Britain is the most exciting place for wine in the world at the moment. Our homegrown wine scene is fizzing with energy, and there’s never been a better opportunity to discover what our own shores have to offer. From award winning sparkling wines to refreshing poolside-style rosés and some supremely chic Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs in between, there’s a real breadth of styles now being produced. Gone are the days of plaque-stripping acidity, the warmer summers and the maturity of the vines planted mean that we’re producing wines of real quality and finesse.
And it seems we’re all starting to take notice, as ranges increase not only in the independent wine shops, but across the supermarkets too. Waitrose have reported a 10 per cent increase in sales of English sparkling wine, and an impressive 16 per cent increase in sales of English rosé wines.
These are encouraging statistics that show the real appetite for our domestic produce, and it’s likely to only grow further. Yes, English wines come with a premium price tag; this is down to a combination of factors including high cost of land, labour that’s actually paid fairly, and the fact that most wines are made on a boutique, small scale. But that price does come with an assurance of quality, and a chance to embrace the “less but better” mantra.
