14 Jun Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Ridgeview Estate NV Cavendish Sparkling Wine, England
After binging the newest season of YOU on Netflix, which took place in London, I was inspired to find a wine to pair with it for a recent episode of Crush On This. So, I sought out a sparkling wine from England. Thirty years ago, England did not have a wine industry, but with the chalky limestone soils found in Sussex in the Southeast of England, as well as the effects of global warming, today there are many delicious sparkling wines being produced in England. My selection was the Ridgeview Estate NV Cavendish Sparkling Wine, England and it was so delicious that it is the Please The Palate wine of the week.
ABOUT RIDGEVIEW ESTATE WINES
Ridgeview Wine Estate was established in 1995 by Mike and Christine Roberts and is run today by second-generation Tamara and Simon Roberts. Founded with the intent to only produce sparkling wines, Ridgeview has been one of the leaders of English sparkling wines for 24 years. They focus exclusively on producing sparkling wine with classic grape varieties and using traditional methods. And Ridge has won numerous awards and honors over the years, including being the only non-Champagne ever to win the Decanter award for “Best Sparkling wine in the World”, and the only English winery in history to win the Prestigious IWSC “International Winemaker of the Year” in 2018.
The Ridgeview estate is located in South Downs National Park in the county of East Sussex, 40 miles south of London. When the Roberts found the property in 1995, there were no vineyards planted in the Sussex countryside. But, nestled within the rolling South Down hills, they found lime-rich, chalky soils, as found in Champagne, and perfect for growing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier for sparkling wine.
TASTING NOTES
Ridgeview Estate NV Cavendish Sparkling Wine is a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. A rich, golden color, it has aromas of red fruits, lemon, and buttery shortbread cookies, as well as mineral notes. There is a roundness on the palate that gives this wine depth. But it also has a lovely freshness and elegance.
FOOD PAIRING
This is a wine to enjoy on its own or with food. Try is with classic pairings, such as salty foods, like potato chips, French fries, and fried chicken. Enjoy the Ridgeview Cavendish sparking wine seafood, smoked fish, oily foods, and even meat. The reality is that the Ridgeview sparkling wine pairs with almost anything.
WHERE TO PURCHASE
The Ridgeview Estate NV Cavendish Sparkling, England retails for approximately $40. Check out Wine-Searcher to find a local store.
Check out this Crush On This Video
Check out the Crush On This video which featured the Ridgeview Estate NV Cavendish Sparkling Wine, England.