Premium English sparkling wine to try this summer

Susie Barrie MW picks out her top 15 English sparkling wines to see you through the summer...

2017 was a significant year for the UK wine industry: a million vines were planted, a new competition for its wines was launched, and the WineGB organization was formally announced.

One of the first events for the newly formed WineGB was the annual trade tasting held in April, where there was a palpable buzz of excitement in the air. There were also more wines than ever, with over 200 in 2018 compared to just 68 back in 2002.

Several of my English sparkling wine recommendations below are from this tasting, with the remainder coming from other recent tastings and vineyard visits earlier this year, when I was researching a new book. The list could have been two or even three times as long, but I’ve tried to limit myself mostly to wines from brand new projects, new cuvées from more established producers, and older wines that are at their peak of drinkability.

With summer on the way and a royal wedding to celebrate, these recommendations are intended to provide a useful update on what to buy and drink over the coming months, whatever the occasion. If you are looking for traditional method sparkling wines to rival Champagne, but with their own distinct character – typically orchard fruits, chalky minerality and mouthwatering acidity – then this is the place to be.

English sparkling wine: facts & figures

• Total UK vineyard area in 2017 was approximately 2,275ha
• Plantings have tripled since 2004, when they covered just 761ha
• Pinot Noir and Chardonnay accounted for just 6% of plantings in 1990, but now represent over half of the national vineyard area
• Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier accounted for 71.2% of new plantings in 2017

Approximately 68% of all UK wine production in 2017 was sparkling wine

Sources: Wine Standards Branch (WSB), WineGB, Stephen Skelton, author’s own research

Sparkling wine remains the UK’s greatest strength, accounting for two-thirds of the 5 million bottles produced annually. Champagne varieties represented 71% of all plantings in 2017, and with Champagne sales slumping by 11% last year, this is surely the moment to step into the limelight.

French winemaker Eric Monnin, of Henners in East Sussex, describes the UK as ‘the new New World’, adding that ‘I never thought I’d be making wine in England, but it’s exciting, with huge potential.’

Vintages to drink

Wines from the leaner 2013 vintage are showing particularly well at the moment, as are those from great years such as 2009 and 2011. What is also clear from some of the older bottles on the market is that the best of these wines can age beautifully, as evidenced by the spectacular magnum of 2003 Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs I tasted recently.

But vintages are rarely homogenous across the UK, and hanging your hat on a certain year is not necessarily wise. In addition, there is a growing trend towards multi-vintage wines, to excellent effect.

Susie’s top English sparkling wines:

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