Wines of England

Or rather, In-ger–lund.
The English have always been fond of a tipple or two, and contrary to popular belief, wine was known in the UK before the arrival of the Romans, although consumption certainly increased afterwards. Beer was the daily drink of the Anglo-Saxons, but they needed wine for the Eucharist, so it was important for the country to produce its own supply. English viticulture was at its zenith in the 11th century through to the 14th, brought to a slow decline when the climate changed and our summers became colder and wetter, not helped by the Black Death which wiped out a third of the population. Today, although the word ‘thriving’ is pushing it a bit, the English winemaking industry is growing stronger, particularly in the south where vineyards are planted on southern slopes on the same sub-stratum (chalk) as that of Champagne in France. Look out for some fantastic méthode Champenoise wines coming from Surrey and Sussex.

Sussex

Home to a host of wineries and vineyards, much of the geology here is the same as in Champagne, so it most famed for the production of quality sparkling wine. For some of the best wines in the UK, do not miss the competition-winning wines from Nyetimber.