Before I started researching my book Vines in a Cold Climate, I had a particular image of English sparkling wine as consistent but rarely that exciting. It was all a bit formulaic, like big brand champagne but leaner. I am pleased to say that I could not have been more wrong as the wines now made all over southern England are incredibly diverse, offering a wide array of styles for every palate. If you’re spending between £25 and £50 then England actually offers, on the whole, much more interesting wines than Champagne. Here are six wines that show how different English sparkling wines can be.
Westwell Wicken Foy NV (Westwell £27.50)
I’m a big fan of Westwell not least because it’s one of the nearest vineyards to me. It produces a range of still and sparkling wines but this might be my favourite. It’s made from a blend of roughly equal parts pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay, and aged for 18 months so it’s still quite youthful.
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