English Wine Guide

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UNUSUAL ENGLISH WINES YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF: UNCOVERING THE ENGLISH GEMS.

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While England is rapidly making a name for itself in the world of sparkling wines, it’s the unusual and lesser-known grapes that are quietly shaping its vinous landscape.

From ancient varieties given new life to innovative cultivars suited to the English climate, these unique grapes are creating intriguing and delightful wines.

Here’s a glimpse into some of the unusual English wines – the fascinating grapes and the distinctive wines they produce.

1. Bacchus – The Fragrant Star

Often hailed as England’s answer to Sauvignon Blanc, Bacchus is a grape that perfectly suits the English climate. It produces highly aromatic wines that brim with flavours of elderflower, green herbs, and crisp citrus.

It’s the flagship grape for English still white wines, reflecting the country’s terroir with its fresh acidity and vibrant aromatics.

Bacchus is the “Roman God of Wine”. Quite fitting for a grape that seems to be winning award after award for English wine. In 2023 alone, English Bacchus won 8 Decanter awards!

Three English Bacchus wines to try this summer:

1. Camel Valley – 2022 Bacchus Dry – Silver Decanter award winner, which retails for £18 (Vineyard in Cornwall)
2. Chapel Down – 2019 Bacchus – a reasonably priced drop at £12 (Vineyard in Kent)
3. Owens Farm – Bacchus – winner of multiple awards (Vineyard in Lincolnshire)

2. Seyval Blanc – The Versatile Hybrid

Seyval Blanc, a hybrid grape variety, has found a comfortable home in the cooler English vineyards. It’s adaptable and capable of producing both still and sparkling wines that are typically marked by a bright acidity and clean, citrus-forward flavors.

It’s a key component in many English blends and brings a zesty freshness to the wines it produces.

Three English Seyval Blanc wines to try this summer:

1. Lost in a Field – Frolic Pet Nat 2022 – £29.99
2. Denbies – Flint Valley £11.99
3. Three Choirs – Estate Reserve Rosé 2022 £12.49

3. Ortega – The Peachy White

This German-origin grape thrives in English soil, particularly known for its ability to ripen well in cooler climates.

Ortega produces wines that are rich in peach and honey flavors, offering a balance of sweetness and acidity which makes it excellent for off-dry wines. It’s a varietal that beautifully expresses its terroir with a floral and fruity complexity.

One of the most well known vinyeards for growing Ortega is Biddenden vineyard in Kent. This was the first Vineyard in England to plant the grape, way back in 1960! Today, they produce one of the only pure Ortega wines.

Here are three English Ortega wines to try this summer:

1. Biddenden Vineyard – Ortega 2022 – Decanter Bronze Award winner 2022 and Wine GB award winner – retails at £14.90
2. Davenport Vineyards – Horsmonden Dry White 2022 – £17.49
3. Woodchester Valley – Culver Hill 2021 – £17.49

4. Dornfelder – The Bold Red

While England is not widely known for red wines, Dornfelder shows promise with its deep color and robust body.

It produces red wines that are approachable and fruit-forward, featuring notes of dark cherries and blackberries. It’s a grape that adds much-needed versatility to England’s predominantly white and sparkling wine portfolio. In England, Dornfelder is often used in Rose too.

Here are two examples of English Dornfelder to try:

1 . Chilford Hall -Blush Rosé 2018 £14.49

2. Winbirri Vineyard – Signature Red 2019 – £18.99

5. Madeleine Angevine – The Aromatic Delight

A lesser-known varietal that excels in England’s cool climate, Madeleine Angevine is a grape of French origin that produces aromatic white wines with a delicate floral character.

It typically exhibits flavors of apples and herbs, making it a delightful accompaniment to seafood and lighter dishes.

Here are three examples of English Madeline Angevine to try:

1. Knightor Winery – Madeleine Angevine 2021 £17.99
2. Renedgade London Wine – Renegade Urban Winery Maria Madeleine Angevine 2022 – £25.49
3. Giffords Hall – Madeleine Angevine 2022 – £17.99

6. Albariño – The Spanish Transplant

Remarkably, Albariño, typically associated with Spain’s Rías Baixas region, is being cultivated in England with exciting results.

In the English soil, it retains its characteristic high acidity and stone fruit flavors but often develops additional floral notes that make it quite unique from its Spanish counterparts.

Here are two examples of English Albariño to try:

1. Balfour Winery – Albarino 2022 (members only) £25.00
2. Chapel Down – Albarino 2014

7. Rondo – The Dark Horse

Rondo is used to craft both rosé and full-bodied red wines in England. This variety is valued for its early ripening and suitability for cooler climates, producing wines with a vibrant color and a pleasing balance of acidity and tannins, featuring flavors of dark fruits and a hint of spice.

Here are three examples of English Rondo to try:

1. Radlow Hundred – Rondo 2021 – £9.99
2. White Castle Vineyard – Harry’s Vineyard 2022 – £29.99
3. Knigtor Winery – Seaton Vineyard Sparkling Red 2018 – £31.99

8. Solaris – The Modern Innovator

Bred for northern European climates, Solaris is resistant to many common grape diseases and is used to produce both still and sparkling wines. It’s known for its robust character and the ability to produce wines with tropical fruit flavors, a rarity in such a cool climate.

Here are three examples of English Solaris to try:

1. Chet Valley – Siskin 2022 – £19.99
2. Radlow Hundred – Solaris 2022 – £16.99
3. Burn Valley Vineyard – Reserve Solaris 2022 – £26.49

9. Schönburger – The Gentle White

This grape offers wines with a subtle and soft profile, often with hints of muscat and a range of delicate fruit flavors. It’s not widely grown but is cherished for its low acidity and gentle floral notes that make it a pleasant, easy-drinking wine.

Here are two examples of English Schönburger to try:

1. Childford Hall – Blush Rose 2018 – £14.49
2. Lark & Folly – Lark & Folly Kent Sparkling Schonburger 2010 – £29.99

Where to next?

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