Honouring a new golden age for English wine Red
English Wine Week (today-2 June) offers a chance to celebrate the UK’S burgeoning wine industry. Wine estates, merchants and restaurants across the country will host English wine pairing dinners, tasting tours, vineyard open days, wine and cheese walks and wine offers (www.englishwineproducers.co.uk) to help you discover Winegb.
One million new vines were planted last year in England as interest in the sparkling wine boom reached a new level. Now with more than 500 vineyards producing five million bottles, English wine is entering its golden age – and production is expected to double in the next five years. Take a look at my Top Ten English still white, red and sparkling wines:
Stillwhites Sussex: Stopham Estate Pinot Blanc 2015
Made by ex-mclaren F1 engineer Simon Woodhead who changed careers to plant vines in the South Downs near the River Arun 11 years ago, this is a remarkable tangy white, made from a grape often deemed to be rather dull in comparison to its cousin chardonnay. More ripe pithy fruits than often found in English wines with blossomy elderflower notes, lime citrus flavours, citrus peel, sharp acidity and reasonable length.
£12.95-£14.99, The Wine Society; Waitrose; Marks & Spencer; www. stophamvineyard.co.uk
Cornwall: Camel Valley Cornwall Bacchus DRY 2016
Bacchus is gaining popularity amongst English growers. Made by EX-RAF pilot Bob Lindo with wife Annie and son Sam, who bought an old sheep farm with south facing slopes close to Bodmin Moor in the 1980s and converted it into one of the UK’S best still and fizz estates, winning the Royal Warrant this year.
£13.50, Waitrose; www. thewinesociety.com; www. camelvalley.com
Sparkling Sussex: Nyetimber Classic Cuvee NV
This fizz is still ahead of the pack with delicate fruits, toasty undertones, creamy fruits, depth and vibrancy. Nyetimber was created by a US couple who pioneered use of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier. Now owned by Dutchman Eric Heerema with Canadian winemaker Cherie Spriggs.
£32.99-£36.99, Majestic Wine; Waitrose; Ocado; St Andrews Wine; Bon Vivant Companion
Oxfordshire: Wyfold Vineyard Brut 2013
Barbara Laithwaite and Cherry Thompson planted 4,000 vines in the Chiltern Hills near the Thames in 2003, now sons Henry and Ben run this tiny two hectare project. Beautifully crafted fizz with tangy citric flavours, soft creaminess and minerally backbone made from the Champagne grape trio.
£33, www.laithwaites.co.uk
Dorset: Bride Valley Brut Reserve 2014
From a sheep farm in Litton Cheney near Bridport bought in the late 1980s by Steven and Arabella Spurrier. Their Brut Reserve has equal proportions of the Champagne grape trio – with tasters praising its toasty brioche aromas, generous fruit, well-integrated acidity and soft silky palate.
£27, www.thewinesociety.com; £32.95, www. leaandsandeman.co.uk
Hampshire: Hambledon Classic Cuvée NV
From the UK’S first commercial vineyard planted in 1952 by Sir Guy Salisbury-jones. New owner Yorkshireman Ian Kellett invested millions and employed Herve Justin from Champagne Duval Leroy. This has regularly won its place in our top ten with its savoury palate, focused fruits and quince and red berry undertones.
£29, Marks & Spencer; Berry Bros & Rudd, www.bbr.com
Sparkling rosé Dorset: Bride Valley Bella Rosé 2014
A pretty, blush-toned, bright focused ripe fruit rose with fine delicate mousse. Grapes are grown at the Spurrier vineyard, but this beautifully crafted fizz is made at nearby Furleigh Estate by winemaker Ian Edwards.
£31.50, www.rudewines.co.uk
Sussex: Wiston Estate Rosé Brut 2014
Attractive pink fizz with toasty creamy blend of three Champagne grapes. Made by the celebrated Irish winemaker Dermot Sugrue using 68 per cent pinot noir, 22 per cent pinot meunier and just 10 per cent chardonnay.
£39, www.swig.co.uk; £35.95, www.wistonestate.com
Kent: Hush Heath Estate ‘Manor’ Pinot Noir 2016
Hush Heath is best known for its rose fizz, but have made a great effort with this pinot. Don’t expect it to be Burgundian-like, it is light, delicate with bright raspberry fruit, minty and spiciness.
£19.99, Fine Wine Musselburgh; Taurus Wines
Essex: Lyme Bay Pinot Noir 2016
Who would have thought an Essex pinot noir would be a match for Burgundy? This delicious cherry fruited, roast coffee bean and vanilla flavoured red is surprisingly ripe. Grapes are grown by Michael and Heather Bunker in Essex, but made by Lyme Bay’s winemaker Liam Idzikowski. ■
£19.49, www.farnhamwinecellar.co.uk; www. lymebaywinery.co.uk