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 fresh, fragrant, dry white made from 100% Pinot Gris grapes. A great value English white wine.

Available from Virgin Wines at £7.50 a bottle.

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.

Available in cases of 6 for £56.94 from Tesco (which works out as £9.49 a bottle).

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. Available from the vineyard, the Flint Valley, Surrey Gold and Ortega are also on sale in Waitrose.

www.denbiesvineyard.co.uk

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.