Irresistible Eight Acres Sparkling Rosé - The Co-op

A classy English barely-pink fizz from the Co-op

Hush Heath is a Kent-based vineyard making excellent English fizz.

I have to confess to finding the shiny purple packaging for this sparkler a little garish; it brings to mind more a basic Prosecco than a traditional-method fizz

It is a pink fizz, but only just a rosé - on colour alone you could argue either way for it being a dark standard issue or a rosé. However, on the palate there is lots of red fruit which makes it a rosé by flavour if not colour.

It is also reasonable value within its category; priced in the high teens, it is certainly not "everyday cheap", but the contents are excellent and worth every penny.

And being home grown, you can enjoy being patriotic in a more progressive way than, say, putting a brick through someone's window.

Irresistible Eight Acres Sparkling Rosé (£18) traditional Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier blend; very pale pink in colour, with brioche and autolysis; clean, fresh and vibrant with orchard fruits, wild strawberry, lime and redcurrant. Textured, minerally and well-structured with a fine mousse.

Good.

Drink as an aperitif or match with canapes such as seafood vol-au-vents.