It’s Naff to Bring Prosecco to a Party — Take These English Wines Instead
It’s the first day of English Wine Week. But what exactly is that? It’s a week dedicated to drinking English wine. Forget showing up anywhere with a bottle of Prosecco — that’s naff. The focus should be on celebrating home-grown produce, especially during this designated week. To be fair, we should be doing that anyway, particularly as over the next seven days, vineyards, restaurants, wine bars and shops across the country open their doors to invite people to discover the fruits of local craftsmanship.
Why English Wine Is So Great
If you thought English wine was just a quaint hobby involving underripe grapes and a YouTube tutorial, you’d be sorely mistaken. We’re living in the golden age of British viticulture — the Belle Époque of bubbles (and still wine). Wales is also producing palatable vino. Britain is winning global awards: in this year’s Decanter World Wine Awards, the country achieved one Best in Show, two Platinum, 10 Gold, 90 Silver and 114 Bronze medals — 217 medals total, the strongest showing so far. At the IWSC, Britain snagged 65 medals, including four golds. This success stems from improved viticulture, investment, experienced winemakers, better knowledge of soil types, and favourable weather.
English Wine Week: A Celebration Since 2006
English Wine Week gives winemakers a well-earned pat on the back, running from June 20 to 28. Organised by WineGB, the trade body for English and Welsh wine, it celebrates the leaps and bounds in winemaking.
Award-Winning English Wines to Try
Tesco Finest English Sparkling Rosé, £22
Silver IWC, Bronze IWSC, Decanter Silver. Delicate with hints of strawberry and redcurrant against a creamy nose. Made by Balfour in Kent.
M&S Rockferne Rosé Brut 2022, £30
92 points, Silver IWSC, Bronze IWC. Red berry goodness on the nose, smooth bubbles, hints of crushed hazelnuts and manuka honey. Made by Sussex-based Roebuck Estate.
Hambledon Classic Cuvée, £28 (£4 off at Ocado)
IWSC 91 Silver, Decanter Gold 90. A workhorse sparkling from the first modern commercial winery in Britain. Tastes like biting into a Granny Smith apple fresh from the tree, then baked into a pie.
Louis Pommery Brut, £26 (Save £5 at Ocado)
Decanter Silver 91 points. Pommery was the first Champagne house to release an English sparkling from its Hampshire operation. Dry, preserved lemon sherbet and white peach fleshiness with a saline finish.
Best Vineyards to Visit This English Wine Week
Nyetimber (West Sussex)
One of the godfathers of English sparkling wine, with vines dating back to 1992. Hosting exclusive ‘Estate Days’ with rare library tastings of aged vintages in their historic barn.
Digby Fine English (Arundel, West Sussex)
Interesting production model: buys grapes across multiple counties. Head to their tasting room for ‘Digby After Dark’ on June 26 (free jazz evening). Also teaming up with Neal’s Yard Cheese at The Gore Hotel on June 24 (£50 per person).
Chapel Down (Kent)
Britain’s best-known wine producer, excelling in competitions, especially with the Kits Coty range. From June 20 to 28, they bring Kent to Covent Garden’s Courtyard Wine Cellars for screenings, performances, and charcuterie.
Hambledon (Hampshire)
Birthplace of modern English wine. Hosting Fizz Fest on June 28 at their 90-hectare site, with over 20 still and sparkling wines from producers like Black Chalk, Danebury Vineyards, Exton Park, The Grange, Hattingley, Louis Pommery England, Raimes, and Hambledon. Stalls, live entertainment, masterclasses, vineyard tours, and an after-party.
London Urban Winery Collective
A collection of London’s finest urban wineries, hosting a mini festival at Vagabond Urban Winery in Canada Water on Saturday, June 27. Featuring London Cru, Blackbook, Vagabond, and Renegade. DJ Yoda performs. £45 entry includes two glasses of wine.
