English Wine Week
15th – 22nd June 2024
English Wine Week is an annual celebration dedicated to promoting and raising awareness of English wines taking place from the 15th – 22nd June.
Young’s list two fantastic English producers, an acclaimed sparkling wine from Nyetimber and a rustic still wine from Whitehall Vineyards. From Nyetimber, there is the Classic Cuvee, the Blanc de Blanc and Rosé sparkling wines, then from Whitehall there is the Bacchus White Wine.
In 1952, Major-General Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones planted the first commercial vineyard in England at Hambledon, Hampshire sowing the seeds for the UK to start creating great wine.
English viticulture today has undergone considerable change, partly influenced by the effects of climate change, particularly in the south. This slight temperature increase has brought England’s climate closer to that of the Champagne regions of Northern France and has allowed English vineyards to grow the true ‘Champagne’ grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.
As time has passed, the establishment of more UK vineyards has led to a considerable increase in experience and, therefore, more comprehensive knowledge, leading to better yields and, more importantly, better quality of yield. English sparkling wines are now hitting the top awards in many blind-taste tests across the world.
Whitehall are ‘new kids to the block’ by comparison, founded in 2017. Since then, they have been carefully crafting wines with charming British flavours.
The week is dedicated to showcasing the diverse and growing English wine industry. The aim is to celebrate the quality of English wines, encourage people to explore local vineyards and wineries, and support the wine producers in England
Make sure you raise a glass of something local this English Wine Week!
Look out for wine events near you!