Food & Drink -- 11 days ago
This Penfolds champagne is made for summer sipping
No summer soiree is complete without a healthy supply of bubbles. This season, serve your guests the best – in the form of Penfolds’ Cuvée Brut NV
It is the imperative of a discerning host to ensure their guests’ glasses are always filled. But rather than reaching for any old bubbles (quelle horreur!), ensure you make an impression with a refined champagne that will have your guests talking – for the right reasons.
To elevate your summer soiree, we recommend reaching for Penfolds’ Cuvée Brut NV, sold exclusively at Waitrose. The iconic 181-year-old South Australian winemaking house, renowned for its time-honoured tradition of sourcing the finest fruit from the best regions, has built upon its partnership with family-owned French champagne house Thiénot for the latest release in a five-strong champagne series.
The champagne, which is made from a blend of 45% Pinot Noir, 35% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay sourced from highly regarded vineyards in the Champagne region, combines the elegance of French terroir with Penfolds’ distinctive House Style for the ultimate summer aperitif. It’s fresh and lively: wafts of lily, chamomile and seringat make way for yuzu orange and subtle notes of roasted nut and custard apple, while the palate is alive with an assortment of vibrant flavours that call to mind lemon meringue, raspberry pastille and nougat.
Of the release, Penfolds chief winemaker Peter Gago said, “Following in the footsteps of the single-vineyard Grand Cru 2012, 2013 and 2014 Thiénot x Penfolds Avize Blanc de Blancs and 2012, 2013 and 2014 Aÿ Blanc de Noirs, this is such an appealing champagne and a perfect aperitif. The inaugural NV Cuvée release beckons interest and adds to the allure of the earlier-released non-vintage rosé champagne.”
Penfolds’ enduring passion for sparkling wine dates back to the early 1900s, when Frank Penfold Hyland acquired the Minchinbury winery on the outskirts of Sydney and began experimenting with sparkling whites and reds. All these years later, the company takes great pride in its collaboration with Champagne Thiénot, which is now in its sixth year.
Today’s champagnes are brought to life under the expertful guidance of Gago, in conjunction with Thiénot chef de cave Nicolas Uriel and managing director Stanislas Thiénot. Of this fruitful symbiosis Stanislas says, “Since the beginning of our partnership, we consistently create blends reflective of both Thiénot’s and Penfolds’ wine styles and philosophies. Our champagnes are modern reflections showcasing fruit, freshness, and finesse.”
Whether you’re throwing a big bash or hosting an intimate dinner party, Penfolds’ Cuvée Brut NV is the champagne of the summer and deserves to be savoured. Penfolds may have recently celebrated its 180th birthday, but as this NV demonstrates, the winemaker continues to push boundaries and experiment with multi-regional approaches, all while staying true to its iconic red stamp.
Check out our 2025 Drinks Awards for more exciting libations...
