England, although more famous for gin and beer, has been producing wine since Roman Imperial times (100 – 400 AD). Historically the country has not been known for the quality of its winemaking, inhibited by its northerly latitude and resulting cool Climate. However the last decade or so has seen considerable progress and expansion, and increases in planting of noble Grape varieties.
Significant chaptilzation to off-set the high Acidity of under-ripe grapes was once common practice but since the 1970s and particularly since the turn of the millennium natural sugar levels have increased in the Vineyard and wines have increased in quality and reputation.
The modern commercial English wine industry is often attributed to small experimental vineyards planted in the 1950s and 60s.
The lack of sunshine and colder temperatures inhibit ripening and fruit set has previously led to high acid levels and low yields. The climate is moderated by the Gulf Stream, a major Atlantic Ocean current that carries Warm water from the Caribbean to the Southern coasts of England and Wales. The Gulf Stream also helps moderate the climate of Bordeaux.
These conditions have led to Sparkling wines becoming the most prominent and commercially successful of English wines, some of which have been rated alongside those from better-known wine-producing countries such as France, Australia and New Zealand. The Champagne varieties Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are particularly successful alongside sparkling wines carbonated through bottle fermentation in the méthode traditionnelle.
Geology also plays a key role in this emphasis. Many vineyards on chalk downlands in the southernmost counties of England lie on the same strata that dip under channel and resurface in Champagne.
That represents a 69% increase on the 5.5 million bottles sold in 2019, highlighting the exponential growth the industry has enjoyed in recent years. Brits account for 96% of the sales, but demand is increasing in export markets too. English and Welsh wines have proved particularly popular in Scandinavia, with exports to Norway rising by 85% year-on-year in 2021. In the UK, more than half of the sales are direct-to-consumer, either via the cellar door or a winery’s website. However, sales in sup ...
My father worked in the wholesale supply of fruit and vegetables. He would often come home with a box of the day’s best produce, and so I became interested in what was in season. Both my parents often worked late, so cooking dinner to help take some weight off them inspired me to want to learn more. My first kitchen job at age 14 was at a Greek restaurant in Southampton, and it inspired my love for foods of the eastern Mediterranean. Today, I’m lucky to be able to obtain the best produce from ‘O ...
In 2007, Frenchman Frédéric Albert founded the Compagnie de Transport Maritime à la Voile (CTMV) with the goal of decarbonising the wine industry. The firm managed to sail its 50m-vessel four times from France to Ireland, England and Canada, before going into liquidation as a consequence of the 2008 economic crisis. Despite the failure, Albert’s pioneering project was a sign for things to come. In 2013, Le Havre-based TransOceanic Wind Transport (TOWT) followed in CTMV’s footsteps sailing some 3 ...
