Picture this: you’re in the center of London in the hustle and bustle. You check out of your hotel, roll your suitcase to the tube station, brushing shoulders with countless people on the street before you head underground to catch your train. In a little over an hour, you emerge from the train station in a pastoral, rural setting with lambs and baby cows in every pasture! It is time to exhale and enjoy the calm, relaxed pace of English wine country.
Here is where in England you can taste wines
English wine country lies south of London in the Kent and Sussex areas, near Brighton. This area is known for the traditional method of sparkling wine, made in the same style as Champagne. In fact, 75% of all wine in this region is sparkling. If you find yourself scratching your head at the mention of English wine, you’re not alone. In decades prior, the quality of wine coming out of England was questionable. The region was too cold and wet to grow quality grapes for wine.
Climate change and increasing temperatures have, in fact, allowed for more quality grapes to be grown in English wine countries. Still, the region struggles with frost pressure with the weather being consistently inconsistent. If you need another reason to know that wine quality here is increasing, know that Champagne houses Pommery and Tattinger have both planted in the area.
In the Kent/Sussex areas, there are over 400 vineyards growing grapes for wine and 200 producers making wine.
Here we focus on three distinct English wine tasting experiences with one thing in common: tasty wines.
Ridgeview Wine Estate
Established in 1995 in rural Sussex on the edge of the beautiful South Downs, Ridgeview is a second-generation family business that makes exceptional quality sparkling wines. They were one of the first wineries in England to focus solely on the production of sparkling wines from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grape varieties traditionally used in Champagne. Ridgeview is a sizeable producer with 30,000+ cases produced annually, but only half belongs to their brand. The rest consists of wine made at their facility for other clients and for private label runs.
Their strong focus on sustainability is evident when you visit the property. They have a wildlife meadow (bees coming soon!), cover crop biodiversity, lightweight glass bottles, and ambient temperature controls in their new underground cellars. In fact, they dug their cellars much deeper than originally planned in order to ensure they could rely on colder ambient temps versus temperature control.
Ridgeview offers tasting experiences on the weekend. They have an exciting new hospitality experience and tasting room opening in July featuring various tasting options (including food/lunch options).
Ridgeview Wine Highlight
Ridgeview Cavendish NV (30 GBP)
Made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, this sparkler shines. The perfect balance of fruit forwardness and earthiness. Notes of red fruit and structure, come from the dominance of Pinot Noir. You can purchase wine here.
Stopham Vineyard
Stopham is our outlier in that they focus on still wine in an area known for sparkling. But these still wines do not disappoint! They produce one sparkling and three still in their lineup. With only 15 acres planted, Stopham is a small, boutique producer in the area, capping out at 5,000 cases annually.
As you approach Stopham, you might hear roosters in the distance and maybe even pass the cobblestone church next door with an ancient-looking graveyard out back. Millie, the neighbor’s spaniel may even greet you as well. You’ll know you arrive when you see the Victorian barn with a Stopham sign above the door. They conduct tastings informally on a drop-in basis. Or you can book a tour and taste on the weekends (mid-April through mid-September).
Stopham Wine Highlight
Stopham Bacchus 2020 (18 GBP)
For something different, try their Bacchus still white. Bacchus is similar to Sauvignon Blanc and is punchy like a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. This wine is pungent and distinctive with a nice floral note of rosewater. Perfect for a summer day BBQ. In fact, assistant winemaker, Tom, told me he enjoyed this wine recently with a watermelon feta salad. You can purchase wine here.
Gusbourne Estate
Gusbourne was founded in 2004 by a retired South African orthopedic surgeon, Andrew Weeber. This is a stunning property with top-notch hospitality for the region. Everything that Gusbourne produces is vintage, which is quite risky in an area with such marginal weather. They have over 222 acres planted to the vine (all the 3 Champagne grapes) across multiple estate vineyards. Their predominantly sandy soils give their wines a saline, savory edge.
The tasting experiences are extensive and perfect for those looking for the quintessential wine country experience. Their opening price point tour is the Vineyard Tour which is 2 hours and includes a vineyard walk and tasting. Then there’s the Vineyard Discovery Tour, which is 4 hours and includes a vineyard walk, winery tour, an extended tasting, and seasonal sharing platters. The Estate Tour includes welcome drinks, an extended tour of the estate and vineyards, an extended tasting, and a 3-course wine pairing lunch.
Gusbourne Wine Highlight
Gusbourne Brut Reserve 2017 (39 GBP)
The Brut Reserve is their best-selling wine, base-level priced sparkling wine. The golden color comes from 36 months of lees aging and some fermentation in old oak barrels. A bright, refreshing sparkling with yeastiness/toastiness hearkening to the quality of their winemaking process. You can purchase the wine here.
The Kent and Sussex wine region is the perfect weekend (or day trip) getaway from London. Excellent English fizz, a gorgeous green setting, and hospitality experiences (from humble to luxury) all await you. Bottom line: don’t miss a trip to English wine country.
About Author: Brianne Cohen is a Los Angeles-based certified sommelier, event producer, wine educator, writer, and judge.
