A New World of Wine in the Old Kingdom
Wine grown in the United Kingdom is labeled, in general, as either English or Welsh wine, depending on its country of origin. For years, the idea of a viable wine industry in the UK was dismissed due to its cooler climate. However, higher average temperatures in Britain in recent years has made this dream a reality for many British oenologists.
In recent years, English sparkling wine has received a great deal of attention. In fact, Theale Vineyard’s 2003 Sparkling Chardonnay was named one of the top ten sparklers in the world at 2007’s Effervescents du Monde (Sparkling Wines of the World) competition, much to the chagrin of some of the world’s finest Champagne and sparkling wine houses.
For still wines, most British producers turn to white varietals. Chardonnay, again, is a primary grape. In addition, the Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Seyval Blanc are among the most well-known grapes used.
Most recently, England claimed more than 350 vineyards. England’s largest grower and producer is Surrey’s Denbies Vineyard with 265 acres of vines. Kent’s Chapel Down Wines, however, boasts the biggest winery and produces more wine than Denbies.
When labeling wine, UK producers many designations are possible. Still wines are most often labeled either United Kingdom Table Wine, English Regional Wine, English Quality Wine, Welsh Regional Wine, or Welsh Quality Wine. Aside from the United Kingdom Table Wine, all designations are subject to a testing and tasting process before they labels can be applied. Sparkling wine categories include English Sparkling Wine and English Quality Sparkling Wine, Welsh Sparkling Wine, and Welsh Quality Sparkling Wine. Sparklers are tested or tasted before labeling.
