Bubbles Boom: What makes English Sparkling Wines So Good

English wine’s rapid rise has been breathtaking: from the first commercial vineyards planted in 1951, to beating Champagne houses in international wine competitions in 2021. This “from zero to hero” success story took less than 70 years to evolve. Compare it to over 2 millennia of interrupted wine history of Italy or France and you will come to realise that English winemakers have crafted nothing less than a miracle. 

So how did this chilly country become a hot wine destination? And what makes English sparkling wines so good? Several things, really.

The Weather

Ok, global warming surely has its impact on vines and wines. Believe it or not, a research from Harvard University even suggests that England could soon be producing better wines than France. Rising temperatures will make most of the French regions too hot to produce good quality wines, as stated in the research by Dr Elizabeth Wolkovich of Harvard. While to many French wine lovers, this forecast may sound somewhat apocalyptic, the trend is certainly there. England is getting warmer and receiving more and more sunshine hours year to year. This means riper grapes and better balanced wines. 

The Soil

However, the recent success of English sparkling wines is not just due to the weather. The first thing any English winemaker will tell you is, the terroir. Here is the thing: England boasts some of the best soils for sparkling wine production. Chalky limestone soils, to be specific. Remember the iconic white cliffs of the English coastline? Well, these cliffs actually form one huge, ancient band of chalk with Champagne, Chablis and Loire Valley. That’s right, the southeastern part of England has the same type of soil as these acclaimed French wine regions.

This terroir gives birth to refined, elegant wines with pronounced mineral character. No wonder English sparkling wines are often described as chalky, flint, mineral and somewhat saline. Add the gorgeous aromas of ripe orchard fruit (hello global warming), notes of brioche, honey and nuts (result of a complex production process, which involves double fermentation and extensive ageing on lees) and ample freshness (the weather here is still far from hot, so the acidity is always there) – and here is your perfect English sparkling. 

The People

Last but not least, the English wine scene is bubbling with talent. The best of the local winemakers, like Dermot Sugrue, travelled the world and gained experience working in top wine regions. And what we absolutely love about the English wine industry is the buzz around organic, natural and low-intervention wines. More and more winemakers, such as Davenport and Oxney Estate go completely organic. Many of them, like Davenport and Tillingham, are advocating natural winemaking practices. As a result, their English sparkling wines are excellent expressions of this land. In a word, these are honest, authentic wines, English to the core.

But don’t just take our word for it. Check out our selection of English wines and decide for yourself. Or read more about English wine regions and history.