Bow down to British Bubbly
Author: Guest Blogger
Thanks in part to warmer temperatures (2007 was the second warmest year in the UK in 356 years) more and more English land is becoming suitable for wine production and perhaps in 50 years time, England will be able to compete with Champagne.
Today, there are 1,000 vineyards in England across Kent, Hampshire, Essex and Sussex and production in 2006 was just over 3.3 million bottles. Berrys believes, the amount of English farmland devoted to wine production may rival that of France by 2058.
French Champagne producers such as Louis Roederer have been looking at the chalky soil of the South Downs with interest, believing it offers them a great opportunity to produce sparkling wines similar to Champagne itself.
Recent international blind-tasting competitions even saw some English sparkling wines triumphing over the best Champagnes.
If British growers get support from British drinkers and are able to compete on price will they be able to compete with Champagne in the future?
Simon Field, Berrys’ Champagne and Sparkling Wine Buyer views the vines at the Nyetimber Vineyard in Sussex.
Interesting question. Do you currently offer any UK bubbly for those of us who are curious?
Many thanks for your comment and in response – yes, we do!
Nyetimber produces one of the best sparkling wine in the UK and we currently have the Nyetimber Classic Cuv
Extreme kudos to Nyetimber – only one thing irks; why is the packaging (neck-foil etc.) so identikit Champagne? They are what they are and have proved their worth, so how about extending their originality?
Cheers
I was introduced to Nyetimber last summer and it was delicious and effortlessly giving good champagne houses a run for their money.
The challenge is going to be convincing consumers that it is worth paying a similar price per bottle as champagne, as the latter is a product that is ingrained into the British consumer as a luxury product and it will be hard to convince the average person to switch.