Wine
Wine Regions
England wine region

England wine region

English wine is growing in popularity and is increasingly recognised as a premium wine-producing region, with more than 450 wineries and around 3.15m bottles produced a year.

The most popular grapes varieties grown in English vineyards are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Bacchus, as well as Pinot Meunier and Ortega.

Whilst vineyards are found across the whole of England, the climate of the South and South East makes it a particularly popular region for growing vines, especially in Hampshire, Sussex and Kent.

2018 saw a bumper harvest, with yields doubled in some vineyards.

English sparkling wine

In December 2015, Champagne Taittinger announced it was buying a vineyard in Kent and would produce an English sparkling wine.

English sparkling wine specifically has been highly praised for its quality, collecting three Platinum and six Gold medals in the 2018 Decanter World Wine Awards.

Quick links: Test your knowledge with our English wine quiz | Top English sparkling wines to try | UK wine travel

All the latest English wine content:

An afternoon at The Pig South Downs with award-winning wines

At The Pig South Downs, Decanter brought together top-scoring wines from Decanter World Wine Awards 2025, with a focus on one of England’s most influential winemakers – offering a snapshot of the country’s rising confidence, and a glimpse of what’s to come.

By Olivia Mason Published 30 March 26
A drink with… Cherie Spriggs

The head winemaker at Nyetimber chats to Decanter...

By Decanter Staff Last updated 4 February 26
Best English and Welsh wines to try

Stock up with some top-scoring sparkling and still wines...

By Sylvia Wu Last updated 22 December 25
Decanter’s Dream Destination: The Newt in Somerset, England

A luxury country escape…

By Tina Gellie Last updated 9 October 25
Piquette 101: Everything you need to know about this refreshing, low alcohol drink made from wine

The summer sipper awaits its moment...

By Josh Dell Published 23 August 25

Vintage English sparkling wine: Panel tasting results

England's finest fizz...

By Susie Barrie Last updated 12 August 25
Regional profile: Six of Hampshire’s finest sparkling wines to try

A fruitful, green and pleasant land...

By Sylvia Wu Published 15 June 25
Emma Rice: The Winemaker’s Reserve – a Decanter review

A topsy-turvy pair...

By Sylvia Wu Published 15 March 25
Luxurious English vineyard property on sale for £3.3m

Pitched as an opportunity for English wine enthusiasts...

By Chris Mercer Published 6 February 25
Wines of the Year 2024: Around the world

The best wines of 2024 from around the world...

By Sylvia Wu Last updated 28 December 24
Crown caps and pop: The rising tide of British pét-nats

With six recommendations...

By Henry Jeffreys Last updated 13 November 24

English & Welsh still wines: Panel tasting results

The non-sparkling side of Anglo-Welsh winemaking...

By Susie Barrie Last updated 6 September 24
Blenheim Palace unveils vineyard plan for English wine

Historic estate seeks partner to plant vines and make wine...

By Chris Mercer Published 12 July 24
Dermot Sugrue’s bold next step in English winemaking

With reviews for the latest releases...

By Amy Wislocki Published 30 May 24
Kent wine tour: Top wineries to visit

Fiona Sims plots a course around the Kentish vineyards...

By Fiona Sims Last updated 2 April 24
Champagne alternatives: 25 great bottles to stock up on

Crack open the bubbly to add a spritz to your end-of-year occasion...

By Anne Krebiehl MW Last updated 8 December 23
Expert’s choice: Ageing English fizz

Susie Barrie MW picks 18 English sparkling wines for ageing...

By Susie Barrie Last updated 9 October 23

English Bacchus wine: How it tastes plus wines to try

If English wine is to have a 'poster grape' of its own, then this is the front-runner.

By Sylvia Wu Last updated 5 June 23
Producer profile: Chapel Down

One of the biggest vineyard owners in England...

By Sylvia Wu Last updated 5 June 23
English still wine revival plus eight bottles worth seeking out

Susie Barrie MW goes beyond English fizz...

By Susie Barrie Published 11 December 22
10 reasons to drink English sparkling wine

Suzy Atkins on the merits of English sparkling wine...

By Susy Atkins Published 25 June 22
Balfour Brut Rosé: 20 years at the vanguard of English sparkling wine

A special vertical tasting celebrating the 20-year anniversary of Balfour's signature Brut Rosé...

By Sylvia Wu Published 23 June 22
Best English rosés for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Rosé is likely to become ‘one of the most important styles made in Britain...

By Sylvia Wu Last updated 3 June 22

The Queen partners with Gusbourne Estate for Platinum Jubilee English fizz

The wine is a blend of 50% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Meunier...

By Jacopo Mazzeo Last updated 28 February 22
Producer Profile: Nyetimber

The first English estate to exclusively plant the classic trio of Champagne grapes....

By Sylvia Wu Last updated 25 February 22
Staycation in style at one of these English vineyards

Plan yourself a wine getaway, with the full VIP tasting experience...

By Lauren Eads Published 8 February 22
Best sweet wines from around the world: 30 bottles to seek out

A sweet wine for every occasion...

By Peter Ranscombe Published 13 December 21
Best English still wines to try

Nothing says summer like the colour and delicacy of rosé....

By Sylvia Wu Published 15 September 21
UK government buying more English wine for its cellar – figures

New figures reveal purchasing for cellar in the year to March 2020...

By Chris Mercer Published 16 July 21

Lord Foster designs major new UK winery

Designs released for proposed winery and tourism centre in Kent...

By Chris Mercer Published 15 July 21
Gusbourne still wines: the new range tasted

Simon Field MW tastes the new range of four Gusbourne still wines now being produced alongside their sparkling bottles.

By Simon Field MW Published 27 June 21
G7 food and drink: Cornish sparkling wine served

A Cornish sparkling wine, the Camel Valley sparkling rosé wine, was served to world leaders at the G7 summit.

By Ellie Douglas Published 14 June 21

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