Stories of English sparkling wine beating Champagne in blind tastings are not infrequently heard. Still, considering that the climate, grape varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier), and soil types in parts of England are the same or closely comparable to Champagne, it’s not all that surprising. The fact that big-name Champagne houses have been buying up land on England’s south coast has likewise not gone unnoticed. Most notably, Taittinger planted vineyards in southeastern Kent to produce English sparkling wine under the label Domaine Evremond, and will release its first bottles in 2024.
There’s evidence that the English were making sparkling wine before the French; however, despite the English getting into sparkling wine back in Roman times, it’s only in the past couple of decades that the industry has flourished. The U.K. now has more than 170 wineries serving everything from Blanc de Blancs to sparkling aromatic Rosés. While most of this activity is focused in the southeastern corner of the country, in Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire, other areas, including Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Berkshire, Devon, Cornwall, Gloucestershire, and Shropshire, all have their own vineyards and respected producers.
English sparkling is considered a "great alternative" to Champagne; however, it has a distinct identity. The climate is cooler than Champagne, and as a result, you get a higher level of acidity in the grapes, which translates into more crispness and freshness, which Champagne is in danger of lacking as its climate warms. English sparkling also rivals the prices of French Champagnes, appearing on retail shelves in the U.S. in the $35 to $60 range. Further, a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status currently exists for “English quality sparkling wine," however, the appellation laws are less structured than those found in traditional wine-producing countries like France—though this relative laxity is thought by many English winemakers to be advantageous for innovation.
Almost all English sparkling is made by the traditional method (or méthode Champenoise)— the same process used to create Champagne. However, undoubtedly tired of the constant Champagne comparisons, Wines of Great Britain (WineGB), the national association for the English and Welsh wine industry, unveiled its own terminology in late 2020. You’ll now find it referred to as the "Great British Classic Method." Bottles bearing this designation are subject to three stipulations: Grapes must have been grown in England and Wales; second fermentation must take place in the bottle, and a period of aging on lees must occur before release, but with the length unspecified.
While there is still limited access in the United States, each year, more becomes available. Here are several producers currently exported to the U.S. worth seeking out:
Bride Valley: Elegant and harmonious offerings. One of the many lasting achievements of Steven Spurrier – delivering its first commercial harvest in 2011. Spurrier’s Bride Valley has helped raise English sparkling wine to the top of wine lists.
Bolney Estate: Generous and vivid wines. One of the longest established English vineyards. The annual production is split equally between still and sparkling wine.
Chapel Down: Considered the darlings of English winemaking, Chapel Down has been crowned Winemaker of the Year numerous times.
Gusbourne: Fast becoming a household name. Well-constructed, precise wines. The Blanc de Blancs releases are standouts.
Hattingley Valley: Elegant, crowd-pleasing wines that show great finesse. They have won over 100 medals, 13 trophies, and three Best in Class for their sparkling wines.
Hush Health: Wines of great character. The first vines were planted in 2002; success was immediate. It was served in the first-class cabins of British Airways, and it was the official wine of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Nyetimber: Fresh, nuanced, and impressive at every level. The bedrock of the English wine industry. Over the last ten years, their Blanc de Blancs has won 10 Gold medals in high-profile wine competitions. Most recently, a magnum of Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs won Gold at the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC’s) 2021 northern hemisphere tastings.
Ridgeview: Rich, ripe, lovely wines. The brand was the first to export English sparkling wine. Ridgeview’s 2006 Grosvenor Blanc de Blancs became the first wine outside the Champagne region to win the coveted best sparkling trophy in the Decanter World Wine Awards. It was also deemed worthy enough to serve to President Obama by Queen Elizabeth at a Buckingham Palace state dinner.
While England’s booming wine reputation will continue to be led by sparkling wines, their vastly improved quality of still wines is equally exciting. They account for around a third of production each year, notably from the same grapes used for sparkling wine but also include grapes like the fragrant English answer to Sauvignon Blanc, Bacchus.
Still Rosés may be the next big thing to expand England’s wine reputation, given the volume of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier and favorable growing seasons. And there’s plenty of potential for more planting too. So, Provence, along with Champagne, might be the next French wine region to fear English competition.