With over 5 million bottles of English wine being produced, spread over 5,000 acres of English country side, the future of English wine looks sparkling. In 2016, Sussex wine producers, Ridgeview, had their biggest sales year ever; “In 2016 export was up 100%, adding Canada and the Caribbean to our portfolio, so we are now shipping our wine to 13 countries around the globe”. As a testament to the desirability of our region, Champagne houses such as Tattinger and Pommery have invested in production of English sparkling wine. Restaurant Manager and Sommelier at Brighton Restaurant, Alex Preston, says; “Being based in Brighton, we’re lucky enough to have the two of the most well know producers in England, Ridgeview and Nyetimber vineyards on our doorstep. More and more of our customers are showing and interest in and love for local sparkling wines, which is great to see. I wouldn’t be surprised if we start to hear people asking for a glass of ‘Sussex’ instead of ‘champagne’ in a few years’ time.”
So, what is it about English wine that has led to this growth and how is 2017 looking? Isaac At believe that consumers have become more interested in learning about wines, especially when it comes to local produce. Alex added; “The barrier between sommelier and the consumer is dropping, as people are learning more about wines and they are more interested in exploring and learning about what they’re drinking and what else is on offer. We’ve seen a lot more customers dine with us that have been studying wines, even since our re-launch in September.”
Could this be the reason for the wine by the glass trend we are seeing? Isaac At offer a Sussex Wine Flight menu that pairs five English wines with their tasting menu, giving customers the opportunity to explore local wines and get to know more about the history and quality of wine they have in their region. Bearing this in mind, Forbes reported that 51% of millennial women said that they would prefer sustainably bottled, or organic wines, showing the increasing importance of being able to offer English wines that are thoughtfully produced too. Couple that with being local to the area of production and there isn’t more they could know about the wine they are drinking.
With a report out in December on the changing British climate leading to Britain becoming a major wine producer and exporter by 2100, there’s a clear opportunity for the English wine industry to continue to grow. Professor Maslin believes it is time to start thinking “long-term about British wine production and redraw the future wine map of the world.” The only restaurant to offer an all English wine list in Brighton, Isaac At can clearly see this is the future. To help educate their customers further, next year Isaac At will be introducing new wine menus that will share a map of where each English wine is from, to help showcase local wines.
Ridgeview commented, “In 2017 we will expect a growth in sales of English sparkling wine across all areas including restaurants, independent resellers, supermarket, export, direct from the winery’s and most importantly tourism. At Ridgeview we are now welcoming tourists from around the world and our proximity to Brighton, London and Gatwick positions us in an ideal location. In restaurants across the UK consumers will now expect to see an English sparkling wine on any credible wine list and Isaac At are way ahead of the game with an exclusive English wine list.”