If you're having a discussion about your favourite wine, chances are you'll choose one from a traditional wine producing country such as France or Italy, or possibly a "New World" wine from Australia, California or South America. I would hazard a guess that not many people, if any, would choose an English wine. After all, England doesn't spring readily to mind as a wine producing nation, we're more associated with beer and cider.
Wine has, however, been produced in England since Roman times, although on a very small scale. The climate has been the problem, as vines flourish in long, warm summers, which England isn't blessed with too often. Some small vineyards did make it though, producing wines for monasteries and the aristocracy, mainly for local and personal consumption.
Over the last thirty years or so the number of vineyards in England and Wales has steadily increased to around 400, with about 250 of them being commercially viable with around 2.5 million bottles being produced annually. One reason put forward for this increase is global warming, helping to make the climate more suitable for growing vines.
So what of the wines available today? Well they are no longer seen as the novelty they undoubtedly once were and they regularly win awards at international level, beating off long-established wines from more traditional countries. Whilst red wine is produced in England to good acclaim, it is the white, and especially sparkling, wines that receive the highest accolades. This is most likely due to the fact that the soil and the climate of Southern England are very similar to the Champagne region in France. During "blind" tastings the English sparking wines from vinyards such as Bookers and RidgeView regularly beat the competition from established Champagne houses, with RidgeView winning the Best Sparkling Wine at the International Wine and Spirit Competition.
Pricewise, the English and Welsh wines compare favorably to the international competition with prices ranging from around £5 - £6 a bottle up to expensive high - end wines.
So are these wines worth trying then? Undoubtedly yes, these vineyards are still relatively small compared to more established nations so they have to produce quality wines to survive, and the increasing number of awards being won speaks volumes. I would highly recommend sampling them, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
Author Resource:-
http://www.fineforwine.com is an online store carrying stock from all the U.K.'s major wine merchants.
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