English Wine Week is an annual celebration of the great things our country has to offer when in comes to all things wine. Organised by winemakers and Wine GB, this week-long event (this year running from 18th to 26th June) aims to raise awareness of the quality wines and wine producing regions here in England, as well as providing an opportunity to get to know English wine a little better.
With demand for English wine growing significantly and the Sussex region achieving England’s first official PDO accreditation last week, it’s fair to say that English Wine Week feels bigger than ever!
Throughout English Wine Week and the summer months, some of the best vineyards up and down the country open their doors to the public for tastings and tours. You’ll likely find local restaurants and hotels prioritising their English wines with fantastic food and wine pairings for you to enjoy, too. And rightly so. We have every reason to be proud of our produce!
In celebration of English Wine Week, we’re sharing all that is great about English wine with you. So, read on to get the low-down on what makes the English wine scene such an exciting place to be.
An Introduction to English Wine
English wine is a relatively unknown entity. Classic Old World and New World wine producing countries such as France, Spain, Chile and New Zealand dominate the industry. However, and surprisingly to some, we’re actually rather good at making it!
Back in 1920, when the last commercial vineyard in Britain closed down, we turned to the wine-producing brilliance of our French and Spanish counterparts. It remained this way until post World War 2 when vineyards were once again established in southern England. Unfortunately they were never taken seriously as a commercial possibility.
Over time, scientific developments, new grape varieties and better winemaking techniques became available. Combined with a shift in British climate and changes in consumer behaviour, and suddenly English wine production became a viable possibility. Now the English wine industry is flourishing with year-on-year growth predicted to continue.
What Wine is Made in England?
You probably don’t need reminding that here in England we live in a relatively cool climate and get quite a lot of rain! This provides limitations to which grapes winemakers can grow. Popular grape varieties, including Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, are better placed in warmer climates and are difficult to grow on UK soils. With these limitations, we often have to turn to niche grape varieties including Bacchus, Ortega and Sevval Blanc. Many of these have been brought over from France and Germany.
England has a terroir similar to that of the Champagne region in France with chalky soils and cool weather. These conditions are well suited to particular white grape varieties and for producing sparkling wines. Popular cool climate red varieties, such as Pinot Noir, are also grown here.
English wines have become widely-known as a quality alternative to Champagne. It’s safe to say we give the French a good run for their money! In fact, English fizz topped Champagne in the 2018 Sommelier Wine Awards, capping off several years of significant advancements and helping to build a steadily growing reputation. Since then, it’s gone on to scoop hundreds of awards every year!
Where in England is Wine Made?
The majority of English wine is produced in the South and South East. Sussex, Hampshire, Kent and Surrey are among the more recognised counties. These are typically warmer parts of the UK with more sunlight and less rain. With the impact of global warming and rise in average temperatures coming into effect, growing grapes has become a little more accessible. This has resulted in the emergence of newer vineyards further north. Key areas to keep an eye on are East Anglia and South West England – great things are expected to happen here!
The Resurgence of English Wine
Spearheaded by the growth of our traditionally-made sparkling wine, the UK wine industry is on the up. Our green pastures are slowly becoming a globally-recognised base of quality wine. With year-on-year growth and an increasing number of vineyards and bottles being produced, the concern for the English wine industry is no longer that it is sub-standard, but more that it needs to meet the ever-growing demand!
Good Places to Visit for English Wine Week
English Wine Week is a great opportunity for wine lovers across the UK to get out, learn a bit more about domestic produce, and try a few glasses of the home-grown good stuff! Here are our top picks for English vineyard visits.
