English Sparkling

The belt of chalky soil, so prized by the Champenois in northern France, runs on north-west emerging in the southern English counties of Kent, Sussex and Hampshire (where Nyetimber straddles the county borders).

The grape varieties from Champagne, namely Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, therefore find themselves quite at home. In recent years English sparklers, which need, like all sparkling wines, a little acidity to maintain their balance, have been propelled to the top of the quality pile. With the improvements in technology, and a warmer climate, the future looks very bright for English sparkling wine producers. Two new listings this year demonstrate this rise in quality – Ashling Park Estate is on the chalky South Downs, whilst Fairmile Vineyard is also located on chalky, marl soils like Champagne, this time around the Chiltern Hills. Away from the South-East, improvements are also bearing fruit with some fine sparkling wine produced in the South-West, and in Herefordshire.