English wine is predominantly white because of our climate; most red wine grape varieties require warmer weather to adequately ripen. There are some red varieties grown in the UK, such as Dornfelder, that do ripen adequately in good vintages, but don't have the typical flavours that consumers associate with quality red wine. English whites, however, can be pleasantly aromatic and light, which does fit with our expectations of white wine flavours; that said, in poor vintages – the result of a drizzly, wet summer – the wines can be too light and watery. Sparkling wines, which UK growers are most successful at producing, need the high levels of acidity in the grapes you get from cool climate regions like the UK to maintain the required freshness in the wine after spending 2-6 years maturing in bottle.
Most sparkling wine is produced in Sussex because it has similar soil composition as the Champagne region - both have high levels of chalk in the soil.
When it comes to making the wine, UK producers stick to the traditional French method – if it ain't broke, as the saying goes – which means that some of the sparkling wines are often at the same level of quality as Champagne.
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meurnier grapes are all grown very successfully here. Again, these are the same varieties that are grown in the Champagne region. If you want to explore still whites, the best grapes for British soil are Bachhus, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris.
If you're looking for a failsafe choice, Nyetimber Classic Cuvée is the most consistent sparkling wine coming out of the UK. Stopham Estate Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris are my favourite English still wine producers; they've really started to stand out from other still wine producers in the UK.
When it comes to matching English wine to food, you should definitely experiment.The Sharpham Dart Valley Reserve, made predominantly from Madeleine Angevine with some proportion barrel aged to add body and complexity, works well with lighter Thai dishes. I've mentioned it above, but Nyetimber Classic Cuvée is a great match for British seafood, and I personally love to drink Stopham Estate Pinot Gris with seasonal green veg, such as asparagus and broad beans, that's so abundant at the moment.
If you are looking for the perfect match, though, it has to be English sparkling wine with just-picked strawberries. With plenty of cream, of course!
Find out more about Gavin and The Vintner's wines here, and English Wine Week here.