Vines have been grown in England since the Romans for winemaking, and appear in The Doomsday book around southern England’s chalky and sandstone soils. Yet before the turn of this century, drinking English had become fairly obscure, it certainly wasn’t something exported to other nations.
Times have changed and currently the English wine industry has a lot to be proud about. It is seeing phenomenal growth and wine lovers can be genuinely excited about the quality on offer.
Best known are the traditional sparkling wines made with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Delicious? Yes, but there is so much more to English wine than fizz. Great whites from Bacchus, succulent reds from Pinot Noir and refreshing rosé are just some of the success stories worth seeking out. Lots of local wineries have cellar doors, cafés or walking trails too.
