English Wine Week: Brilliant British bottles to buy now
From effervescent sparklings to summery, fruity whites, here are the best English wines to add to your cellar
While the UK doesn’t boast the balmy temperatures of the traditional wine regions of South Africa, Australia, France and Italy, the climate in the south of England – cool, brisk and (ahem) occasionally damp – is very appealing to the pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier grapes going into the booming English wine market.
Partially a product of climate change (the climates of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire et al are now similar to that of the Champagne region 20-30 years ago), entrepreneurial minds have been quick to capitalise on the potential of the Garden of England, where fertile soil, optimum wind direction and the aforementioned climate is ideal for harvesting grapes used in sparkling, chardonnay and pinot noir wines. While the method may have been perfected over centuries by family-run wineries in France and Italy, English wines are fast becoming the nation’s favourite tipple, with plantings increasing by 74 per cent over the past five years, and Great Britain now home to 943 vineyards and counting.
Don’t know your brut from your sec? Get to know our favourite bottles to buy for English Wine Week, as well as tips and tricks from London’s top sommeliers on picking the right wine for every occasion.
Eugenio Egorov, wine director at Six Senses London, says: “The UK wine scene is experiencing an incredible boom. While the renowned chalky soils of Sussex and Kent often steal the spotlight, world-class wines are now emerging from broader regions, stretching from the sun-drenched Crouch Valley in Essex all the way west into Wales.
“Geologically, the southeast of England shares the same limestone-rich chalk seam as champagne – an extension of the Paris Basin where chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier naturally thrive. With shifting climate patterns providing longer, warmer ripening seasons, it was only a matter of time before the region realized its full potential. Today, we’re even seeing prestigious champagne maisons crossing the Channel to invest in English terroir.”
Alessandro Medas, senior sommelier at The Cadogan, says: “I genuinely believe the English wine scene is going through a very exciting period of evolution, with producers increasingly showing both confidence and individuality across sparkling and still wines alike.
“From a sommelier’s perspective, that’s made English wine a much easier – and more rewarding – conversation to have with guests. The quality is now there to sit comfortably alongside serious European producers on any list, and the stories behind the wines are compelling enough to sell themselves. Tools like Coravin have helped too; being able to offer a premium English bottle by the glass means we can introduce guests to the category without the barrier of committing to a full bottle – and once they try it, they’re usually converted.”
Maxime Maiano, general manager at Sane Sake and Wine Bar, says: “For me, English sparkling wine is best understood in context; tasted alongside other great sparkling wines from around the world.
“First, don’t over-chill it. Serving it too cold masks one of its most distinctive qualities: that delicate oxidised apple note, like a freshly cut apple left to breathe for a few minutes, with a subtle mineral, almost iron-like edge beneath it.
“Next, ditch the flûte and serve it in an all-purpose wine glass instead – a flûte or coupe simply won’t let you appreciate the full aromatic complexity of what’s in the bottle.
“For a first-time taster, I’d strongly recommend building a line-up. Comparison is the best teacher: place a Blanc de Noirs from Essex alongside a similar blend from champagne, a crémant, a corpinnat. What you’ll find is that the value becomes immediately apparent – and so does the terroir. England’s rising temperatures, often lamented, have actually created the conditions that champagne itself enjoyed 200 years ago: a cool climate perfectly suited to producing crisp, low-alcohol base wines that take beautifully to secondary fermentation.
“For the English sparkling connoisseur who’s already done the comparison, my recommendation is bolder: try it with vitello tonnato. It sounds counterintuitive, but the wine’s freshness cuts through the richness of the sauce, cleanses the palate of its creaminess, and those oxidised apple notes find a beautiful harmony with the capers – a finish that lingers in all the right ways.”
The best English winemakers
Roebuck Estates, West Sussex
Nestled in the heart of West Sussex, Roebuck Estates has established itself as one of England’s most exciting sparkling wine producers. Founded in 2013 by lifelong friends and oenophiles Mike Smith and John Balland, the estate released its first wines in 2019 and soon found favour with the world’s most prestigious hospitality venues, including The Savoy, The Pig, and Mandarin Oriental, as well as retailers such as Liberty London, where it is the only English sparkling wine stocked.
As a founding member of Sustainable Wines of Great Britain (SWGB) and with its own in-house ecologist, Roebuck also champions biodiversity through low-impact viticulture and a range of ecological initiatives, including wildflower meadows, beehives, bird boxes and insect habitats across its six vineyards. Fancy a visit? Head to Petworth to enjoy sweeping views of the South Downs alongside a programme of tours and tastings, wine flights, Sunset Sippings and events among the vines. There are an array of cuvées to enjoy, but our personal favourite is the Rosé de Noirs 2019. With its delicate pink hue, and inviting flavours of ripe red berries, it pairs beautifully with seafood and game, while its freshness makes a natural match for sushi and light salads.
Roebuck Estates Rosé de Noirs
Two Beacons Vineyard, Worcestershire
Eschewing the south coast for the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Beacons, Two Beacons Vineyard was established in 2018 as a family-owned, single vineyard plot. With an admiration for English wines, the team was inspired to make their own and to represent the Malvern area which, with a warm south-facing location, has proven its worth in winemaking. Two Beacons Vineyard produces small batches of 100 per cent varietal, vintage wines, and the hand-harvested and sorted grapes have scooped awards at WineGB.
Located within Mathon Court Estate’s 250 acres of woodland, it was important not only to preserve, but encourage the local flora and fauna, with minimal negative environmental impact. As a result, nearby trees and boundary hedgerows are home to swallows, swifts, house martins and blackcaps, while the nutrient-rich soil supports the production of its sparkling Rosé Pinot Noir, Bacchus and Pinot Noir Précoce. Our top pick is the former, which boasts bright aromas of berries and red cherries, and acts as a fantastic accompaniment to canapés and creamy risottos, salads or sushi.
Two Beacons Vineyard Sparkling Rosé
Hambledon Wine Estate, Hampshire
Founded in 1952 by Major-General Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones, Hambledon Wine Estate is widely regarded as the birthplace of English wine, being the oldest commercial vineyard in England. Inspired by his passion for French viticulture and supported by champagne house Pol Roger, Salisbury-Jones planted vines on 90-hectares of chalky slopes of the South Downs in Hampshire, which is ideal for growing the champagne grape varieties of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier.
In 2023, Hambledon entered a new era with a joint acquisition by Berry Bros & Rudd, Britain’s oldest wine and spirits merchant, and Portuguese wine producer Symington Family Estates. Sharing an ambition to elevate Hambledon to a world-renowned wine producer, last year saw the vineyard expand its hospitality offerings with a 40-cover restaurant, a relaxed courtyard dining area, and shop, while hosting vineyard tours, tastings, and private events in the St James Tasting Room. Here, you can try its famous English sparkling wines, including its Classic Cuvée and Rosé, as well as its Blanc de Blancs. The latter scooped a gold medal at last year’s WineGB Awards for a reason, offering the perfect crowd-pleasing vintage with notes of creamy apple, custard tart and citrus. Yes, please.
Hambledon Estate Blanc de Blancs
Nyetimber, across the UK
For more than 35 years, Nyetimber has set the standard for English wine. As the first vineyard in England to plant the most renowned 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. Helmed by lifelong wine enthusiast Eric Heerema, there have been many firsts 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, spanning West Sussex to Kent, Nyetimber’s terroir of greensand and chalk soils allows its vines to thrive, and the climate in the south of England is ideal for the slow ripening of its grapes. Its artisanal approach to harvest means the team handpicks grapes row by row into small 15kg bins to prevent the grapes from being crushed. The result? Flavours rarely found outside France which have seen its wines picked up by Annabel's, The Savoy, The Ivy, Ritz Carlton, The Edition and more.
Nyetimber Classic Cuvée Magnum
Lympstone Manor, Devon
You probably recognise Lympstone Manor for its reputation as one of Devon’s most luxurious boltholes – and you’re not wrong. But operating harmoniously alongside the five-star hotel is a working English vineyard from Exeter-born chef Michael Caines MBE, who reimagined the Grade II-listed Georgian manor house into a luxury country house hotel on the foreshore of the tranquil Exe Estuary in 2017. A year later, the Lympstone Manor Vineyard was born to produce high-quality English sparkling wines and realise Caines’ life-long dream of running his own winery.
Utilising the noble champagne varieties of pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier, and created in partnership with Devon’s Lyme Bay Winery, four wines have been produced from the estate: a 2020 Triassic Pinot Noir, launched in 2022, a Classic Cuvée and an Isabeau Rosé, both launched in 2023. A chardonnay named Edwards – a tribute to Lympstone Manor’s long-standing vineyard manager, Steve Edwards, who has worked alongside Caines for over 30 years – launched in April 2024 and marked the estate’s first white wine. But if you want to sample effervescent English sparkling at its finest, opt for the Classic Cuvée: a blend of pinot noir, pinot meunier, and chardonnay (the latter predominantly aged in new and used French oak barriques for nine months prior to blending) to create a smooth champagne-style taste.
Lympstone Manor Estate Classic Cuvée
Ridgeview, East Sussex
With more than 25 years of winemaking expertise under its belt, this third-generation family-run business is a quintessential taste of English wine making, and was founded by husband-and-wife team Mike and Chris Roberts in 1995. Don’t want to take our word for it? Ridgeview has a firm royal stamp of approval, with the late Queen Elizabeth II enjoying the Blanc de Blancs 2004 at her 80th birthday banquet in 2006. Twelve years later, the brand was finally recognised as Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) and has received numerous accolades since. It was the first brand in the UK to export its wines to Norway, Finland and Japan, with its ever-popular core selection of sparkling wines famous the world over.
Choose from the Bloomsbury – first released in 2002 with a light golden colour and citrus fruit aromas (this wine was also served at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2009) – the Fitzrovia Rosé, offering a delicate salmon colour with an abundance of fine bubbles (served to Barack Obama at a state banquet at Buckingham Palace) and, finally, our personal favourite: Cavendish. A bolder fizz made with pinot and chardonnay grapes to create tasting notes of red fruits, berries, almonds and toast.
Ridgeview Cavendish
Searcys, across the UK
The UK’s oldest British caterer, Searcys is the brainchild of John Searcy, who founded the company in 1847. A creative and culinary force of nature, Searcy began his illustrious career as the confectioner for the Duke of Northumberland, before taking his talents to London to establish the capital’s go-to events company. In residence at unique historical venues across the UK, including The Pump Room at the Roman Baths, The Gherkin, and St Pancras International, Searcys is famous for its extensive champagne and wine lists.
It seemed fitting, then, for Searcys to launch its own label in 2022. Coinciding with the brand’s 175th anniversary, the release saw Searcys collaborate with English winemakers Greyfriars and Nyetimber, and its second sparkling hit the shelves last summer. The grapes used in the New Vintage were harvested in 2016, bottled in July 2017, and aged on lees for more than six years to create an elegant and complex sparkling wine that boasts layers of apple, citrus fruit flavours and toasty aromas. Wonderfully soft and dry, the wine serves as a beautiful aperitif but equally pairs well with lighter seafood dishes, and is a must-have in any decadent summer picnic hamper.
New Vintage Searcys English Sparkling Wine
Chapel Down, Kent
Planted in the Garden of England, Chapel Down’s vineyards across Kent, Sussex and Essex yield top quality grapes to produce the finest wines. Both the sparkling and still wines are made using the latest viticulture techniques, resulting in elegant English wines with balanced acidity and rich fruity characters. Brut, for example, is one of the market’s best-selling English sparkling wines. It is crisp and fresh, blending chardonnay, pinot noir, pinot meunier and pinot blanc to create aromas of red apple, lemongrass with hints of strawberry and, of course, fine persistent bubbles.
Venture deeper into Chapel Down's portfolio to discover how the aforementioned viticulture techniques have been put to good use to create a chardonnay akin to those found in Burgundy: Kit’s Coty Chardonnay. This multi-award-winning wine is produced with the finest chardonnay parcels from the 100-acre Kit's Coty vineyard in the north downs of Kent, where grapes are bunch pressed before undergoing wild fermentation in old oak barrels. A rich and opulent white wine with complex aromas of white peach, apple, and apricot, enjoy notes of roasted hazelnuts and buttery hints for that signature chardonnay taste.
Chapel Down Kit’s Coty Chardonnay
Hattingley Valley, Hampshire
Images: Hattingley Valley
The inspiration for Hattingley Valley – the award-winning, family-owned English wine producer – was sparked by a radio programme. After Simon Robinson listened to a snippet on the embryonic English sparkling wine scene in 2000, he embarked on a mission to find the best plot to plant his vines and, following soil analysis, a 25-acre, south-sloping site on flinty clay and chalk soil was selected in Hampshire – and the Hattingley Valley vineyard was finally born in 2008.
Before planting Hattingley’s vines, Robinson commissioned surveys into the flora and fauna on the farm, which led to the discovery of the Silver-Washed Fritillary Butterfly; now visually represented on each bottle. A mix of specialist growers and harvesters, good climate and excellent soil quality has resulted in Hattingley Valley becoming one England’s most successful wine producers, with an eco-friendly vineyard featuring 10 hectares of vines, a state-of-the-art winery, and a wine analysis laboratory. While the Classic Reserve is the brand’s bestseller – it’s left on the lees for four years to create tasting notes of zesty citrus and sweet brioche – why not push the boat out with the Kings Rosé? A vintage from 2015, and aged on the lees for six years, this bottle has won over critics with its bouquet of raspberries, red apples and strawberries.
Hattingley Valley Kings Rosé
Read more: The best rosé wines for summer
