Hooray for chardonnay!

Chardonnay has become the quiet powerhouse of UK wine. Our 2025 Industry Report highlights that it is now the most planted grape variety in the country, forming the backbone of both traditional‑method sparkling wines and an increasingly growing still‑wine category.

Its success comes down to cool‑climate reliability and versatility. Chardonnay ripens consistently in the UK’s marginal climate, especially across Kent, Sussex, and Essex, where warmer, drier seasons and longer growing periods have pushed the variety into a new era of quality. Chardonnay is a very versatile grape, lending itself to a plethora of winemaking styles and approaches – remaining essential for sparkling blends, yet warmer vintages are also unlocking refined, mineral‑driven still Chardonnays.

Plantings are concentrated in the south east, where chalk, clay‑over‑limestone soils and sheltered aspects create ideal conditions. These landscapes are shaping a distinctive English Chardonnay style… fresh, precise, and increasingly recognised on the world stage.

We spoke to WineGB’s English Wine Ambassador Victoria Bubb (Director at Elizabeth Rose Wines) about her love of Chardonnay:

“Few grape varieties are as versatile as Chardonnay. It’s a true chameleon, crisp and mineral in one glass, rich and tropical in another, elegantly oaked, lightly smoky, or even transformed into some of the world’s finest sparkling wines. It’s a grape that never gets boring. Thanks to its ability to thrive in both cool and warmer climates, England is producing some exceptional examples of Chardonnay, each with its own distinct personality.”

Here are three of her favourites to explore:

Crisp & Fresh

Balfour Skye’s Chardonnay 2023

Made without oak, the purity and clarity of the fruit shines through. Think Chablis, but English.

Oaked & Textured (Richer in style, with subtle oak bringing depth and a creamy finish)

Simpsons “Roman Road” Chardonnay

An elegant, single vineyard, still Chardonnay from Kent. Created from specially selected fruit and partially aged in oak. 1276 Chardonnay 2024 A balanced and complex barrel-aged Chardonnay. Fermented and matured for 8 months in 3-year-old French oak barriques.

The Queen of Bubbles

Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs

Made from 100% Chardonnay, this is English sparkling at its finest, elegant, refined, and always a crowd pleaser.
Whether you prefer your Chardonnay fresh and vibrant or rich and indulgent, there’s a style waiting for you.