South Africa’s sparkling legend

We’d be lying if we said we didn’t enjoy a scrumptious bottle of sparkling wine from time to time. It’s a perfect choice for picnics in the park, summertime gatherings, toasting with friends or for simply enjoying a glass at the end of a busy week. You might be familiar with sparkling styles such as Cava, Champagne, Crémant and Prosecco, but have you ever considered a Cap Classique when it comes to choosing a bottle of bubbles? If you’re new on your wine journey, intrigued to discover more or are just wanting to know what Cap Classique is all about, stick around and we’ll tell you all you need to know about South Africa’s premium sparkling wine production and about the dazzling new Gorgeous Cap Classique, available to purchase now. Get ready to add a bottle or two to your next order.

What is a Cap Classique?

The South African wine industry is celebrating half a century of producing this style of bottle-fermented sparkling wine on Cape soils, with the first wine of this kind having been made locally back in 1971. The movement 50 years ago has today sparked over 250 South African producers throughout the Cape winelands crafting this scrumptious style of wine.

Cap Classique wines are South Africa’s premium bottle-fermented sparkling wines. It’s a term used for wines in the Cape that are produced using the traditional method that is the same as Champagne. Majority of today’s Cap Classiques are made using the classic grape varieties as found in Champagne:

  • Chardonnay
  • Pinot Noir
  • Pinot Meunier

Wines produced can express a variety of different terroirs, geographical diversity being one of the Cape’s advantages. The range of wines produced can vary. Some may see 12 months of lees contact and whereas others may see 60 months or more lying in the bottle which assist in developing rich and complex wines. Different styles such as Blanc de Blancs, blends and Rosè are also produced and can be with no dosage to Brut to Demi-Sec.

Gorgeous Cap Classique by Old Road Wine Co.

Gorgeous Cap Classique is the all-new sparkling sensation straight from South Africa. The invention comes from winemaker Ryan Puttick at Old Road Wine Co. Crafted in the traditional Méthode Cap Classique style, Gorgeous Sparkling is superbly luscious in character yet refreshingly elegant and beautifully balanced. Both gorgeous in name and nature, it’s a must for any bubbly lover’s repertoire.

The Rosé blend is made up of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir. Grapes were handpicked from vineyards throughout the cooler Western Cape regions. These vineyards are managed for premium quality and picked at optimum ripeness for Cap Classique production.

This exquisite sparkling rosé has a palate of raspberry cream, juicy strawberries and nuances of spiced peach and delicate cherry blossom. It provides a gorgeous balance between exuberance of fruit and acidity with a delightful twist of superb lusciousness. We caught up with Ryan to tell us a little more about the Gorgeous Cap Classique …

Now we think it’s time for a glass of fizz. Will you be trying Gorgeous Cap Classique this summer? Purchase yours here for just £16.99 a bottle.

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About Laithwaite's Wine

We’re wine nuts, not wine snobs. We’ve been exploring the world on a mission to find great wine for the last 50 years. If you love adventure as much as we do, you belong with us. We know our winegrowers like family – and in some cases they actually are. Expect to hear from these legends of the soil, see behind the scenes access into vineyards and wineries and get news on fresh finds from our travels on this page. Drink responsibly. Visit drinkaware.co.uk for further health information. You must be aged 18 or over to follow.

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