SPARKLING WINE & FOOD IDEAS

With the festive season well underway, we’re sharing some of our favourite food and Sussex Sparkling wine pairings. A glass of Sussex is not just a great party wine; it is extremely food-friendly.

Shaped by our proximity to the sea and chalk soils, the fresh acidity in our low-dosage sparkling wines helps to cut through traditional rich and fatty dishes that we enjoy this time of year. The fruit-forward characteristics of our wines also add depth to meat and fish flavours.

Read on to discover four of our favourite savoury sparkling wine pairing suggestions.

Rathfinny Classic Cuvée and mushroom
Rathfinny Classic Cuvée

& Canapés

A glass of Classic Cuvée sets the tone for Christmas celebrations beautifully. Its fine bubbles and refreshing, mouth-watering character make it a natural aperitif, bringing freshness and anticipation to the occasion.

Wonderfully versatile with food, it pairs effortlessly with festive canapés. Bright orchard fruit, zesty acidity and a hint of salinity complement both delicate seafood and richer seasonal flavours

Salmon Starter at The Flint Barns
Rathfinny Blanc de Blancs

& Smoked Salmon

Luxurious smoked salmon is a firm festive favourite. It often finds its way onto the breakfast table at Christmas with scrambled eggs and onto a canapé board at a drinks party. We all love a smoked salmon blini! Although the smoky nature often makes it hard to pair with wine, the bubbles in our Blanc de Blancs balance the fat. It’s perfectly elegant crispness matches up to the robust smoked salmon making it the perfect accompaniment. Give it a try this year!

Rathfinny Blanc de Noirs and duck
Rathfinny Blanc de Noirs

& Roast Duck

A show-stopping Christmas table alternative to turkey is duck. Try slow cooking to get the perfect balance of flavour and succulence and serve with all your favourite trimmings alongside a magnum of our signature sparkling: Blanc de Noirs. Our Pinot Noir-dominant Blanc de Noirs is a sensational accompaniment to fatty duck because the acidity, bubbles and sharpness cut through the fat perfectly. The fruit-forward flavours also complement the duck. British duck is the best, so why not try something different this year?

Rathfinny Rosé and cheese
Rathfinny Rosé 2019

& British Cheese

Sharing a cheese board by the fire with friends and family is one of the worlds greatest pleasures. Why not build yourself a mouth-watering board of fine artisan cheeses, crackers and moreish chutneys to try alongside our Rathfinny Rosé 2019. When selecting cheeses, consider rich-aged and creamy cheese to perfectly pair with our sparkling Rosé. The wine’s acidity and vibrant fruity flavour will help to cleanse the palate between each mouthful.