English Wine Week is here and dedicated to championing and celebrating English wines and the amazing vineyards that produce them, right here.
What better excuse is needed to stock up and discover some of the most celebrated brands in the industry? Read on for The Bottle Club’s selection of English still and sparkling wines from vineyards leading the way in the production of delicious English vino...
Chapel Down
Chapel Down is England’s leading wine producer with an award-winning range of sparkling and still wines. Based in Kent, in the heart of the Garden of England, it produces wines of the highest quality aimed at offering the best expression of England.
Chapel Down Bacchus White Wine (75 cl): £15.49
If you're looking for a refreshing change from your everyday white wine, Chapel Down's Bacchus White Wine (12.5% ABV) is the perfect choice. Having gained recognition as one of England's top still wines and Chapel Down’s best-selling white, this fragrant wine is crisp and refreshing, with a nose full of gooseberry, elderflower and melon notes.
Chapel Down English Rosé 2022 (75cl): £17.49
A blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Rondo, Regent and Early Pinot Noir grapes, Chapel Down English Rosé 2022 (12.5% ABV) has been produced to appeal to a broad range of tastes. A delicate wine, it displays aromas of strawberries and cream, redcurrants and floral notes on the palate and boasts a crisp, refreshing finish.
Chapel Down Brut NV (75cl): £24.49, currently reduced from £27.49
Yet another example of why English Sparkling Wine should now be taken very seriously indeed, and why it is a superb alternative to Champagne. Chapel Down's non-vintage English Sparkling Wine (12% AVB) offers fresh citrus flavours which mingle with hints of strawberry and quince. Delicate bubbling ensures the flavours are not lost in the fizz either - no wonder it received a Silver Award in the 2021 Decanter World Wine Awards.
Hambledon
Hambledon is England’s oldest commercial vineyard, established in 1952. Ian Kellett acquired Hambledon Vineyard in 1999 with a view to restoring it to its former glory and research convinced him that the site was perfectly suited to the production of sparkling wines. The Newhaven chalk on which the vines grow was formed on the seabed of the Paris basin some 65 million years ago and is found in the best Chardonnay areas of the Côtes des Blancs in Champagne.
Hambledon Classic Cuvee English Sparkling Wine (75 cl): £29.99
The signature Hambledon Classic Cuvée (12% ABV) is produced exclusively from Hambledon’s own estate on the Southeast facing chalk slopes of Windmill Down, in the historic village of Hambledon. A blend of 52% Chardonnay, 32% Pinot Noir and 17 % Pinot Meunier, from the 2018 harvest with tank-aged reserve wines added Hambledon Classic Cuvée is aged at least 35 months. It is vibrant, with structured yet ripe acidity and tasting will elegantly unfold to reveal layers of floral and stone fruit aromas.
Hambledon Première Cuvée English Sparkling Wine (75 cl): £49.59
Award-winning, the Hambledon Première Cuvée (12% ABV) is produced exclusively from Hambledon’s own estate on the Southeast facing chalk slopes of Windmill Down, in the historic village of Hambledon. A blend of 67% Chardonnay, 11% Pinot Noir and 22% Pinot Meunier, mostly from the 2014 harvest, with barrel-aged reserve wines it is aged at least 62 months on the lees. Tasting will reveal sweet notes of ripe yellow and white summer fruits, followed by buttery pastry aromas, delivering a creamy yet elegant texture.
Cottonworth
Located in the heart of the Test Valley in Hampshire, Cottonworth is home to the Liddell family who have been farming there for four generations. The family uses the traditional method and are focused on producing high-quality English sparkling wine from the three classic varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Over the last 10 years, they have carefully selected 30 acres of prime vineyard sites for the production of sparkling wine using Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The south-facing slopes, chalk soil and temperate microclimate ensure the best conditions for growing grapes of exceptional quality.
Cottonworth Rose English Sparkling Wine (75 cl): £33.99
Cottonworth Rose English Sparkling Wine (12% ABV) is a refreshing blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Precoce which come together to produce a magnificent display of red summer fruit aromas beautifully balanced on a subtle backdrop of vanilla.
Nyetimber
Based in West Sussex, Hampshire, Nyetimber’s vineyards share similar characteristics with the best sparkling wine vineyards in the world. Greensand and chalk soils allow its vines, in each of its separate sites, to flourish across the south of England. The climate allows for the slow ripening of the grapes and for optimum levels of ripeness and acidity, as well as the complexity and finesse for which its exquisite wines are renowned.
Nyetimber Classic Cuvee Multi-Vintage (75 cl): £31.49, currently reduced from £33.49.
Nyetimber’s signature sparkling wine. Intense yet delicate, elegant yet complex – it has consistently been crowned one of the best English sparkling wines. The Classic Cuvee Multi-Vintage (12% ABV) is a blend of Nyetimber's three classic grape varieties - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. This blend results in a sparkling wine that is full of flavour, with hints of citrus and white flowers, and a lovely creamy texture. It's the perfect sparkling wine to enjoy on its own, or with some delicious seafood dishes.
Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs 2014 (75 cl): £43.49
The Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs 2014 (12% ABV) is a stunning example of this style of sparkling wine. Made from 100% Chardonnay grapes, it has lovely citrus and white peach aromas, with a touch of minerality. The palate is fresh and crisp, with more citrus and white peach flavours, along with a hint of lemon zest. It's a beautifully balanced wine with excellent acidity, and it has a long, elegant finish.
