📜 English Wine

English Wine is a protected name for wines made from grapes grown in England. “English Wine” is a protected designation of origin for wines made from grapes grown in England. It belongs to the wider category of wines of England. The grapes must grow no higher than 220 metres above sea level.

The vineyards lie in the south of the country: in Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire and other counties. The climate is cool, so early-ripening grapes suit it best. The chalk soils of southern England are close in make-up to those of Champagne, one reason sparkling wines do so well here.

The main grapes are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, used for sparkling wine by the traditional method, as in Champagne. Still wines also use Bacchus, Seyval Blanc and others. Bacchus gives aromatic, fresh whites with notes of elderflower and gooseberry.

English sparkling wine is the sector's best-known product and often wins international competitions. There are not many vineyards, but their area is growing quickly. On the label, check whether it says “English Wine” or “English Regional Wine”: the first is stricter and tied to defined rules, the second is simpler. The English like to serve their sparkling wine as an aperitif.