Grape British bubbly

UK vineyard is envy of France

A BRITISH vineyard has become a sensation in the sparkling wine world – after France became too hot to grow grapes.

Stonyfield Wine, in Northamptonshire, has won a string of awards and is now giving Champagne a run for its money.

Its sparkling wines are made in the same style as French bubbly, with Stonyfield growing Pinot Noir and Seyval Blanc grapes.

Its success has seen French producers turn to England to grow grapes as the climate across the Channel becomes too warm.

Awards

Stonyfield is run by Belinda Brown, her brother John and sisterin-law Prue Folliott-Vaughan, all in their 60s. They grow their grapes in a field in Blisworth, near Northampton, that has been in their family for generations.

Belinda said: “The site is lovely and it really suits the vines. It’s very similar to the Champagne area. We were so nervous when we got that first bottle – we all sat around the kitchen table staring at it and were so pleased when we tasted it.

“We sent it off to Decanter Magazine and they gave us one point off a gold medal. We’ve won awards every year since, including the National Trophy for the best sparkling blend, gold and bronze Medals from Wine GB and Wine of the Year from the Mercian Vineyards Association.

“It’s really taking off, it’s a great thing to be part of. And English sparkling wines are even starting to beat French Champagnes in tastings, which shows how lovely it is.”

The family had their first harvest in 2013 and made their first bottle in 2015, from the very same field where the siblings’ grandfather once kept pigs. Hot summers in France have seen grapes grow too quickly and dry out before they can be harvested, with some farmers reportedly losing up to 50% of their crop.

Now, even French brands are buying land in the south of England, which has become a suitable alternative.

Sparkling wines produced outside of the Champagne region of France cannot use that name as it is legally protected.