by John Thorne WSET Dip

Sparkling wine made here in the Blackmore Vale is a hit around the world and well worth the price tag.

When the Domesday Book was finished in 1086, it showed William the Conquerer what land he owned and the taxes he was due.

It also recorded 139 vineyards in England, mostly owned by royalty or the Church. One of those was at Tollard Royal.

Even though Henry VIII put paid to most of these during the dissolution of the monasteries, our winemakers have continued to thrive and there are now more than 400 vineyards spread over 3,500 acres across England and Wales.

English winemakers were making sparkling wines a good 40 years before Dom Perignon.

Dr Merret, a physician from Gloucester, published a pamphlet outlining the method of producing sparkling wine in 1662. At that time, English winemakers shipped barrels of white wine from Champagne, to which they added spices and sugar to kick-start the secondary ferment and create those beautiful bubbles!

The key to their success was the quality and durability of English glass, which could withstand the pressure of the sparkling wine within.

By the 1700s, French winemakers had deciphered the English method of making sparkling wine, but they had to wear iron masks when in their cellars to protect them from shrapnel from exploding bottles made from inferior French glass!

Our local wine producers benefit from the same soil profile found in Champagne. Flavours range from notes of gooseberry, summer blossom, orange peel, baked apple, elderflower, peaches and pink grapefruit.

Here in the Vale, our local vineyards are producing unparalleled fizz that will add style to any celebration. Fabulous examples to try include Breezy Ridge Classic Cuvee 2016, £28 a bottle; Melbury Vale Decadence Rose, £25 bottle; English Oak Englemann, £35 a bottle; and Langham Blanc de Blancs 2018, £39.95 a bottle.

Breezy Ridge Vineyard, West Melbury, www.breezyridgevineyard.com
Melbury Vale Winery, Cann, Shaftesbury www.mvwinery.co.uk
English Oak, Lytchett Matravers, www.englishoakvineyard.co.uk
Langham Wine, Crawthorne, Dorchester, www.langhamwine.co.uk