While the UK does not boast the moderate temperatures of the traditional wine regions of South Africa, Australia, France and Italy, the climate in southern England – cool, breezy and (ahem) occasionally humid – is very attractive for pinot noir. Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier grapes are entering the booming English wine market.
Partly as a result of climate change (the climate of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and others is now similar to that of the Champagne region 20 to 30 years ago), entrepreneurial minds have been quick to exploit the potential of the Garden of England, where the fertile soil, optimal wind direction and aforementioned climate are ideal for harvesting grapes used in sparkling wines And Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. While the method may have been perfected over centuries by family-run wineries in France and Italy, English wine is fast becoming the country's drink of choice, with plantings increasing by 74 per cent over the past five years, and Britain The Great is now home to 943 vineyards. And counting.
Don't you know your brutality from your second? Find out about the best brands in the business, plus our favorite bottles to buy for English Wine Week, with tips and tricks from Martin Dibben, Head of Champagne at Searcys, for choosing the right wine for every occasion.
Similar to wine, a gentle swirl of the glass is encouraged to release the aromas and flavors – give it a gentle sniff to reveal the initial flavours, then follow with a small sip, letting the taste linger on your tongue. The flavor can change after putting it on your palette, so wait a minute before taking your next sip!
Many sparkling wines use terms such as brut, dry and second to denote the sweetness of the wine. In Champagne, these terms have a very specific meaning, ranging from “crux” (drier) to “du” (sweeter). You don't need to specifically buy wine of one category or another — just note what you're drinking when you drink it, so you can buy what you like (or what goes well with food) once you figure it out.
Champagne and sparkling wines are favorites among sommeliers because they pair well with a lot of different cuisines. You may be surprised to hear that Champagne goes perfectly with everything from steak and fries to duck and fish and chips. The key is to distinguish between different types. When paired with food, taste the wine first and savor its characteristics. Then taste the dish and come back for another sip of wine. If the wine tastes similar to before or even has a more interesting flavor, you've got a match. But if you find that you're missing some of the fresh fruit flavors, keep going. Every bottle is different, so it's a (very fun) process of elimination.
The best English winemakers
November, across the UK
Let's start with an oldie but a goodie. For over 35 years, Nyetimber has set the standards for English wine. As the first vineyard in England to grow its most famous grape varieties – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier – the brand's first bottle, Blanc de Blancs Vintage 1992, was introduced to the market in 1996. Led by lifelong wine lover Eric Heerema, there have been many events The first in its pioneering story, from Nyetimber's first rosé in 2007 to being the first English sparkling wine producer to produce a demi-sec style in 2012.
Across 11 vineyards, stretching from West Sussex to Kent, Netembre's green, chalky soil allows its vines to flourish, and the climate of southern England is ideal for the slow ripening of its grapes. Its artisanal approach to harvesting means the team picks grapes row by row into small 15kg boxes to prevent crushing. Results? The flavors are rarely found outside of France which has seen wines selected by Annabel's, The Savoy, The Ivy, Ritz Carlton, The Edition and more. Additionally, Nyetimber has been selected as Team GB's official sparkling wine for the 2024 Olympic Games, creating a unique wine to celebrate the occasion. Featuring a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, we recommend filling up a bottle now before it's too late.
Lympstone Manor, Devon
You probably recognize Lympstone Manor for its reputation as one of the most luxurious places in Devon – and you're not wrong. But working in harmony alongside the five-star hotel is a working English vineyard from Exeter-born chef Michael Caines, who reimagined the Grade II listed Georgian country house into a luxury country house hotel on the foreshore of the tranquil River Exe Estuary in 2017. A year later, Lympstone Manor Vineyard was established to produce high-quality English sparkling wines and fulfill Caines' lifelong dream of running his own winery.
Using noble Champagne varietals such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, created in partnership with Lyme Bay Winery in Devon, four wines have been produced from the estate: 2020 Triassic Pinot Noir, launched in 2022, Classic Cuvée and Isabeau Rosé. Both were released in 2023. A Chardonnay called Edwards – in honor of Lympstone Manor's long-time vineyard manager, Steve Edwards, who worked alongside the Caines for more than 30 years – was launched in April 2024 and represents the estate's first white wine. But if you want to taste sparkling English sparkling at its best, choose the Classic Cuvée: a blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay (the latter often aged in barriques of new and used French oak for nine months before blending) creating a smooth, succulent-style taste. Champagne.
(Ridgeview, East Sussex).
With over 25 years of winemaking experience, this third-generation family-run company is the quintessential taste of English winemaking, founded by husband and wife team Mike and Chris Roberts in 1995. Should we take our word for it? Ridgeview has a strong royal stamp of approval, with the late Queen Elizabeth II enjoying the 2004 Blanc de Blancs at her 80th birthday banquet in 2006. 12 years later, the brand was finally recognized as Winemaker of the Year in the International Wine and Spirits Competition. (IWSC) and has received numerous honors since then. It was the first brand in the UK to export its wines to Norway, Finland and Japan, with its popular core range of sparkling wines popular around the world.
Choose from Bloomsbury – first released in 2002 with a light golden color and citrus fruit aroma (this wine was also served at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2009) – Fitzrovia Rosé, which offers a delicate salmon color with an abundance of beautiful bubbles (it is Presented to Barack Obama at a state banquet at Buckingham Palace) and finally our personal favourite: the Cavendish. A bolder fizz made with pinot and chardonnay grapes to impart flavors of red fruits, berries, almonds and toast.
Circes, across the UK
The oldest British catering company in the UK, Searcys is the brainchild of John Searcy, who founded the company in 1847. A force of creative and culinary nature, Searcys began his illustrious career as a confectioner to the Duke of Northumberland, before taking his talents to London to set up Capital Events Company. Searcys is located in unique historic venues across the UK, including The Pump Room at the Roman Baths, The Gherkin and St Pancras International, and is renowned for its extensive Champagne and wine lists.
It seemed fitting, then, that Searcys would launch its own brand in 2022. Coinciding with the brand's 175th anniversary, the release saw Searcys team up with English winemakers Greyfriars and Nyetimber, and its second sparkling drink will hit shelves in June 2024 – but that's been a long time coming coming. The grapes used in New Vintage were harvested in 2016, bottled in July 2017, and aged for over six years to produce an elegant and complex sparkling wine characterized by layers of apple and citrus flavors and delicious aromas. Wonderfully smooth and dry, the wine serves as a lovely aperitif but pairs well with lighter seafood dishes, and is a must-have in any decadent summer picnic basket.
Chapel Down, Kent
Planted in the Garden of England, Chapel Down vineyards across Kent, Sussex and Essex produce high quality grapes to produce the finest wines. Both sparkling and still wines are made using the latest viticultural techniques, resulting in elegant English wines with balanced acidity and rich fruit characters. Brut, for example, is one of the best-selling English sparkling wines on the market. It's crisp and fresh, blending Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Blanc to create aromas of red apple and lemongrass with hints of strawberry, and of course the soft, persistent bubbles.
Venture deeper into the Chapel Downs portfolio to discover how the above viticultural techniques have been put to good use to create a Chardonnay similar to that found in Burgundy: Kit's Coty Chardonnay. This multi-award winning wine is produced using the finest Chardonnay from Kit's Coty's 100-acre vineyard in North Kent, where the grapes are pressed before undergoing wild fermentation in old oak barrels. A rich, luxurious white wine with complex aromas of white peach, apple and apricot, enjoy the aroma of toasted hazelnuts and buttery hints of Chardonnay's signature taste.
(Hatingley Valley, Hampshire).
The inspiration for Hattingley Valley – an award-winning, family-owned English wine producer – arose through a radio programme. After Simon Robinson heard a snippet of the English sparkling wine scene in 2000, he set out on a mission to find the best plot of land to plant his vines and, after analyzing the soil, found a 25-acre site sloping south on flint clay and sedges. The chalky soil of Hampshire was chosen – and in 2008 Hatingley Valley Vineyard was finally born.
Before planting the Hatingley vines, Robinson carried out surveys of the farm's flora and fauna, which led to the discovery of the silver-washed butterfly. Now visually represented on every bottle. A combination of specialist growers and harvesters, good climate and excellent soil quality has led to the Hattingley Valley becoming one of England's most successful wine producers, with an environmentally friendly vineyard comprising 10 hectares of vines, a state-of-the-art winery and a wine analysis laboratory. While the brand's best-seller is the Classic Reserve – left to age for four years to develop tasting notes of citrus and sweet brioche – don't overlook the Still Pinot Noir, made with 100 percent from the grape variety of the same name to deliver unparalleled flavor. . A subtle smoky aroma that goes well with game and fish dishes. Chin chin!
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