Sparkling wine formed the foundations of English wine production. England has a cool climate – not too dissimilar to that of Champagne in France, so it is no coincidence that the famous Champagne grape varieties (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) dominate plantings in the UK vineyards. The majority of vineyards are found in the South and South East of the country centred on Hampshire, Sussex and Kent.
From these grapes, traditional bottle-fermented sparkling wines are produced – in exactly the same way as Champagne. When compared to some of the price tags of Grand Marque champagnes, some of these English Sparkling Wines can represent very good value for money – and have often out-performed the French competition in blind tastings.
These styles of wines have had such success (both in the UK and internationally) that one of the most famous champagne houses Champagne Taittinger has recently acquired a vineyard area in Kent with a view to producing English Sparkling.
That being said, there is much more to English wine than just the fizzy stuff. England has its own ‘signature’ white grape variety in Bacchus – a grape often compared to Sauvignon Blanc due to its crisp citrus and gooseberry character. It is used to produce still, fruit-driven, dry white wines. In addition, still, red wines and roses are produced from Pinot Noir.
LWC stock a variety of both still and sparkling English wines from producers across different regions of the UK, the below list is not exhaustive. For more information, please contact your account manager. Not all wines are stocked in all depots – please allow a 2-week lead time.