Monthly Archives: May 2016

Wines for all seasons

Posted by [email protected] on May 20, 2016

Here at No.1 Family Estate, we believe that our Methode Traditionelle Wines are wines for all seasons…

So whether you’re just approaching summer in the Northern Hemisphere, or winter in the Southern Hemisphere, there’s no excuse not to enjoy a glass or two of bubbles.

Although Methode Traditionelle wines are often served on their own as an aperitif, we’ll let you into a little secret… They are food-pairing champions. What may differ from season to season is the food you choose to serve alongside your No.1 Family Estate wines.

Here are a few suggestions for seasonal menu inspiration…

Celebrate the best moments of summer by sipping your bubbly with lighter dishes.

Oysters and No.1 Cuveé are a match made in heaven!
Smoked salmon, served with brown bread and butter. Simple yet delightfully satisfying.
Fresh Dover Sole with buttery potatoes and fresh peas, will become even more tantalising for your taste buds when served with No.1 Assemblé.
Ripe strawberries become deliciously hedonistic with a glass of No.1 Rosé. Now sit back and enjoy Wimbledon!
Choose desserts that aren’t too sweet, a delicious Lemon Posset is a family favourite. An alternative might be a berry filled summer pudding.

Enjoy the cooler months by pairing No.1 wines with comforting winter foods...

Hibernate on a winter’s evening, with fish and chips picked up from the local takeaway.
Serve any combination of terrines, pâtés and ham, add some warm breads and crackers, but don’t forget the bubbles!
What could be more comforting than a winter roast? Choose lamb and pair it with No.1 Rosé.
Delight your guests with a winter cheese board, choose hard nutty cheeses, such as Gruyere or Comté. Or a beautiful creamy cheese, like Délice.
A warming seafood chowder served with a crisp glass of No.1 Cuvee is perfect as a lunchtime treat or light supper.

Now all you need is your wine!

Throwing a party? Make it a Magnum!

Posted by [email protected] on May 06, 2016

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again, here at No.1 Family Estate we don’t think that bubbles need to be reserved for a special occasion. We tend to concur with Madam Lily Bollinger, who said, 

“I only drink champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not in a hurry and drink it when I am, otherwise I never touch the stuff unless I am thirsty.”

That said, a bottle of bubbles is often the best way to get a celebration started! If you’re throwing a party and really want to make your first bottle memorable why not make it a Magnum!

Nothing sets a festive atmosphere like a giant bottle being opened and poured!
Investing in a Magnum ensures that when your guests, friends and family drink their first glass from the same bottle, your celebration becomes a truly shared experience.
It is often easier serving wines at a dinner party or function from a Magnum.
You can expect to get around 12 glasses of wine from a Magnum.
Don’t forget that a Magnum makes a fabulous gift for somebody special.
A Magnum is not the largest format wine bottle you can get; The Melchizedek, which is named for a king & priest in the Book of Genesis, is the equivalent of 40 standard bottles of bubbly. However, go any larger than a Magnum and pouring could become a team event… That’s why we recommend the Magnum for your celebration.

Our No.1 Reserve is available in very limited numbers as a Magnum, and presented in a wooden box.