English Sparkling Wine beats Champagne in blind tasting in America
Ahead of World Champagne Day on 24th October, Chapel Down partnered with French television presenter and well-known wine enthusiast Fred Sirieix, to challenge American perceptions about English wine.
With a mission to ‘change the way the world thinks about English sparkling wine’, England’s leading winemaker headed to the world’s largest Champagne export market[1] – the United States – to introduce them to English sparkling wine.
Hosted by Fred Sirieix at one of New York’s best rooftop bars, Elsie, Americans were invited to enjoy a blind tasting of two ‘unknown cuvées’: one a best-selling Champagne brand; the other Chapel Down English sparkling wine.
Asked which was their preference, an astounding 67% of tasters preferred Chapel Down to Champagne, praising it as being “crisp and refreshing”, “more delicate” and “a real surprise”. Many were shocked to discover their favourite glass was not French at all, but an English sparkling wine.
“As a proud Frenchman, I love Champagne – it’s in my DNA. But I’ve been a fan of Chapel Down for decades. I couldn’t resist putting American tastebuds to the test. To see so many choose English sparkling wine over Champagne proves how far England has come, and shows the world is ready for it.”
Fred Sirieix
The success of this New York stunt showcases the outstanding quality of English sparkling wine to an international audience. By daring to challenge Champagne on its biggest stage, Chapel Down is cementing its position as the bold face of English wine globally.
“The United States is the largest export market for Champagne, so where better to showcase the quality of English sparkling wine? It’s so exciting to see England develop as a wine region and to prove that our wines stand up against the very best in the world.”
Liam Newton, Chapel Down’s Chief Marketing Officer.
Chapel Down’s award-winning sparkling wines are available in leading markets such as the United States, UAE, Norway, Germany and Canada.