English Wine Week (June 21–29, 2025) is upon us and what better time to raise a glass to the remarkable progress of homegrown wine? Especially when Mother Nature has been in such a generous mood this year. The spring frosts that usually keep vineyard owners up at night were notably absent and flowering conditions have been near perfect. All signs are pointing to a potentially legendary English vintage—think 2018 or even 1976 (for those of us who remember it… though back then the phrase good English wine was something of a contradiction in terms).
Spot the clusters forming as I look through the canopy to the clear blue skies above ma Jardin in mid-June
It’s early days, of course and I’m not wanting to count my chickens just yet… but it does have the feeling of being 3 up in a 5-match cricket series. Surely now is the time to head to the garden with a cucumber sandwich, pour a cup of Lady Grey—or better still, pop a bottle of English sparkling? So let me introduce you to four wineries that are doing things properly. I’ve visited them all, sipped their wines and have the photos to prove it.
All Angels Vineyard – Heavenly Sparkling from Berkshire
Just west of Newbury, nestled beside a 12th-century church, you’ll find All Angels Vineyard, a family-run estate with a name to match its serene surroundings. Mark Darley, the man behind the mission, somehow balances vineyard management with historical storytelling and the occasional entertaining anecdote.
I know, clouds, remember them? Taken during a visit last August, that’s why.
Grown on what used to be a polo field (very Berkshire), their Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Gris, and Rondo vines are pampered using sustainable practices. This spring, Mark had his high-tech frost protection system—targeted infrared, no less—primed and ready to protect the budding crop.
But it’s not just about gadgets. His wines are single-vintage and long lees-aged, developing almond croissant-esque complexity that’s frankly irresistible. Prices remain refreshingly down-to-earth for sparkling wine of this calibre and his eco-credentials include wildflower meadows and wetland ponds that would make any hedgehog weep with joy.
Black Chalk – Chalky Soil, Serious Sparkle in Hampshire
Black Chalk is my go-to Hampshire fizz. We’ve supported Jacob and Zoë from the early days and their wines continue to shine—clean, expressive and full of place. The Test Valley provides a picture-perfect setting and that vine-loving chalky soil. It’s the same bedrock that feeds the local streams, which have fly fishers queuing up to land trout, grayling and salmon from the clear, purified waters.
Jacob and Zoë, minus her trademark pink wellies – it was too hot for them the day of our visit
Their winemaking is all about minimal intervention, allowing the grapes and terroir to do the talking. Each vintage is sharper, more confident—it’s clear that Jacob and Zoe know exactly what they’re doing. These are wines to stockpile, share (reluctantly) and watch them gain cult status… I am sure they will become legendary.
Hundred Hills – High Tech Meets High Taste in Oxfordshire
Hundred Hills is located in the utterly Instagrammable Stonor Valley in the Chilterns and they are not messing around. Their adoption of technology would make NASA proud. Through the VineSignal project (a partnership with AI experts Deep Planet), they use satellite data to monitor soil health, nutrient levels and vine performance.
Have I lost you? Well, I lost me! But the upshot is this: they’re leveraging cutting-edge tools to boost sustainability and futureproof their vineyard in the face of climate change. Combine this with meticulous winemaking and you have one of the UK’s most forward-thinking producers.
I used regularly to cycle through Pishill (funny name hey - it is from the olde English for peas (pise) as they once grew there) and I saw them plant up the vineyards
Pattingham Vineyard – A Staffordshire Underdog with a Big Heart
Located in windswept South Staffordshire, Pattingham Vineyard is a family-run project born from ambition and curiosity. When Martin, Jane and their daughter Stevie bought a sheep field in 2018, they had zero wine experience—but buckets of enthusiasm and a very hands-on approach. Fast-forward to now and they’re producing deliciously different wines using early-ripening, disease-resistant grape varieties.
Martin and Jane being, told you so, hands-on.
Pinot Noir Précoce, Solaris and Seyval Blanc take the lead, with minimal intervention and maximum sustainability. The exposed, sandy, south-facing ridge gives the vines all the sunlight and airflow they could hope for. It’s a vineyard with real grit and soul.
English Wine: Better Than Ever and Only Getting Better
It’s official—English wine isn’t just “good for England” anymore. It’s just good, full stop. The combination of climate change (a silver lining?), savvy vineyard management and winemakers willing to experiment and adapt has turned this once niche curiosity into a serious wine category.
Whether it’s world-class sparkling, quirky still wines, or fascinating hybrids, England now offers something to surprise and delight every wine lover. And the best part? You don’t need to cross the Channel to taste it.
So, skip the supermarket Prosecco and toast our homegrown heroes instead. Cheers to small producers, big ideas and homegrown English vines.
