English sparkling wine hits the world stage
By 2011-4-18 13:27:18
It’s long been derided, but English sparkling wine now rivals some of the best and the most expensive Champagnes. Once thought too cold to grow ‘international’ grape varieties like Chardonnay, global warming has given southern England the same climate Champagne had in the 1950s and 1960s, and thanks to similar soil types, English producers like Ridgeview are now able to produce the all three Champagne grapes, namely Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Take Ridgeview’s Grosvenor Blanc de Blancs 2006, which pushed aside the best Champagne had to offer to walk away with the prestigious International Trophy for Sparkling wine over £10 at the 2010 Decanter World Wine Awards. The sparkling wine is a Blanc de Blancs, or white from white, which signifies a wine made from white grapes only, in this case 100% Chardonnay. The Sussex outfit is not alone, however. In total English wine producers picked up 47 medals and trophies at the awards, across the rose, still and sparkling categories. With potential like this, it’s little surprise that a number of prestigious Champagne houses are rumored to be snapping up land in the south of England.
From www.Decanter.com