Party Pieces And Festive Spirits
The Field|December 2019
For long-term sufferers of CADDAD (Christmas Affected Doom, Depression And Despondency), the solution is a well-stocked drinks cabinet
Jonathan Ray
Party Pieces And Festive Spirits

Oh good grief, it’s that time of year again. Bloomin’ Christmas! I swear it gets earlier every year. There were mince pies and Christmas pudding in my local supermarket on 31 August. Just saying. It’s enough to drive one straight to the bottle. Talking of which…

Do get some fine but simple fizz in. It needn’t be – shouldn’t be – expensive, just drinkable. And I’m afraid that splashing your hard-earned do-re-mi on BOGOF supermarket champagne is a false economy: decent, well-priced sparkling wine (and I don’t mean crappy cava) is better than cheap champagne.

The Graham Beck Brut NV (£12, Majestic), for example, is ridiculously tasty. From South Africa, it’s an absolute belter, created by the legendary Pieter ‘Bubbles’ Ferreira. Crisp, clean, fresh and slightly toasty, it’s way, way better than many thrice-the-price champagnes. For a few quid more, there’s the exemplary Langlois-Chateau Crémant de Loire Brut NV (£16, Private Cellar), a strikingly fine sparkler from Saumur. Blended from Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc, it’s as fine a non-champagne French fizz as you’ll find. And given that it’s owned by Bollinger you still get a touch of Champenois stardust.

ENGLISH FIZZ

English fizz is something to be loved and admired and there’s none I love and admire more than the Ambriel English Reserve Demi-Sec NV (£33, Corney & Barrow) from West Sussex. Made deliberately off-dry, it makes a perfect mid-morning reviver and is as spot-on with rich starters as it is with strong cheeses or creamy puddings.

Esta historia es de la edición December 2019 de The Field.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición December 2019 de The Field.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE THE FIELDVer todo
Rory Stewart - The former Cabinet minister and hit podcast host talks to Alec Marsh about the parlous state of British politics, land management and his deep love of the countryside
The Field

Rory Stewart - The former Cabinet minister and hit podcast host talks to Alec Marsh about the parlous state of British politics, land management and his deep love of the countryside

The gently spoken 51-year-old former Conservative Cabinet minister is a countryman at heart. That's clear: he even changes into a tweed waistcoat for the interview, which takes place at his London home and begins with a question about his precise career status. Having resigned from the Commons and the Conservative Party in 2019, the former diplomat and soldier has reinvented himself, first with an unconventional but promising run as an independent for the London mayoralty (abandoned because of COVID19 in 2020) and then as a media figure, co-hosting one of the country's most popular podcasts, The Rest Is Politics, alongside Alastair Campbell, the former Labour spin doctor.

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 2024
Fodder
The Field

Fodder

Local fare with the feel-good factor.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 2024
Celebrating the game changers
The Field

Celebrating the game changers

Once served only in the traditional manner, the fruits of our forays now find their way into all manner of diverse and delicious dishes, say Neil and Serena Cross

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 2024
The first civil engineer
The Field

The first civil engineer

John Smeaton left an indelible mark on the field of engineering and, three centuries after his birth, his legacy remains as strong as ever

time-read
6 minutos  |
November 2024
School spirits
The Field

School spirits

From grey ladies and ghostly gardeners to more malign entities, public schools are a rich repository of unnatural phenomena

time-read
8 minutos  |
November 2024
'A long way from Piccadilly or Pall Mall'
The Field

'A long way from Piccadilly or Pall Mall'

Marking 150 years since the birth of Sir Winston Churchill, Dr Conor Farrington explores this eminent statesman’s often-overlooked 1907 tour of British East Africa: a journey rich with enchanting natural beauty and sporting adventure

time-read
7 minutos  |
November 2024
Top of the pups
The Field

Top of the pups

Canines in all their guises were celebrated at The Field Top Dog Awards lunch at Defender Burghley Horse Trials whether eager on the peg, patient at home or perpetually making mischief

time-read
6 minutos  |
November 2024
Angling for success
The Field

Angling for success

It’s never too early to shape up for next season’s salmon and trout, and these top fishing schools are here to help

time-read
7 minutos  |
November 2024
Talking scents
The Field

Talking scents

The canine nose is an astonishingly complex piece of biotechnology that man has harnessed for sustenance and sport for thousands of years

time-read
7 minutos  |
November 2024
Wall-to-wall excitement
The Field

Wall-to-wall excitement

Criss-crossed by formidable drystone walls, the High Peak Harriers’ scenic country provides a day out with an exhilarating difference

time-read
7 minutos  |
November 2024