English Sparkling Wine: 10 Splendid Bottles, Styles, Rise to Fame

English sparklers have admirably surged in popularity in the past few decades. 

But, it's been a long journey to recognition!

Though commercial winemaking first began in 1952, these sparkling wines did not gain much prominence until the late 20th century. Today, Champagne houses like Pommery and Taittinger own vineyards in the country.

Which are the best English sparkling wines? How do they compare with French Champagne?Let’s take a closer look at the best English sparkling wine bottles to try in 2023, how it all started and the winemaking practices, wine regions, and whether they rival Champagne.

10 Splendid English Sparkling Wines To Try In 2023

Here are excellent English sparkling wines that you must try:

• 2009 Nyetimber 1086 Sparkling
• 2013 Hattingley Valley Kings Cuvee Sparkling
• 2009 Ridgeview Vintage Blanc de Blancs Brut
• 2011 Chapel Down Three Graces Sparkling
• 2015 Gusbourne Estate Sparkling Rose
• Hambledon Vineyard Dosage Zero Premiere Cuvee Sparkling Rose
• 2011 Wiston Estate Blanc de Blancs Sparkling
• 2010 Digby Fine English Reserve Brut
• 2014 Bolney Estate Blanc de Blancs Brut
• Camel Valley Pinot Noir Rose Brut

1. 2009 Nyetimber 1086 Sparkling, Sussex, England ($188)

The 2009 vintage from Nyetimber is a classic Cuvee made from 46% Chardonnay, 43% Pinot Noir, and 11% Pinot Meunier. 

This vibrant bottle of English fizz has seductive aromas of honey, oaty biscuits, and roasted nuts. It is smooth with soft brioche and citrus notes, well-balanced acidity, and a long and complex finish on the palate.

2. 2013 Hattingley Valley Kings Cuvee Sparkling, Hampshire, England ($98)

This 2013 Hattingley Valley Kings Cuvee is an excellent blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with 12% ABV.

It is a medium-bodied and elegant pale gold wine, offering hints of citrus, toast, and spice aromas with an elegant structure and a long and fresh finish.

3. 2009 Ridgeview Vintage Blanc de Blancs Brut, England ($86)

Made from the Chardonnay grape variety, this 2009 vintage wine is a lovely pale green-gold sparkler.

This traditional method sparkling wine showcases a nose of brioche, passion fruit, pear, and green apple, with smooth fizz, a complex and focussed palate, and a lingering finish.

4. 2011 Chapel Down Three Graces Sparkling, Kent, England ($86)

The 2011 vintage Chapel Down is an impressive Champagne blend with fine persistent bubbles.

This English wine presents aromas of ripe apple, strawberry, lemon, honeyed oatmeal, brioche, and hazelnuts. It is fresh and well-balanced with a rich finish on the palate.

5. 2015 Gusbourne Estate Sparkling Rose, Kent, England ($80)

The 2015 sparkling rose is a blend of 50% Pinot Noir, 32% Pinot Meunier, and 14% Chardonnay grapes.

It offers a bouquet of berries, zesty lemon, and floral notes. The wine has bright red fruit such as strawberry, cherry, and recurrent flavour with a creamy and rounded finish on the palate.

6. Hambledon Vineyard Dosage Zero Premiere Cuvee Sparkling Rose, England ($79)

This Premiere Cuvee is a medium-bodied Pinot Meunier varietal rose with 12% ABV and attractive pink color.

It has powerful notes of red cherries, rhubarb, and herbs with good acidity, soft tannin textures, and a tarty finish.

7. 2011 Wiston Estate Blanc de Blancs Sparkling, England ($72)

The 2011 Wiston Blanc de Blanc has exuberant aromas of green apple, apricot, brioche, and citrus. On the palate, it presents creamy lemon textures, mineral tones, and striking acidity with an excellent finish.

8. 2010 Digby Fine English Reserve Brut, England ($56)

This 2010 vintage wine is a creamy sparkler with fine bubbles.

The British fizz is enlivened with delicate apple aromas and a refreshing palate of white currant, elderflower, and lemon flavour.

9. 2014 Bolney Estate Blanc de Blancs Brut, Sussex, England ($53)

The 2014 Blanc de Blanc from Bolney Estate has soft lemon and wet stone notes. It is refreshingly creamy with bright flavors and a lasting finish on the palate.

10. Camel Valley Pinot Noir Rose Brut, Cornwall, England ($41)

The Camel Valley Rose is made from the Pinot Noir grape variety and showcases glorious spice, strawberry, and raspberry notes with a zesty finish on the palate.

English Sparkling Wine: Rise to Fame, Viticulture, Winemaking 

In 1988, American venture capitalists Stuart and Sandy Moss planted Champagne varieties like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier on the English vineyard plots recognizing the potential of England’s hospitable soils. 

Until then, only early-ripening varieties like Bacchus and Seyval Blanc were planted here. These, however, struggled to find a national or international market.

The chalk limestone soils of Southern England were ideal for growing grape varieties used in making sparkling wine.

Today, England has over 450 vineyards, and Champagne grapes, like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, account for 71% of grape varieties grown in the region.

What are the English sparkling wine production regulations?

English sparkling wine production comes under the PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) classifications. 

How is English sparkling wine different from British wine?

The wines can only be labeled as “English” if the grapes are grown in England. English wine made from grapes grown outside of England is called “British Wine.”

Which are the grape varieties permitted in English sparkling wine?

While the PGI has around 90 permitted grape varieties, the PDO only permits these six grape varieties:

• Chardonnay
• Pinot Noir
• Pinot Meunier
• Pinot Noir Précoce
• Pinot Blanc
• Pinot Gris

How is English sparkling wine made?

According to the PDO regulations, every English sparkler must be a traditional method sparkling wine, where a winemaker puts the base wine into a bottle with yeast and sugar for secondary fermentation. The wines must spend at least 9 months on the lees and then be disgorged.

English Sparkling Wine Styles and Characteristics

English sparkling wine is created using the same traditional method as French Champagne.

• Classic Cuvee: It is a blend of typical Champagne grapes like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier. These wines show perfect balance with creamy textures and brioche and fruit notes like Champagne.
• Blanc de Blancs: Blanc de Blancs are white sparkling wines produced from Chardonnay grapes (sometimes with Pinot Blanc.) They have fine bubbles with green apple and citrus aromas and flavors.
• Blanc de Noirs: They are white sparklers made from red wine grapes like Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir Precoce, and Pinot Meunier. These wines have fruit-forward notes.
• Sparkling Rose: Made from white and red grape varieties, sometimes by blending white and red wine before the secondary fermentation. English sparkling rose wines have bright cherry and strawberry notes accompanied by fine fizz and lively acidity.

Like other sparklers, English wine also varies in sweetness:

• Brut Nature: zero added sugar
• Extra Brut: less than 6 g/L of sugar
• Brut: less than 12 g/L of sugar
• Extra dry: 12-17 g/L of sugar
• Sec: 17-32 g/L of sugar
• Demi-sec: 32-50 g/L of sugar
• Doux: more than 50 g/L of sugar

Now, let’s look at which regions produce English sparkling wine.

The English Sparkling Wine Regions and Producers

These are the prominent English sparkling wine regions:

A. South East England

This region comprises: 

• Sussex: Houses some of the largest and most renowned English wine producers like Nyetimber and Ridgeview. It also has its own PDO classification for sparkling wine, allowing Arbanne and Petit Meslier grape varieties in the English sparkling wine blend.
• Kent: The largest county under vine in England, Kent has more than 50 vineyards and houses famed producers like Chapel Down and Gusbourne Estate.
• Hampshire: Hampshire is where commercial winemaking began in England - in the Hambledon vineyard. It houses famous winery estates, including the Black Chalk Estate and Hattingley Valley Vineyard. Many of the county’s vineyards are located in the rolling hills of the South Downs National Park, which closely resemble the terroir of the Champagne region of France.
• Surrey: Located in the south-eastern part of England, Surrey has suitable terroir with chalk soils and plenty of sunshine for producing quality sparkling wines. 

B. South West England 

Although smaller than other regions, the South West wine region produces excellent quality wines. The largest wineries in this region include the Camel Valley Vineyard and Knightor winery. 

C. East Anglia

While the majority of English wine producers are present in Southern England, Eastern England has a decent share of wineries that are just as good at making high-quality wine. 

East Anglia is one of the sunniest and driest regions in England, and its terroir is perfect for growing cool-climate grapes like Pinot Noir. This region contains 5% of England’s vine plantings.

This English region’s terroir closely resembles that of the Champagne region in France.

But do English sparkling wines rival Champagne?

Are English Sparkling Wines As Good As Champagne?

English fizz has received glowing reviews from various wine publications like Decanter and Wine Enthusiast. Some of these wines have even outperformed French Champagne in blind tasting competitions.

However, English wine production and diversity is not yet at a level that can match or compete with Champagne. Furthermore, the English climate poses challenges for winemakers - unlike the Champagne region. 

So while English fizz cannot currently rival Champagne, it is certain that this growing wine style has a sparkling future ahead of it.

Enjoy The Brilliance Of English Sparkling Wine

The brilliance of English sparkling wine lies in its great balance and freshness. Its vibrant taste makes for fantastic additions to any occasion.

So try a splendid bottle of English sparkling wine to brighten up your next celebration. 

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