TASTING NOTES
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UNITED KINGDOM
The English are the sixth largest consumers of wine worldwide, but the climate is marginal for viticulture - it’s often too cold to allow grapes to ripen sufficiently. Since 2005, slightly warmer summers have encouraged the growth of English wine vineyards on the South coast of Britain. Since there’s been little time to lay bottles down, and only early-ripening grapes stand much of a chance even now, the English wine scene is dominated by young wines made from Reichensteiner, Müller-Thurgau, and the aromatic Bacchus grape.
But the biggest success story in English wine is sparkling: award winning English sparkling wines have performed well in international competitions, sometimes beating French wines. The secret? The southern counties of England have the same soil type as the Champagne region itself, and the cool air is just right for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier grapes.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOU
Cumières Rouge Traditionnel, Champagne Geoffroy
Bottle 75cl £30.18
TASTING NOTES
Vibrant yet understated, this fizz is in its element at home on a Tuesday evening or at a party celebrating one of life’s big moments. An engaging expression of Digby’s vivacious house style, it stems from England’s most lush Pinot Noir with rich, aged Chardonnay and plummy Pinot Meunier.Armit Wines
moreNon Vintage Brut, Digby Fine English
Bottle 75cl £31.10
TASTING NOTES
Zesty, fragrant and fresh. This delicious English Sparkler has plenty of panache and all the complexity of its famous French counterparts. Apple and crunchy orchard fruits come to the fore on a wave of fine bubbles, brimming with vibrancy and depth. Whether as an aperitif or paired with food this is utterly charming.Armit Wines
more2010 Vintage Reserve Brut, Digby Fine English
Bottle 75cl £40.10
Leander Pink Non Vintage Brut, Digby Fine English
Bottle 75cl £33.10
2014 Vintage Rose Brut, Digby Fine English
Bottle 75cl £48.12
TASTING NOTES
With a remarkable generosity of spirit, this 2009 Vintage Rosé draws from the best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from our partner vineyards in South East England. The essence of English summer luxury: fresh roses and strawberries match with a deeper smokey richness over seven years of ageing before release in Magnum help make this gentlemanly food-friendly fizz that can be...
more2014 Vintage Rose Brut, Gift Box, Digby Fine English
Bottle 75cl £48.12
TASTING NOTES
Zesty, fragrant and fresh. This delicious English Sparkler has plenty of panache and all the complexity of its famous French counterparts. Apple and crunchy orchard fruits come to the fore on a wave of fine bubbles, brimming with vibrancy and depth. Whether as an aperitif or paired with food this is utterly charming.Armit Wines
more2010 Vintage Reserve Brut, Gift Box, Digby Fine English
Bottle 75cl £40.10
TASTING NOTES
An intriguing character, elegant with a certain raciness, this award-winning vintage is our blend of hand-harvested English Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes ripened in 2009’s gloriously sunny September. Refined bubbles deliver a crisp, refreshing apple and peach character, with a creamy biscuit finish. An inspired dining partner with smoked salmon or the most delectable oddities from your local...
more2009 Vintage Reserve Brut, Digby Fine English
Magnum 150cl £100.20
Burgundy En Primeur Tasting, tickets
Bottle 0cl £50.00
Magnum 150cl £100.20
2009 Vintage Reserve Brut, Gift Box, Digby Fine English
Magnum 150cl £100.20
Bottle 75cl £31.10
Case of 6 £186.54
TASTING NOTES
Vibrant yet understated, this fizz is in its element at home on a Tuesday evening or at a party celebrating one of life’s big moments. An engaging expression of Digby’s vivacious house style, it stems from England’s most lush Pinot Noir with rich, aged Chardonnay and plummy Pinot Meunier.Armit Wines
moreNon Vintage Brut, Digby Fine English
Bottle 75cl £31.10
Bottle 75cl £33.10
Case of 6 £198.54
Leander Pink Non Vintage Brut, Digby Fine English
Bottle 75cl £33.10
Bottle 75cl £40.10
Case of 6 £240.54
TASTING NOTES
Zesty, fragrant and fresh. This delicious English Sparkler has plenty of panache and all the complexity of its famous French counterparts. Apple and crunchy orchard fruits come to the fore on a wave of fine bubbles, brimming with vibrancy and depth. Whether as an aperitif or paired with food this is utterly charming.Armit Wines
more2010 Vintage Reserve Brut, Digby Fine English
Bottle 75cl £40.10
Bottle 75cl £40.10
Case of 6 £240.56
TASTING NOTES
Zesty, fragrant and fresh. This delicious English Sparkler has plenty of panache and all the complexity of its famous French counterparts. Apple and crunchy orchard fruits come to the fore on a wave of fine bubbles, brimming with vibrancy and depth. Whether as an aperitif or paired with food this is utterly charming.Armit Wines
more2010 Vintage Reserve Brut, Gift Box, Digby Fine English
Bottle 75cl £40.10
Bottle 75cl £48.12
Case of 6 £288.60
TASTING NOTES
With a remarkable generosity of spirit, this 2009 Vintage Rosé draws from the best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from our partner vineyards in South East England. The essence of English summer luxury: fresh roses and strawberries match with a deeper smokey richness over seven years of ageing before release in Magnum help make this gentlemanly food-friendly fizz that can be...
more2014 Vintage Rose Brut, Gift Box, Digby Fine English
Bottle 75cl £48.12
Bottle 75cl £48.12
Case of 6 £288.60
2014 Vintage Rose Brut, Digby Fine English
Bottle 75cl £48.12
Magnum 150cl £100.20
Case of 3 £300.60
TASTING NOTES
An intriguing character, elegant with a certain raciness, this award-winning vintage is our blend of hand-harvested English Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes ripened in 2009’s gloriously sunny September. Refined bubbles deliver a crisp, refreshing apple and peach character, with a creamy biscuit finish. An inspired dining partner with smoked salmon or the most delectable oddities from your local...
more2009 Vintage Reserve Brut, Digby Fine English
Magnum 150cl £100.20
Magnum 150cl £110.20
Case of 3 £330.58
TASTING NOTES
With a remarkable generosity of spirit, this 2009 Vintage Rosé draws from the best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes from Southern England, yielding a refined yet exuberant wine. Delicate bubbles carry the essence of an English summer: fresh roses, strawberries and impromptu picnics. Extra time on yeast lees gives delicious toasty characters, so Digby’s Rosé is ideal for pre-dinner drinks...
more2009 Vintage Rose Brut, Gift Box, Digby Fine English
Magnum 150cl £110.20
English Wine
From zesty, aromatic sparkling wines to full bodied English red wines, Armit Wines has a diverse selection of different English wines. Discover our full collection of English wines today.English Wine Regions
The vast majority of British wines are made from grapes grown on the south coast of England: the counties of Cornwall, Dorset, Surrey, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, and East Anglia.In Sussex and in neighbouring Hampshire, Kent and Surrey, limestone soils much like those in the Champagne region predominate. This region produces fantastic bottle-conditioned English sparkling wines based on the classic Champagne grapes, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. You’ll also find aromatic English white wines based on the Bacchus grape, a Silvaner-Reisling and Müller-Thurgau hybrid.
Wines from these regions are characterised by zesty, fruity noses including pear and elderberry, with a strong mineral background.
Elsewhere in southern England, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the main grapes grown, with changes in flavour and nose reflecting the terroir. There are Reichensteiner, Schonburger and Huxelrebe, Rondo and in Cornish vineyards, even Seyval Blanc. English Rose wines are gaining a reputation as roses become more popular too.
English Wine Producers
Homegrown houses include Kent’s Gusbourne Estate, Hampshire’s Wickham Vineyards and Hampshire’s Digby vineyard.For a delicately-flavoured English white wine, consider a 2013 Special Release Fumé from Hampshire’s Wickham vineyard. A dry white with rounded fruit and vanilla flavours enhanced by subtle oak notes on the finish, it’s an ideal pairing for fish, pasta and seafood.
For an English red wine,look no further than the Gusbourne Estate’s 2011 Pinot Noir. Gusbourne grew its reputation on the quality of its sparkling wines, but decided in 2007 to put aside some Pinot Noir to create a true, full-bodied English red. Garden fruit flavours are backed by a crunchy acidity and delicate oak notes, creating a bottle at least the equal of many Burgundy-grown Pinot Noirs.
Finally, discover an excellent sparkling wine from Hampshire. Digby’s 2010 Vintage Reserve Brut is English sparkling wine at its most enjoyable and approachable: tasty and fresh, fragrant and vibrant, with crunchy orchard fruits. If you’re planning an occasion, this is the perfect accompaniment.
Explore our full selection of English wines to find the next additions to your collection.