweet foods, our ‘White From Black’ is ready to effortlessly partner whatever you bring to the table.

Acidity is probably something we’ve been ingrained to think of as an unpleasant sensation, but acidity is an essential characteristic of wine, and a sign of quality, which allows a wine to be paired well with food. The acidity of a wine is largely influenced by the climate in which the grapes are grown, and in this case we find ourselves particularly fortunate here in Kent.

When grapes are freshly formed and still green, their acidity is very high. As the grapes ripen, the acidity starts to decrease, and the sweetness increases. The key is to reach the ideal point at which the grapes have ripened and reached the required sugar levels, whilst there is still enough acidity to give structure and flavour profile to make high quality wine. With a cool to moderate climate, Kent has established itself as a successful sparkling wine producing area – well-suited as it is to growing the principal grapes which are typically blended to make sparkling wine: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Cooler night-time temperatures allow these thin-skinned grapes to hold on to their acidity which would not be possible in much hotter growing climates. With increases in temperature due to global warming, many French champagne houses are now finding that their grapes are beginning to lack the required acidity, and are looking at planting in Kent for the future of their wines.

So, what should you pair with our sparkling wine? The acidity of the wine which we’ve discussed means it can cut through the oily, fatty, sugary and salty flavours where these are dominant in the food, rounding out the flavours, creating balance and cleansing the palate beautifully. Fish and chips, your Sunday joint of ham, a cheeseboard, cheesecake and sea food are all fantastic choices of pairings with a glass of our ‘White From Black’.

Then other factors, as well as the desired acidity levels, come into play. Although a white sparkling wine, as the name suggests, our ‘White From Black’ is made by blending black Pinot grapes with the Chardonnay grapes. The ripe red fruit flavour which comes through on the palate from the black grapes delightfully accompanies game meats, such as duck or pheasant. The signature flavours of stone fruit, from the ripeness of the white grapes, combined with the brioche flavours developed from time on ‘lees’ match the wine well with an Italian pannettone; and the wine’s toasty notes couple exquisitely with the flavours of soft, nutty cheeses.

In short, what doesn’t our wine pair with?! Elegant and delicious on its own, but why not discover the perfect pairing? Next time you’re in the kitchen, let us know your favourite partner for our wine