An Exploration of English Sparkling - Friday 25th September
An Exploration of English Sparkling - Friday 25th September
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đź•™ 7:00PM
đź“… Friday 25th September
đź“Ť Vintage Conservatory, King Street W
This evening offers a rare opportunity to explore one of the wine world's most exciting emerging categories — English sparkling wine, which over the past two decades has established itself as a serious rival to Champagne, sharing the same seam of chalk that runs beneath the English Channel. Crafted using the traditional method, the finest English sparklings combine razor-sharp acidity, mineral precision, and an unmistakably English sense of restraint and poise.
We begin in Dorset with Langham's Culver Classic Extra Brut, a taut and expressive cuvée from one of England's most acclaimed young estates, before moving east to Kent for Balfour's 1503 Classic Cuvée and the eagerly awaited NV Domaine Evremond Classic Cuvée — the landmark Kentish venture from Champagne house Taittinger, a significant moment for English wine.
The evening then turns to terroir and vintage through three benchmark expressions. Chapel Down's 2019 Kit's Coty Blanc de Blancs, from a prized south-facing chalk vineyard on the North Downs, showcases the mineral finesse of English Chardonnay at its most refined. Alongside it, we pour Wiston Estate's 2018 Blanc de Blancs and 2018 Blanc de Noirs from the chalk slopes of the South Downs — a fascinating side-by-side that isolates the influence of grape variety, with site and vintage held constant.
The wines will be enjoyed alongside a four-course dinner, with thoughtful pairings designed to highlight their elegance and complexity.
Join us for what promises to be a captivating exploration of England's sparkling revolution, where chalk, cool climate, and quiet ambition converge in the glass.
About Freddie Rae
Freddie cut his teeth in fine wine as a sommelier in Manchester, UK, before relocating to Prince Edward County to become Assistant Winemaker at Norman Hardie, where he completed five vintages. In 2025, he barreled his own wine, Skimming Bird — set for release in September 2026. A holder of the prestigious WSET Level 4 Diploma, Freddie has also completed a vintage in Central Otago, New Zealand, crafting world-class Pinot Noir. His approach to wine is informed by both dedicated study and hands-on experience across some of the world's most respected wine regions.
Testimonials
We recently had the pleasure of attending an Italian wine dinner hosted by Freddie Rae and Enid Grace.  The dinner was held in Enid’s studio and featuring a multi course Italian dinner prepared for us by Enid and paired to Italian wines selected by Freddie.
What a wonderful evening- it was relaxed and absolutely without pretence. The intimate space, delicious food and carefully curated wines combined to create a memorable evening.
Freddie, as our host for the evening, introduced each wine and helped us understand more about the Italian wine regions and which attributes  of each chosen wine helped create a successful pairing with the food.  Enid not only spoke to us briefly about each course , but gave us insights into what made her unique preparations so special.
With only ten guests for the evening, the evening was convivial, and relaxed, with laughter, stories and insights being shared by all participants.  By the end of the evening Freddie and Enid had demonstrated to all of us the power of how food, wine and environment can create memories and friendships.  I can’t imagine a more enjoyable  evening.  Thank you Freddie and Enid!
Steve Sheriff, Picton
I recently attended an Italian dinner where Fred handled the wine
pairings, and I have to say—it was excellent. His knowledge of wine is
impressive, and the way he explained each pairing with short stories and
context made it both informative and entertaining.
No long speeches, just the right amount of detail to keep it
interesting.
The food and wine were both top quality. You could tell a lot of thought
went into the matches—each one brought something extra to the dish.
What made the evening really stand out was how personal and relaxed it
felt. It wasn’t a big, noisy event. It was small, intimate, and had a
great atmosphere. You could ask questions, have a proper conversation,
and actually enjoy the experience.
Fred did a great job. I’d gladly attend another evening like this.
Christian Jaehn-Kreibaum, Financial Advisor, Belleville