white wine
The most common grape grown in English vineyards is the German Muller Thurgau. Because of the generally cool climate the most commonly planted grapes in English vineyards are thoses traditionally used in French and German wines, grapes such as Muller Thurgau, as well as Seyval Blanc and Reichensteiner. These wines produces a floral, dryish style. Also common is the Bacchus grape which produces a wine similar in style to sauvignon blanc.
Three Choirs vineyard in Gloucestershire produce a range of great white wines. Three Choirs Coleridge Hill Estate Reserve is made predominately from Phoenix and Madeleine Angevine grapes this wine has hints of elderflower and peach with an unoaked style. Three Choirs Willow Brook is a well rounded off-dry ripe white wine with a citrus fruit character and tastes of honey and spice. Serve chilled on it's own, or try with asian food, it's strong enough to partner spicy Thai food well. Similar in style to Gewurztraminer.
Buy Three Choirs Coleridge Hill Estate Reserve.
Buy Three Choirs Willow Brook.
Bolney Wine Estate, previously Bookers Vineyard, is in the heart of rural Sussex. Amongst the selection of wines they make is Bolney Wine Estate Autumn Spice, a fruity, floral white medium dry white wine made from a blend of Muller Thurgau, Wurzer and Schonburger grapes. Bolney Wine Estate Autumn Spice 2009 won Silver in the 2010 International Wine Challenge and Bronze in the Decanter World Wine Awards. They also produce the popular Bolney Wine Estate Pinot Grigio
Buy Bolney Wine Estate Autumn Spice.
Buy Bolney Wine Estate Pinot Grigio.
Chapel Down produce many white wines, including Chapel Down Bacchus, a lively, fragrant white wine made, unsurprisingly, from the Bacchus grapes. It's a dry and crisp white wine so is rather versatile and is a particularly good match for seafood. Similar in style to Sancerre and Sauvignon Blanc the Chapel Down Bacchus has also won bronze medals from the International Wine Challenge and the UK Vineyards Association Awards.
Buy Chapel Down Bacchus.
Denbies is the largest vineyard in the UK. Previously a pig farm, the first vines were planted in 1986 with the first vintage produced in 1989. Now at 265 acres Denbies produce a variety of wines, including many award winning whites. Denbies Flint Valley is a delicately oaked, crisp dry white wine, Denbies Surrey Gold - the largest selling English wine - is a medium dry wine which is rich in fruit and floral aromas with subtle hints of spice.
Buy Denbies Flint Valley and Denbies Surrey Gold.
Brightwell Vineyard in Wallingford, Oxfordshire harvest the grapes by hand to create Brightwell Bacchus, a fresh dry white wine with a smooth texture. Brightwell Vineyards Bacchus has apple aromatics, characteristic of the Bacchus grape. This is an easy drinking wine which makes a great aperitif and will partner chicken and pasta dishes well.
Oaken Grove Vineyard, in the Chiltern Hills of South Oxfordshire, create Oaken Grove Dry White from Bacchus, Madeleine Angevine, Reichensteiner and Seyval Blanc grapes. The Oaken Grove Dry White is a delicate dry white wine, with an unoaked style, it's an easy drinking wine, perfect to enjoy on it's own or to partner light dishes such as salad and fish.