Category: Sparkling Wine

Why Bottega has earned a place on my holiday table

When I curate my holiday sparkling wine selections, I look for producers that balance heritage with contemporary relevance, wines that perform beautifully in the glass, and brands that understand today’s global wine culture – where aesthetics, accessibility, and experience matter as much as craftsmanship. Bottega S.p.A. consistently delivers on all three. Its sparkling wines combine technical precision with visual presence, making them equally compelling for holiday celebrations, intimate gatherings, and gifting. This year, Bottega Rose Gold Brut, Bottega White Gold Venezia, and the Bottega Mini Sparkling Icebag Set stood out for their versatility, polish, and unmistakable sense of occasion – exactly what the holiday season calls for.

Location & Estate Philosophy

Bottega’s main operations are located in Bibano di Godega, near Venice, at the heart of the Prosecco DOC area. Family-owned vineyards remain central to production, anchoring the brand firmly in its Veneto roots.

The estate is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, set against the gently rolling hills of northern Veneto. It includes:

Vineyards in the Prosecco DOC and DOCG zones, supporting Bottega’s flagship Glera-based sparkling wines

Distillation facilities, reflecting the family’s long-standing expertise in grappa and liqueurs

Ornamental gardens and rural architecture, expressing Bottega’s philosophy of Italian style, sustainability, and aesthetic harmony

Bottega: Venetian Sparkle, Global Ambition, and Wine Tourism

In a region where history clings to the landscape as richly as the wines themselves, Bottega S.p.A. has carved out a distinctly modern identity. While many northern Italian producers lean heavily on medium aevum origins, Bottega’s rise is decisively contemporary.

Instantly recognizable worldwide, Bottega has become synonymous not only with quality sparkling wine, but with its iconic metallic bottles: gold, rose-gold, platinum, and white, designed to capture attention in an increasingly visual wine culture. Distributed in over 150 countries, the brand stands today as one of Italy’s most visible ambassadors of Italian sparkling wine and contemporary lifestyle branding.

Tasting Notes and Pairing

Bottega Rose Gold Brut

Crafted from Pinot Noir, this wine opens with an expressive bouquet of mixed berries, currants, and wild strawberries, layered with delicate floral notes.

On the palate, it is fresh, supple, and finely structured, offering vibrant red fruit flavours supported by balanced acidity and a refined, persistent finish.

It is perfect as an aperitif and pairs effortlessly with vegetarian and fish-based dishes, sushi, and crudités, while also complementing white meats, soft or aged cheeses, and light, fruit-forward desserts. This is a sparkling wine designed for celebration without compromise.

Bottega White Gold Venezia

This wine offers a more linear, mineral-driven expression, wrapped in a polished white-metal bottle that signals elegance before the cork is even pulled. Aromatically, it leans toward white flowers, citrus zest, subtle mineral notes, and a delicate brioche nuance.

The palate is precise and structured, with bright acidity and flavours of lemon curd, green apple, chalk, and delicate pastry notes.

This wine shines as an aperitif and pairs beautifully with seafood, shellfish, risotto, grilled fish, and lighter poultry dishes. Its freshness and restraint make it a sophisticated choice for extended holiday meals and refined entertaining.

Bottega Mini Sparkling Icebag Set

The Bottega Mini Sparkling Icebag Set, featuring Gold, Rose Gold, Vino dei Poeti Prosecco, and Petalo Moscato, represents one of Bottega’s most successful modern innovations. These mini bottles are chic, portable, and impeccably styled, perfectly aligned with contemporary gifting and entertaining trends, making them ideal hostess gifts.

Wine Tourism in 2025

Bottega’s hospitality and tourism initiatives reflect broader shifts shaping global wine tourism in 2025, where immersive storytelling, design-forward spaces, and cultural engagement now define luxury.

Experiences include:

Guided winery tours exploring sparkling wine production, distillation heritage, and vineyard landscapes

The “Bottega Wine & Art” concept, where curated art installations position the winery as a cultural destination blending wine, design, and craftsmanship

Gastronomic tastings and pairings rooted in Veneto’s culinary identity, featuring local cheeses, seafood, and seasonal specialties

High-visibility travel retail experiences extending wine tourism into airports, cruise lines, and luxury hotels worldwide

Bottega in 2025: A Sparkling Holiday Essential

As sparkling wine continues its global rise and wine tourism evolves into a fully immersive lifestyle experience, Bottega S.p.A. occupies a compelling space between tradition and modernity. Its wines offer freshness and precision, its bottles deliver undeniable theatre, and its Venetian-rooted identity provides authenticity. For the holidays and into 2026, Bottega proves that bubbles, substance, and style can exist in perfect balance.

Champagne Telmont: Where Heritage Meets the Future of Sustainable Champagne + Wine Review

 Champagne is a region built on centuries of tradition, but every so often, a house emerges that doesn’t just update the rule book; it edits the whole document. Telmont, the organically driven, sustainability-obsessed house from Damery, is one of the most compelling modern narratives in Champagne today. With a history that stretches back more than a century and a present that leans confidently into ecological transformation, Telmont stands at the crossroads of heritage and next‑generation innovation.

A Champagne House Born in 1912 and Reborn in the 21st Century

Telmont was founded in 1912, when winegrower Henri Lhôpital established a small estate rooted in traditional Champagne viticulture. For much of the 20th century, the family-built maison remained a local, agriculture‑focused producer, known for meticulous vineyard work and precise blending.

The plot twist arrived in 2020, when Telmont received significant support from partners aligned with its environmental mission, including an investment from actor and environmental advocate Leonardo DiCaprio in 2022. Rather than pivot toward celebrity gloss, Telmont doubled down on its ecological commitments. By 2025, the house had emerged as one of Champagne’s most resolute voices in sustainability, championing:

  • Organic certification for 100% of its vines (a multi‑year transition nearing completion)
  • Zero unnecessary packaging
  • Full transparency in labelling
  • Renewable energy integration
  • A “leave no trace” approach across production and the supply chain

This ethos has earned Telmont a devoted following among sommeliers, collectors, and environmentally conscious drinkers, including the sustainably minded Gen Z audience, who treat vineyard biodiversity with the same reverence earlier generations reserved for luxury labels.

Location

Telmont’s home village of Damery sits in the Vallée de la Marne, west of Épernay. Historically dominated by Meunier, the region benefits from clay‑rich soils and cooler ripening conditions that allow the grape to express freshness and aromatic precision.

The estate farms vineyards in Damery as well as parcels in nearby villages, including Cumières, Hautvillers, and Boursault, creating a diverse mosaic of chalk, clay, sand, limestone, and flint soils. This range enables Telmont to craft blends that emphasize finesse, lift, and orchard‑fruit purity.

Damery itself offers a humble, pastoral counterpoint to Champagne’s grander tourism hubs. It is a village where winemakers still know their neighbours, tractors hum through the early morning light, and the Marne River glints softly between vineyard slopes.

Telmont Réserve Brut – Wine Review

No. 145037/312589
Disgorged in 2024
Dosage 3.4 g/l
40% Chardonnay
29%Meunier
31% Pinot Noir
Extra Brut

The Réserve Brut is Telmont’s thesis statement: a Champagne that foregrounds orchard fruit, chalk‑driven minerality, and winemaking restraint.

Appearance: A luminous golden hue with fine, persistent bubbles and an elegant mousse.

Aromas: Pear, apple, and peach, layered with hints of honeysuckle and almond.

Palate: Crisp apple and citrus notes intertwine with delicate brioche, supported by precise, refreshing acidity. The mousse is refined and persistent, carrying a mineral thread from start to finish.

Finish: Long, harmonious, and mineral‑driven, with lingering notes of candied fruit and citrus that echo the Vallée de la Marne’s signature finesse.

This is a Champagne that feels effortlessly composed, akin to a minimalist painting where every brushstroke matters.

92 Points
Liz Palmer

There are many reasons why I chose Champagne Telmont as one of my holiday favourites, including their wines’ favouring clarity over artifice, vineyard truth over marketing gloss, and ecological health over short-term convenience. In 2025, that stance resonates with a global audience seeking luxury aligned with values.

This house bridges Champagne’s agricultural past with its environmentally conscious future, proving that sustainability is not a trend, but a pathway to deeper, more authentic expression.

UK Wine Tourism Soars 55% – A Must-Visit Wine Destination

The UK wine tourism industry continues flourishing, demonstrating its critical role in supporting vineyards and rural economies. According to WineGB’s Tourism Report 2024, vineyard visits rose by 55% in 2023 compared to the previous year, reaching an impressive 1.5 million. This influx of tourism now accounts for a substantial 25% of vineyard revenue.

Wine tourism’s allure is far-reaching, with VisitBritain’s MIDAS Report indicating that 42% of inbound international tourists expressed strong interest in visiting a UK winery during their stay—equating to a potential 16 million visitors. The ongoing expansion of wine tourism showcases its importance as both an economic driver and a cultural attraction.

The UK’s 300 vineyards and wineries open to visitors have embraced this momentum, offering diverse experiences ranging from vineyard picnics and tours to fine dining and luxurious on-site accommodations. Estates are actively enhancing their appeal to attract both domestic and international guests.

WineGB has also launched the “Visit a Vineyard Guide” which highlights these offerings and provides detailed information for wine enthusiasts. In addition, WineGB urges policymakers to implement measures that will help sustain the sector’s growth. Among the proposed actions, 60% of producers forecast visitor numbers to rise by over 20% in the next five years, underscoring the need for strategic investment.

Collaborative efforts, such as training programs with VisitEngland and partnerships with Knight Frank, have further elevated the visitor experience, cementing wine tourism as an essential facet of the UK’s rural economy. Looking ahead, WineGB plans to unveil “The WineGB Guide to UK Wine Tourism” before the August Bank Holiday, featuring exceptional vineyard experiences, from tastings to cultural events.

As the industry flourishes, the growing popularity of English sparkling wine further highlights the UK’s burgeoning reputation in the global wine scene.

WineGB’s “Visit a Vineyard Guide” https://lnkd.in/em8UzvwY

Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships 2024 Medal Results

The medal winners of the 2024 Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships (CSWWC) have been revealed, with a total of 167 gold and 229 silver medals awarded this year.

Now in its 11th edition, the CSWWC received close to 1,000 sparkling wines from 20 countries, that were judged over 11 days at Goodnestone Park in Kent, England.

Italy once again dominated the rankings, securing 70 gold and 123 silver medals. France followed closely with 55 golds and 36 silvers. Australia claimed third place, trailed by Spain, with the UK rounding out the top five.

“We were thrilled with the quality of the whole range of wines that we tasted this year,” said judge Essi Avellan MW. “This has been another great year for results, once again demonstrating how exciting the sparkling wine industry is. It is not only the CSWWC’s mission to promote world class wines, but also to discover and reward new and exciting wines from established and emerging regions across the world!”

The Best in Class and trophy winners will be revealed at this year’s CSWWC awards dinner on October 24th in London.

Medal winners are found here: https://www.champagnesparklingwwc.co.uk/results-2024/

Source: www.champagnesparklingwwc.co.uk/

WineGB calls for further support from Government for wine exports

WineGB is calling on the government to provide additional support to promote the growth of GB wine sales overseas through exports. The percentage of sales from export has doubled in two years from 4% in 2021 to 8% in 2023.

Currently, British wines are exported to 45 countries, with the largest markets being Norway, Japan, the United States, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Hong Kong and South Korea. Notably, sales of English still and sparkling wines in Norway have surged by 33% over the past year.

According to figures from Norwegian alcohol monopoly Vinmonopolet, sales increased by 21,551 litres, reaching a total of 87,318 litres.

WineGB is pushing for stronger partnerships with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the GREAT campaign, as outlined in its Manifesto for Growth. The trade body emphasises that no new wine-producing region has established itself in the global export market without significant government backing. WineGB is keen to work closely with Jonathan Reynolds MP, secretary of state for the DBT, to accelerate the growth of British wine exports.

To level the playing field for English and Welsh wines in international markets, WineGB has proposed five key actions:

1. Showcasing English and Welsh wines in 20 to 30 major cities worldwide

2. Enhancing grant funding, export financing, and support for physical distribution at overseas events

3. Improving trade access to European markets

4. Expanding the UK’s gastro-diplomacy efforts through its global network; and

5. Assisting exporters with better access to accurate and up-to-date export data

Sources: https://winegb.co.uk, and Harpers