Fizz Feast is back! Experience the sparkling showcase of Festive fizz and good food at the Edinburgh Academy
After a two year leave of absence, it’s time to pop a few corks and take a celebratory swiping slice with a sharp sabrage to launch this most enticing and appetising event.
Legend has it that when Napoleon and his troops returned home victorious after the French Revolution, the townspeople greeted them with champagne. As they were on horseback, they used their sabers to crack open the bottles. Another version of the story claims that Madame Veuve Clicquot gave Napoleon’s officers champagne in return for protecting her land during the political unrest.
This dexterous, dangerous technique requires a careful, quick “whack” of the saber at the weakest point of the bottle at the seam of the neck.
Fizz Feast is the perfect opportunity as we head towards the Festive season, to sip and sample a wide range of champagne and sparkling wines and taste a selection of quality artisan food. Every visitor receives their personal gift of a Riedel Champagne flute on arrival for sipping and sampling fizz as you meet the wine makers from international vineyards, importers and local suppliers.
In 1668, in the village of Hautvillers, a monk-turned-cellar master, Dom Pérignon, is said to have discovered how to make sparkling wine; while the same technique is used all over the world today, the region of Champagne is the only place which can produce authentic, classic champagne.
In the Fizz Hall browse around the wide selection of Champagne Houses and Sparkling Wine companies – Taittinger, Franciacorta, Crémant de Loire, South African Cap Classique. Also major supermarkets, Waitrose and Lidl and independent suppliers including Vino Fandango, Sugar Bird and Goldenacre Wines.
The Taittinger family has managed their famous Champagne House for nearly a century and its aim has always been the pursuit of excellence:
“Having our family name on a bottle places demands and responsibilities ..the name conveys both the skills and knowledge of the past and a commitment to the future”. Pierre Emmanuel Taittinger
Pierre with his son, Clovis and his daughter, Vitalie create a very close-knit family business, preserving tradition as well as moving with the times to reflect a modern lifestyle. Through glamorous promotional images, the message is to relax and enjoy the perfect romantic Taittinger moment.
Clovis is an ambassador constantly searches out new, prestigious partnerships around the world. From 2014, Taittinger became the official champagne for the FIFA World Cup.
‘There is something universal about Champagne that no other wine possesses .
Champagne is the best way of saying “I love you” in any language’.
Clovis Taittinger
In 1912, Edouard Langlois and his wife Jeanne Chateau took over the business of the Maison Delandes estate to create Langlois-Chateau, now owned by the Bollinger group. With a reputation for sparkling wines, their Crémant de Loire is an affordable alternative to French Champagne. The signature Langlois Crémants de Loire Blanc Brut combines elegance and freshness – pale yellow and complex nose of quince, peach, and grapefruit. A fresh, delicate taste with an elegant roundness which pairs perfectly as an aperitif with hors-d’oeuvres and smoked salmon; also a Quadrille vintage and a seductive Rosé Brut.
More than a century ago, two Piedmontese adventurers, Mr. Sella and Mr. Mosca arrived in Sardinia and transformed sheep farming land between sand and sea into the Sella & Mosca vineyard, now one of the most extensive wine estates in Europe.
As amateur Egyptologists, their winery logo, shows ancient Egyptians pressing grapes. Terre Bianche Cuvèe is one of the signature wines, which pairs well with fish and seafood and has a delicate taste.
The Cap Classique Producers Association (CCPA) was established in 1992 by a group of like-minded producers in South Africa who share a passion for bottle-fermented sparkling wines. Made in the same way as Champagne (Méthode Champenoise) this collective promotes these quality Cap wines with national identity.
Wine writers have commented that they are the very best value, traditional method sparkling wines in the world. The majority of Cap Classique comes from Stellenbosch, Paarl and Robertson, as well as across the Cape. The majority focus on the Champagne grape varieties of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Jonathan Simpkin is an experienced and passionate wine expert who launched Woodhouse Wines in Inverbervie more than 20 years ago, supplying hotels and restaurants, as well as private buyers.
‘Gancia Pinot di Pinot Brut N.V. Italy is a great alternative to Prosecco. This lovely spumante has a hint of toast and sweetness. Angel & Four Brut Gloucestershire is a light fresh and fruity English fizz – not trying to be Champagne but ideal as an aperitif.’ Jonathan Simpkin
Celebrations are just better with bubbles with a wonderful selection of sparkling wines at Vino Fandango from France, Italy, Spain, South Africa and to accompany sushi, oysters, and seafood.
‘I set up Vino Fandango to help the consumer navigate their way through the vast range of wines available in the UK. We will give you as much information and guide you through our range.’ Alan Chapman.
Great reviews – ‘ a small business with a HUGE selection and great customer service’.
Wine writers have frequently commented that Lidl’s budget champagnes are actually pretty damn good, award-winning in fact, without a doubt the most affordable and palatable fizzes on the market. Best sellers include Lidl’s Crémant de Loire AOC Brut – not technically a champagne (French sparkling wine) but it’s just as good. Lidl’s Comte de Senneval Brut NV – in an expert blind taste test of 145 champagnes, conducted by Which, this fared better than some premium brands costing more than twice its price. There are sure to be more excellent sparkling wines for your Christmas parties available to taste at Fizz Feast 2022.
Waitrose was named Supermarket of the Year in the 2021 Decanter awards as well as Runner-up in the Champagne & Sparkling Wine and England & Wales categories.
The wine cellar includes Waitrose Blanc de Noirs brut. ‘ crafted by champagne house, Alexandere Bonnet’. Gosset Grande Réserve Brut, the tiny bubbles and biscuity aroma of this wonderfully smooth Champagne make it iconic. (Although the Gosset name may be unfamiliar, it’s a favourite among wine trade insiders). Valdobbiadene is a most flavoursome and textured Prosecco ideal for special celebrations. Nyetimber Classic Cuvee, considered one of England’s best sparkling wines. Anna de Codorniu Brut, ‘a stand out Cava with floral flavours’.
In the Feast Hall, enjoy an appetising tour around the stands selling a wide range of delicious gourmet artisan produce – cheese, charcuterie, honey, chocolate, spices and chutneys.
Ailsa Proverbs, MBE, is the culinary entrepreneur behind The Big Cheese Making Kit. When Ailsa first tried making cheese at home, she had no idea her passion would be awarded with an MBE for services to the Food Industry. These easy cheese making kits don’t need lots of equipment with a wide choice of Kits for all tastes – Vegan, Goat’s Cheese, Crowdie et al. whether for yourself or a gift for a foodie friend.
Pacari means nature in Quechua, an Andean indigenous language, and that’s what we’re all about, making the most of nature’s ingredients. Pacari is a family-owned Ecuadorian company producing quality, organic dark chocolate in a most ethical and sustainable way, and has won over 350 international chocolate awards. Arriba Nacional cacao beans, “Fino de Aroma’, are known for their rich, full taste and fruity and floral notes. The chocolate bars are made from 60% of cacao or more and only unrefined or coconut sugar. The perfect treat for you, friends and family this Christmas.
This preview is a quick browse around a small selection of the Champagne houses, vineyards, wine suppliers and food producers at Fizz Feast 2022. Also various masterclasses on champagne and sparkling wines – book your tickets quickly for these popular events, first come, first served.
Why not join the party at Fizz Feast. Informative, entertaining and celebratory fun.!
Fizz Feast is on Saturday 19 November 2022 at The Edinburgh Academy, 42 Henderson Row, Edinburgh. Two sessions: 12-3pm and 4-7pm, and Wine masterclasses. Tickets start at £25 per person.
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