Benchmarked against the nation

standards in the uk continue to climb

While English and Welsh sparkling wines continue to set international benchmarks, one of the most striking themes emerging from this year’s judging was the diversity of styles now being produced across the UK.

Judges encountered examples of Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling, alongside Divico and Cabernet Jura – disease-resistant grape varieties that are increasingly attracting attention among growers and winemakers.

The breadth of styles on show reflects a maturing industry that is becoming more confident in exploring new varieties and expressions alongside its established strengths.

“If I was going to pick up on one thing that is really palpable and obvious from this year’s judging, it’s that the diversity of the wines on show is just growing exponentially. That’s really exciting because that talks to producers being ambitious. It talks to consumers, wine drinkers being prepared to find and buy and enjoy an increasing range of wines,” Co-chair Peter Richards MW observed. “I think that 10, 20 years ago, what people expected of English wine was one thing. It was one place. I think now it’s a whole panoply of possibilities.”

 “What’s always so exciting is how innovative the English wine scene can be because there are very few rules and regulations that you might have in traditional wine producing regions,” adds Co-Chair Susie Barrie MW. “This year we’ve tasted rosé made from Gamay, skin contact Bacchus, while in the past we’ve had sparkling reds made from all sorts of grape varieties and it’s those bits of innovation that people can bring into their winemaking that make the whole thing all the more interesting and exciting.”