Chapel Down, Sparkling Bacchus, England, NV

Bacchus is fast becoming England's signature grape variety, and this sparkling example is an easy introduction into English fizz. It may not have the cachet or complexity of the Champagne varieties, but instead it offers herby gooseberry scents with flavours of cut grass, lime and juicy stone fruits. It has a smooth feel rather than the prickly character of some sparkling wines, and slips down all too easily.