Mother’s Day falls on Sunday 10 March in the UK this year, just as spring approaches, when the mimosa trees are beginning to blossom, buds are breaking and there are signs of new life.
Flowers, plants and bulbs make for wonderful gifts on Mothering Sunday, but adding in a bottle of something sparkling as well is sure to keep a smile on mum’s face. We’ve put together a selection of options below that should suit many tastes.
The list includes varying styles of sparkling wine from classic Champagne and Cava to English sparkling, Franciacorta and pétillant naturel. Prices range from under £20 to over £400.
Looking for something very, very special? Try Philipponnat’s stunning Clos des Goisses, Juste Rosé, Champagne, France 2012.
Would you prefer to find something she won’t have tried before? This pink sparkling from Wales is sure to surprise and delight.
Keen to impress but don’t want to break the bank? The Le Colture, Fagher, Prosecco, Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Superiore Brut comes in under £20 and is an alluring, refreshing fizz.
Scroll down to see our round up of sparkling wines for Mother’s Day
Quick guide to the sparkling wine styles shown below:
- Champagne – Mostly made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, this must come from the French region of Champagne. It’s produced using the traditional method, with secondary fermentation taking place in the bottle.
- Traditional method – This refers to wines made using the same method as Champagne, where a second fermentation takes place in the bottle. The key examples are:
- Cava – Sparkling wine from Spain using both native grapes, such as Xarel·lo and Parellada, as well as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Reserva and Gran Reserva Cavas undergo extended ageing in bottle, bringing additional complexity.
- English sparkling wine – The cool climate and limestone soils in southern England are similar to those in Champagne, producing fantastic sparkling wines.
- Franciacorta – From the northern Italian region of Lombardy, this serious wine can be both fresh and complex.
- Crémant – There are eight appellations in France where Crémant sparkling wines can be produced, and local grape varieties tend to be used. Examples include Crémant de Bourgogne, Crémant de Limoux and Crémant de Loire.
- Other very good traditional method sparkling wines can be found in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Brazil.
- Prosecco – Made in the Veneto region of northeast Italy from the Glera grape, using the tank – or charmat – method.
- Pétillant Naturel – This is in fact the oldest method of making sparkling wine, also known as méthode ancestrale. Unlike Champagne, the wine is bottled before it finishes its first fermentation, so the bubbles develop in the bottle. They can be slightly cloudy due to sediment, fairly low in alcohol, with a gentle fizz and sometimes a touch of sweetness. For the more adventurous mothers out there, what’s not to like!
Need more inspiration? These fantastic Cavas should fit the bill
At a glance: top picks for Mother’s Day
Top-quality Champagne pick under £50:
Moutard, Champ Persin Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne, France NV – £37
Top supermarket Champagne pick:
Co-op, Les Pionniers Vintage, Champagne, France 2013 – £37
Top traditional method pick:
Ridgeview, Oak Reserve Late Disgorged, England, United Kingdom NV – £85
Top off-the-beaten-track pick:
Les Enfants Sauvages, Dans Ma Bulle, Vin de France, Languedoc-Roussillon, France NV– £36
Sparkling wines for Mother’s Day:
The wines below were tasted by Decanter’s editorial team and experts.
