Champagne, Prosecco or Sparkling Wine? When to buy for what Event and what Brands are Best?

First Date? Parties? Events? How to know what to order and what is appropriate for the event you’re either hosting or attending. Today I'm going to share some thoughts and research on the fizzy-malaise that is undoubtedly targeted at women, but only men seem to buy. Yes! Ladies, can you start by doing a guy a favour, when he orders himself a pint at the bar for 5 sheets, can you not order the large glass of Prosecco or South African Chenin Blanc. I mean why do we have to pay double for your drink? Just order a medium of whatever, preferably the house white. I’m joking of course!.

FIRST DATE

Ok. On a first date you don't need to impress anyone by pretending to be Daddy Warbucks. I would advise against doing dinner on a first date anyway. They rarely transpire into second dates so just a coffee or a pastry from Greggs and a walk down the river, should be the limit of your expense. However, if you're doing a first date, fine. I would recommend sharing a bottle of wine. She'll probably drink two large glasses anyway. Ask for the wine list, it sounds sexy and then order for her without asking.

You're paying after all. In my experience ladies love South African Sauvignon blanc. Pair it with: goat's cheese salad, asparagus with a poached egg or grilled chicken breast and green vegetables. Chenin Blanc is not the priciest, and has plenty of body. When the waiter pours a sample, try it and say, 'must be one from the Fable Mountain Vineyards'. If your date quizzes you on why you opted for a South African wine, say 'in the Western Cape, the cool ocean breezes help the wines retain the bright acidity that keeps things fresh and food-friendly.'

Other great Sparkling Wines that women love are ChapelDown and Nyetimber. I would say these would be better suited for second or third dates when they come to yours for a bottle and a DVD night. If they ask about the wine inform them that Chapel Down is England's leading wine producer with a world-class range of sparkling wines, aromatic still wines and contemporary gins and vodka. Then flirt with the idea that you'll take them on a tour of their vineyards one day. Then ask, "Chapel Down is located in the beautiful Kent countryside, close to the picturesque market town of Tenterden. Have you ever been?" Of course she'll say no, and then follow up with. "Well that's something we should remedy." (A line I love in Braveheart). And there you have it, already making plans for the future.

CHAMPAGNE

When on earth can one justify paying for Champagne. Events that spring to mind.

1. Meeting the parents.

2. Celebrating her big win.

3. Phoning up a venue for your friends hen do. Buying 3 bottles of Champagne over the phone. When you rock up to the wedding all the girls in attendance, (hopefully single bridesmaids) will know you as, the guy that made that incredible sweet gesture and got them all hammered.

I want to give you some advice. When you're dating someone, you need to make her wins feel like your wins. That's how winning (in a relationship) is done. It tells her that everything she is striving for, whether she is a bloodthirsty lawyer winning a big case, or simply got voted employee of the month at Aldi, has been recognised and should be rewarded.

A bottle of champagne will mark this as a celebration. Wine and Prosecco are merely the prawn cocktail appetisers to the Beef Wellington that is Champagne. And dear all rappers that want to weave 'French Champagne' as a lyric into every song. Champagne is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France. You can't have Champagne from any other country you nimrods. If you're drinking Champagne I can do the math that it's 'French Champagne' you're drinking.

I've praised Bollinger before as they did a pop up bar in Burlington Arcade. When you think Bollinger or Laurent Perrier, or even Moet Chandon, you think you'll be paying through the nose for a bottle of bubbly and is it worth it? The answer is yes, if the moment warrants it you should furnish that banquet of refinement with something special. Champagne Direct currently have premium Bollinger starting from £53 on their site now

PROSECCO 

This is the all-rounder. The event drink you can roll out at house gatherings, BBQ's or maybe you're just casually at the bar getting one for a friend. In my experience ladies have not been able to tell one brand of Prosecco to the next. But now we're over the Brexit hump (Brexit became a lot harder to get during Brexit. Subscription services tumbled and the access for a nice 'Prosecco 5 glass buzz' for many affluent women living in Kensington were severely debilitated. 

Prosecco became mainstream when Wedding Event organisers started to cotton-on to the fact that none of the guests twigged they were drinking Prosecco and not Champagne, thus managing to half their catering budgets. 

Prosecco on its own doesn't really excite me at all, I take mine with elderflower cordial. But if I had to pick any brands to recommend it would be either Zardetto or Freixenet. Just don't ask me how to pronounce the latter.