Champagne House makes own English sparkling wine

Published: 17 February, 2012

The owner of an established Grand Cru Champagne House has ventured this side of the Channel to produce his own sparkling wine from English grapes.

Didier Pierson, owner of the Pierson Whitaker Champagne house in Avize, has been working on the project for eight years, and partnered with an English landowning family in Hampshire to produce the wine.

Meonhill is made at the Little West End Farm vineyard on Old Winchester Hill in the South Downs near Petersfield, Hampshire. It is produced using the traditional method, and is a blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir.

Specialist English wine merchant the Wine Pantry, in London's Borough Market, will take the first-ever delivery of the new sparkling wine today (Friday 17 February).

Pierson is married to an English woman, Imogen Whitaker and his Cuvée Reserve, rrp £24.95, a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, is sold in the UK by Terroir Languedoc.

From March 1 and for a limited time, Wine Pantry will also be selling Champagne Pierson Whitaker Cuvée Reserve alongside Meonhill. Stafford said this will allow customers to have "the first ever direct comparison point between a Champagne and English sparkling wine - same grapes, same wine maker different country. Even the grape pickers are the same".

For further information visit www.winepantry.co.uk

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