sparkling wine
Brits are big consumers of champagne, with the UK being the largest export market for champagne. This may be set to change with english sparkling wines winning numerous awards and getting more and more publicity. Most english sparkling wines are made from chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier grapes and are planted in soil that is remarkably similar to that in the region of Champagne.
For Rosé sparkling wines please visit the rosé wine page.
Nyetimber vineyard was established with the intention of creating wine that can compete directly with the Champagne made just across the Channel in France. The popular Nyetimber Cuvee Classic is a blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier grapes, whereas the Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs is made from 100% chardonnay. Nyetimber sparkling wines have been described by wine expert and TV boozer Oz Clarke as "exactly what classic champagne is supposed to taste like".
Buy Nyetimber Cuvee Classic.
Buy Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs.
Ridgeview Wine Estate are long considered to be one of the top two sparkling wine makers in the UK (along with Nyetimber) and the Ridgeview Cuvée Merret Bloomsbury is this Sussex vineyards signature wine. With a crisp, elegant finish this wine can be drunk now or kept for 2 - 3 years. Ridgeview Cavendishis a traditionally made sparkling white wine from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Menuier grapes. This wine has a red berry nose with a hint of brioche. Suitable to drink now and will develop well over time. Ridgeview only produce high quality sparkling wines using traditional methods.
Buy Ridgeview Cuvée Merret Bloomsbury.
Buy Ridgeview Cavendish.
Buy Ridgeview Marksman.
Camel Valley produce Camel Valley Brut, a refined, fruity sparkling wine. The wine makers decided not to use the traditional grapes used for Champagne, instead choosing Seyval Blanc, Reichensteiner and Huxelrebe grapes. These are slowly matured which gives the wine it's delicate flavours. Camel Valley Brut is perfect for celebrating alongside a light appetiser. Camel Valley also produce Fortnum's English Sparkling Wine, a fantastic sparkling wine created for Fortnum and Masons.
Buy Camel Valley Brut.
Buy Fortnum and Mason English Sparkling Wine Camel Valley.
View the range of English wines available from Fortnum and Masons.
Chapel Down are the largest producer of english wines, and the Chapel Down NV Reserve Brut is a traditional-method sparkling wine made from a blend of Rivaner, Reichensteiner and Pinot Noir grapes. Chapel Down were the first English winery to win a gold medal for sparkling wine in the International Wine Challenge, setting a high standard for other English producers! This wine is made in the same way as Champagne and is a fantastic, local alternative.
Buy Chapel Down NV Reserve Brut.
Denbies Wine Estate, an english vineyard based in Surrey, put a few french noses out of joint with their award winning sparkling wines, including the Greenfields Sparkling wine, an elegant fizz with biscuity aromas and stone fruit flavours. This wine is made in the traditional Champagne way with favoured Champagne grape varieties - Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Denbies also produce Denbies Whitedowns Bottle Fermented Cuvée which has spent two and a half years on its lees adding richness and roundness to the wine. Whitedowns is a fresh, floral, crisp wine made from hand picked Seyval Blanc grapes.
Buy Denbies Greenfields Sparkling Wine.
Buy Denbies Whitedowns Bottle Fermented Cuvée.
Although Breaky Bottom vineyard in East Sussex was established 35 years ago, they only started to produce sparkling wine in 1994. Breaky Bottom Brut Cuvée is a refreshing, elegant fizzy English wine, produced from Seyval Blanc grapes. Breaky Bottom Brut Cuvée has a crisp and floral style, and won a silver medal from Decanter magazine for the 2006 vintage.
Sandyford vineyard in Great Sampford, North West Essex was planted in 1999 and the first crop was harvested in September 2001 with the help of local villagers. Sandyford produce Sandyford Brut a crisp, fresh, dry sparkling wine in the traditional champagne method from good quality Bacchus and Reichensteiner grapes.
Buy Sandyford Brut sparkling wine.
Plumpton Agricultural College vineyard in East Sussex have created the Plumpton Estate 'The Dean' Sparkling Wine with the help of their winemaking students. Previously part of the old Ditchling Vineyards, the college is a productive and successful vineyard. One Plumpton College Alumni members is now the owner of Ridgeview vineyard. Created from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, Plumptons 'The Dean' has been described as 'pale, lemon-gold with fine persistent bubbles'...
Buy Plumpton Estate 'The Dean' sparkling wine.
For Rosé sparkling wines please visit the rosé wine page.