The UK is now firmly established as a quality wine producer in Europe, and is home to an increasing number of vineyards. Whilst historically it has been still wines made from hybrids, noble grapes varieties and crosses, in recent years the UK has become synonymous with high quality sparkling wines, made in the Traditional method.
Similar soils to classic regions such as Champagne, allied with similar methods, and using the 3 principle grapes of Champagne; Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, have given rise to sparkling wines which can claim to be as good as, if not sometimes better than, their better known French cousins. The main areas of production are Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Hampshire, but vineyards now pocket the English and Welsh countrysides as far north as Lancashire and Yorkshire and as far south as Cornwall and Devon. A better understanding of soil, climate and aided by global warming, has enabled the Uk to make good quality, deeply coloured reds, albeit with a higher degree of freshness, as well as ripe and structured dry whites and pale roses.
Login / Register
