From Kent to Yorkshire – and even into Wales – vineyards are sprouting up all over the country. English wine has improved dramatically in recent years and now needs no comparisons with other parts of the world.
It has its own style, with the scent of a springtime garden and clear, refreshing flavours.
To celebrate English Wine Week (www.englishwineproducers.co.uk), we pick some of the best to suit all budgets.
English Dry White 2016, Surrey
£8.99, Waitrose
Crisp and zesty with lime and pink grapefruit notes and a hint of spice on the palate. Made from Surrey-grown Seyval Blanc grapes.
Halfpenny Green Long Acre White 2015, Staffordshire
Two Germanic-sounding grapes, Schönburger and Siegerrebe, are blended together to give a light, aromatic, orange blossom and elderflower style wine.
Lyme Bay Shoreline 2016, East Devon
£13.25, Booths
White flower and nettle aromas with notes of lemon zest and nectarines on the palate make this a refreshing wine for sunshine drinking.
Winbirri Vineyards Solaris 2015, Norfolk
The Solaris grape is named after the sun. Early ripening, it makes a dry wine with creamy lemon flavoursand pineapple notes.
Chapel Down Bacchus 2017, Kent
£13.99, Waitrose
Currently the largest producer of English wine, Chapel Down has its own extensive vineyards but also buys in grapes from surrounding vineyards to meet demand. Crisp and refreshing.
Bolney Estate Dark Harvest Red 2015, West Sussex
£10.99, Waitrosecellar.com
A great value English red made from Dornfelder and Rondo grapes, packed with dark cherry and redcurrant fruit and a light touch of spicy oak.
Three Choirs Ravens Hill 2016, Gloucestershire
£11.85, Three Choirs Vineyard
A light, fruity style from a blend of three red grapes – Regent, Rondo and early Pinot. There are cherry and raspberry notes with a hint of oak on the finish.
Denbies Redlands 2015, Surrey
£12.99, Waitrose
A smooth tasting red with dark raspberry and blueberry fruit and hints of vanilla. Team with lamb chops and sausages.
Chapel Down Union Red 2016, Kent
£12.99, Chapel Down Winery
A mix of four grapes, including Rondo and Pinot Noir, provide chunky cherry and blackcurrant flavours with hints of black pepper and smooth tannins. Big enough to partner a steak.
Lyme Bay Pinot Noir 2016, Farnham
£19.49, Wine Cellar
Standing out for sheer fruit quality,this has layers of dark cherry, strawberry, coffee and vanilla. It demonstrates just how good English wines can be.
Bolney Estate Foxhole Rosé 2016, West Sussex
£12.99, Waitrose
Pinot Noir grapes give this wine juicy strawberry and raspberry aromas then it follows through with ripe, red apples and clean citrus freshness.
Giffords Hall Rosé 2017, Suffolk
£13.50, Marks and Spencer
Delicate pink with aromas of wild strawberries and a palate stacked with white peach and pink grapefruit notes. Perfect in sunshine.
Urban Foxes Rosé 2017, Sussex
£14, Marks and Spencer
Made from 100 per cent Pinot Noir, this has delicate redcurrant and strawberry fruit backed by fresh acidity and a surprisingly long finish. Team with summer salads.
Camel Valley Pinot Noir Rosé 2017, Cornwall
£13.99, Waitrose
From Cornwall’s largest vineyard, this is a gentle, rounded style of rosé, with intense strawberry and fresh raspberry notes. Serve with salmon and seafood.
Sharpham Whole Berry Rosé 2016, Devon
£14.99, Waitrose
From vineyards on the banks of the tranquil River Dart, this is a blend of Pinot Noir and Dornfelder, made just off-dry with flavours of strawberries and rhubarb.
Balfour 1503 Foxwood Classic Cuvée NV, Kent
£16.99, Co-op
1503 is not the vintage of the wine; instead it is the year the manor on this lovely estate was built. The wine has white flower notes on the aroma and yellow stone and citrus fruit on the palate.
Three Choirs Classic Cuvée NV, Gloucestershire
£16.99, Waitrose
Seyval Blanc and Pinot Noir grapes combine to give this wine a lift of fresh floral fruit, with citrus and toasted biscuit notes.
Taste the Difference English Sparkling Brut NV, Surrey
£20, Sainsbury
With a frothy, creamy mousse, honeysuckle aromas and a palate of citrus, spiced apple and brioche, this is an elegant summer wine.
Tesco Finest English Sparkling Wine NV, Kent
£18, Tesco
Made by Hush Heath in Kent, this is a bright, lively sparkling wine, with a creamy mousse and fresh apple and brioche notes.
Booths English Sparkling Wine, NV
£21, Booths
Made from the classic mix of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, this has red fruits, citrus and ripe apple notes with a toasty finish.
Balfour Rosé 1503 NV, Kent
£25.99, £21.99 on a mix six deal, Majestic
Delicate pink colouring with ripe strawberry fruit on the nose, backed by mandarin and pink grapefruit and a long, crisp finish.
Chapel Down Brut Rosé NV, Kent
£26, Sainsbury
Made from Pinot Noir grapes and aged in the bottle for over two years, this has ripe raspberry flavours overlaid with a yeasty, toasty complexity.
Ridgeview Fitzrovia NV, East Sussex
£30, Ridgeview Wine Estate
Mainly citrus-charged Chardonnay with Pinot Noir adding base notes to the palate, this is a bright, lively, fresh-tasting wine with redcurrant and raspberry flavours.
Camel Valley Pinot Noir Rosé Brut, Cornwall
£29.99, Waitrose
Lively strawberry fruit on the nose, with raspberry and lime leading to a perfectly balanced palate. Wonderful for an English summer wedding.
Hattingley Valley Rosé 2014, Hampshire
£37, Waitrosecellar.com
Expensive but worth its price for the sheer elegance of the flavours in the glass. Pure strawberry fruit and rounded, toasted shortbread notes with a perfectly balanced finish.
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