Meet The Makers:
PORT OF LEITH & LA GARDE ÉCOSSAISE
While Croft & Coast champions the very best of the native Scottish larder, our historic global connections cannot be ignored. For centuries, the Edinburgh port of Leith served as Scotland’s premier entry point for fine French wines and spirits. Today, the team at the Port of Leith Distillery, operating through the Leith Export Company, are reviving this rich trading heritage.
THE AULD ALLIANCE IN A BOTTLE
We must be entirely clear: this is a true French Champagne, crafted in the renowned region of Épernay, not the Scottish Highlands. However, its inclusion in our cellar is born from a profound historical connection.
La Garde Écossaise was commissioned specifically to honour the ancient 'Auld Alliance' between Scotland and France. In the early fifteenth century, six thousand young Scottish soldiers travelled across the Channel to support their allies. Their conduct was so brave that for centuries afterwards, generations of French Kings named their personal royal bodyguard La Garde Écossaise Du Corps Du Roi (The King's Scottish Guard). This exceptional Champagne serves as a modern tribute to that enduring relationship.
A MASTERFUL FRENCH CRAFT
Produced and bottled exclusively for the Leith Export Company by the highly respected G.H. Martel & Co of Épernay, the wine was carefully selected by Master of Wine Emma Dawson. The liquid is a sophisticated blend of 46% Pinot Noir, 37% Pinot Meunier, and 17% Chardonnay, completed with a beautifully balanced dosage. It is a magnificent example of French viticulture brought to our shores by Scottish visionaries.
INSIDE OUR Croft & Coast HAMPERS
Though it is not produced on Scottish soil, this remarkable Champagne is available as an optional addition to our Scottish hampers. We selected it for its uncompromising quality and its deep, historic ties to the Scottish diaspora, offering a flawless companion to our native coastal seafood and rich artisan cheeses.
LA GARDE ÉCOSSAISE CHAMPAGNE
This highly tactile, medium-bodied Champagne pours a classic, light golden colour. The nose delivers bright aromas of white peach and apricot, followed by a crisp, gentle citrus note. On the palate, it reveals a remarkably smooth, luxurious creamy character driven by ripe stone fruits and green apple. It finishes with a rich, rewarding touch of brioche. It provides a magnificent, celebratory anchor to any of our curations, pairing beautifully with traditional cold-smoked salmon or a sharp, mature raw milk cheddar.
A superb finishing touch to be purchased alongside one of our signature hamper curations
