DIARY DATE LIWSF 2009 Highlights: Bright lights, bikinis...its Brazilian bubbles!

A trip to the most significant trade tasting event in the world's wine calendar (London International Wine Fair) is always a great opportunity to open your eyes to new wonders  - even if your speciality is just to focus on the sparkling side of life.

At this year's event at Excel I thoroughly enjoyed tasting many boutique cavas and proseccos dotted around the exhibition hall, as well as tiny production family Champagnes from the Marne Valley. England took out more than 20 awards in this year's international wine competition and relative sparkling newcomer Camel Valley in Cornwall won a gold medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards - so I can't wait to sample more British bubbles for myself during English Wine Week(24th May - 1st June)

However much to my surprise, my favourite find of this year's show was a stunning family of sparklers from BRAZIL by Vinicola Geisse. Made in the traditional methode champenoise style from chardonnay and pinot noir this trio of bubbles demonstrated attractive tropical aromas on the nose and lashings of fruit with finely balanced acidity on the palate.

Company founder Mario Geisse is a well known award winning agronomist and enologist who first came to Brazil from Chile in 1976 to set up business for Moet & Chandon. He soon saw the potential for sparkling wines in the region and is currently involved in South America's first study of micro terroir. 

Wine production started in Brazil as early as 1875 when Italian immigrants settled in the most southerly state, Rio Grande do Sul, just north of the border with Uruguay, but the industry really got going in the mid 80s. Vinicola Geisse is situated in the Pinto Bandeira region in the district of Bento Goncalves. Cave Giesse Brut (70% chardonnay/30% pinot noir, 2 yrs on lees) won a gold medal for sparkling wine a Vinalies France 2009.

My personal favourite amongst the Brazilian cuvees on show was the sleek and feminine Cave Giesse Rose Brut(100% pinot noir aged 3 years, 8gml). This wine showed persistent intense small bubbles, fabulous red summer fruits and well balanced lingering acidity. FYI Cave Giesse is currently looking for a UK importer.