golfkat Travel Blog

Can you believe this?  Only from our brethren across the pond.

A special name, 007, for the exclusive Special Cuvée Champagne unveiled by Bollinger in observance of Global James Bond Day on October 5th.  007 is the code name for dashing fictional British Secret Service agent James Bond, who for over 40 years, and 14 of the franchise’s films, has been devoted to “Bolly” (as the Brits call it). The 007 Special Cuvée was intended to accompany the release of the 25th Bond film, No Time to Die, which was postponed to Spring, 2021.

Speaking of our British friends, from Forbes:
     It comes as a surprise to many people that England has a growing sparkling wine industry, or any wine industry at all. It is one of the most rapidly expanding wine regions in the world, with three million new grapevines planted in the first half of 2019 and more than 15 million bottles produced in 2018. One of the standout sparkling wine brands from England is Nyetimber, whose vineyards are spread across Sussex, Hampshire, and Kent. Grapes were planted here in 1988, and husband and wife winemaking team Cherie Spriggs and Brad Greatrix joined Nyetimber one year after current owner Eric Heerema took the helm in 2006. 

So, on my next visit to Jolly Olde, I will definitely give it a try.  But the James Bond vintage is $200 USD!  More from Forbes:  Although quantities vary from year to year depending on weather, Nyetimber produces between 500,000 and 1,000,000 bottles of traditional method sparkling wine each year, using the same three grapes as Champagne: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Ninety percent of Nyetimber’s output stays in the United Kingdom, with the remainder going into the small but growing export market. Nyetimber’s most important export markets are the United States, Japan, and Scandinavia, where the brand focus has been to make the wines available in top-end restaurants, hotels and bars in order to raise awareness. 

I will try the J Bond vintage, only if it was the Sean Connery version!!!