Wine World
Brit bubbly
About 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) of southern England and Wales' best-exposed land (sheltered, south-facing slopes) are planted with vines and enjoy the moderating influence of the Gulf Stream.
The Gusbourne winery in Kent. Such has been their success in producing bottle fermented sparkling wines, that their classic production method has attracted international praise.
Mairead Robinson enjoys sparkling wine from The Garden of England When it comes to sparkling wine, no other European country can rival Champagne’s depth, intensity and finesse, although Prosecco has certainly made a big impression in this country. Personally I generally prefer a good Cava to Prosecco, although if the Prosecco is dry enough, I will be tempted. The Aussies have done quite well too, with Jacob’s Creek in particular being a respectable enough bottle of bubbles. But who would have thought that the south-east of England would have been growing the classic Champagne varieties Meunier, Chardonnay, and the notoriously contrary Pinot Noir grapes for some years now, and the resulting wines have begun to attract the attention of their French neighbours from across the water? English wine is growing in popularity and is increasingly recognised as a premium wine-producing region, with more than 450 wineries and around 3.15 million bottles produced per year. Indeed, 2018 saw a bumper harvest with yields doubled in some places. Whilst vineyards are found across the whole of England, the climate of the South and South East makes it a particularly popular region for growing vines, Senior Times l May - June 2020 l www.seniortimes.ie 82
