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.

Bookers Vineyard is in the heart of the picturesque rural Sussex. Amongst the selection of wines they make is this fruity, floral white medium dry white wine made from an amazing blend of Muller Thurgau, Wurzer and Schonburger grapes. A great value English white wine to match fish or salad dishes (10% alcohol by volume).

Bookers Vineyard Autumn Spice 2007 is available from Waitrose.

Sharpham Estates based near Totnes in Devon are a busy vineyard, offering great value food as well as tours around the vineyard. Don't forge their fine range of wine, including this great pale white wine. A tasty and subtle white wine made from 100% Madeleine Angevine grapes, 11.5% alcohol by volume.

Sharpham Selection Dry 2006 is available from Waitrose.

Chapel Down produce many white wines, including this lively, fragrant white wine made from the Bacchus grapes. It's a dry and crisp white wine which makes it very versatile and is a particularly good match for seafood. Similar in style to Sancerre and Sauvignon Blanc this wine has also won bronze medals from the International Wine Challenge and the UK Vineyards Association Awards.

Chapel Down Bacchus is available from Tesco online.

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, 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, whereas Ortega is a complex, elegant wine made from the best new breed of grape variety.

Denbies Flint Valley and Denbies Surrey Gold are both available by the bottle or the case from Waitrose.

Camel Valley have got a reputation as dry white wine specialists, and they claim that the 2006 Bacchus is one of their best yet. Bacchus is a modern Sylvaner/Riesling cross that produces wine with a distinctive fruity bouquet, and a grapey flavour. Described as "stunning" by the Independent on Sunday, the 2005 Bacchus won a silver medal in the 2006 Decanter wine awards. Perfect with seafood. £10.95 a bottle, available from the vineyard.