It’s been more than 50 years since the first commercial harvest of English wine, and sales are now at an all time high. There has been an intense media interest, especially following the event in which an English sparkling wine beat over 55 other countries to the title of Best Sparkling White Wine in the World.
As interest in, and demand for, English wine surges more and more acres of land are turned into vineyards. Which varieties of grapes can be grown is dictated by the climate and soil conditions. Black grapes need warmer climates to grow and prosper, and there are only a few varieties that can grow in England. This is the main reason why, currently, only about 10% of our wine production is red.
The chalky soil of the southeast and the local climatic conditions (which can be likened to those of the Champagne region of France) make for excellent conditions for the type of grapes used to produce sparkling wines. As we have seen, sparkling whites made in these regions can even outclass Champagne!
England and Wales have many different soil types and conditions and the climate can be different in different areas. This means that there is a wide variety in the type of grapes grown in different regions. This, in turn, means that we also have a wide variety of wine styles. What makes them all uniquely English is their crisp, fresh taste and their floral bouquet.
