English wine is warming to a style beyond bubbles

Stanlake Park Wine Estate

English bubbles are undoubtedly having a moment, making waves in the world of fine sparkling wine, with some wineries producing excellent traditional method sparkling wines that are often claimed to go toe-to-toe with Champagne.

In fact, the same chalky soils that fame Champagne also travel beneath the Channel to southern England. While some popular English wineries have their vineyards planted on chalk, like Wiston, for example, several of England’s big sparkling producers are growing their vines on varied soils such as limestone, green sandstone, green sand, and clay. These varied soils make an ideal foundation for pinot noir and chardonnay, combined making up 60 percent of the total plantings.

But does the English climate suit making still wine that’s just as well as their bubbles?

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