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Bollinger uncorks first new wine for 30 years
Evening Standard11.04.08
It has been almost a decade in the making and, if the champagne house behind it can be believed, it could become the drink of the summer.
A new rosé from Bollinger is launched at Selfridges this week for £65.99 a bottle.
The special non-vintage rosé is the first wine to come from Bollinger for more than 30 years - in the Seventies the Bollinger La Grande Année rosé was introduced.
This non-vintage model has been modelled on its Special Cuvée blend, combining the fruits of previous harvests with reserve wines from their cellars in Ay. The final component-which provides the pink colour and delicate aromas, is a proportion of still red which comes from Bollinger's Grand Cru vineyards.
The launch comes at a time when sales of rosé champagne are said to be very buoyant. A report by Mintel stated: "Non-vintage brut is the mainstay of champagne sales, while rosé is the fastest growing sub-category. Affluence, greater discernment and desire for exclusivity are boosting sales of vintages and prestige cuvées in the champagne category, as well as pricey mini-bottles and magnums."
Dawn Davies, Selfridges' sommelier, said: "The launch of this non-vintage Bollinger rosé is one of the most exciting launches of the year, and is expected to attract considerable interest. It will be a star for years to come."
With the summer social season just around the corner, sales of champagne could gain some extra effervescence.
Kicking off the season, race-goers at Royal Ascot are expected to drink their way through more than 185,000 bottles of champagne in one week. There is, however, one unknown that could affect sales - the weather.
Another factor which could affect sales is the growing interest which Britons are showing in cheaper sparkling wines - including those made in England. Research from Mintel shows that while sales of fizzy wine have rocketed by 44 per cent in the past five years champagne sales have risen by only 24 per cent.
Mathilde Dudouit of Mintel said: "People want to show off in the pub so getting sparkling wine is a way of looking exclusive."
