English wine, sparkling that is in particular, is very trendy and has benefitted from growing buzz over the past few years. It is often said to approach the quality of France’s best Champagne wines!
In this Era of global warming, England benefits from its famously-cool climate, and more importantly, from the limestone chalk soils found in certain areas.
The three major regions to know as far as English wine is concerned, are Sussex, Kent, and Surrey. The grape varieties used to make the finest bubblies here are the same as in French Champagne: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Although, the 100% Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs seem to make quite a few of the most thought-after ones, generally speaking, if you consider the list below.
Personally, I have never tried any English wine, and that needs to change very soon!
So, where should I start if I want to taste some of the best English wines out there, the best British bubblies?
Perhaps considering some of the most expensive ones below, the ones the market has decided are the most praised and valuable?
Let’s have a closer look at the Top 25 Most Expensive English Wines…
If you think I should start by trying any other sparkling wine, let me know in the comments. Enjoy ?
See the Top 10 Most-Expensive English Wines in Video and find full list below:
1 – Nyetimber Tillington Single Vineyard Sparkling, Sussex
Average Price: $94 – £72
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir – Chardonnay
What is it about? Tillington is the first Single Vineyard sparkling wine produced in England. Made from a blend of 78% Pinot Noir and 22% Chardonnay, the 2010 Tillington was produced in limited quantities: 4,117 bottles only. The story of the wine is recent: it began in 2009 when Nyetimber’s head winemaker (Cherie Spriggs) noticed a promising parcel of Pinot Noir at the Tillington site, in West Sussex, and decided to blend it with Chardonnay grapes, also originating from the Tillington site to make the first Tillington Single Vineyard Sparkling wine.
Winery Website: nyetimber.com
See It in Video:
Nyetimber Tillington Single Vineyard 2010 from Nyetimber on Vimeo.
2 – Chapel Down Kit’s Coty ‘Coeur de Cuvée’, Kent
Average Price: $94 – £72
Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
What is it about? Produced from only the very best blocks of Chardonnay within the Kit’s Coty estate. The Coeur de Cuvée is made from the ‘heart of the first pressing’, the finest quality portion of juice extracted exclusively from the first press cycle. The wine’s character comes from the combination of the chalk soils and the specific pressing technique which carries some well-integrated oak.
Winery Website: chapeldown.com
3 – Hattingley Valley Kings Cuvée Sparkling, Hampshire
Average Price: $89 – £68
Grape Variety: Chardonnay – Pinot Noir
What is it about? A very limited release, the Kings Cuvée is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Hattingley Valley home vineyards. 100% barrel fermented and aged for 8 months in 4-5 year old oak barrels.
Winery Website: hattingleyvalley.co.uk
See It in Video:
4 – Digby Fine English Vintage Reserve Brut
Average Price: $63 – £48
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir – Chardonnay – Pinot Meunier
What is it about? Digby Fine English’s flagship sparkling wine. Current vintages: 2010 for 75cl, 2009 for Magnum. 40% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Meunier. 12g/l Residual Sugar, 12% ABV.
Winery Website: digby-fine-english.com
See It in Video:
5 – Coates & Seely ‘La Perfide’ Blanc de Blancs Brut
Average Price: $63 – £48
Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
What is it about? Time on Lees : 5 1/2 years. Time on Cork : 18 months. This was one of the first wines ever made by Coates & Seely, in 2009. Most of the Chardonnay that year was used for a Non Vintage Blanc de Blancs that went on to win Gold Medals and Trophies, but a small amount of this wine was laid aside and kept on lees for over five years and was finally disgorged in late 2015. It was then held on cork for a further 18 months. It is therefore the ‘elder sister’ of the original Non Vintage Blanc de Blancs and has already gone on to win the 2017 IWC trophy for the Best English Blanc de Blancs, as well as three Trophies at the 2017 English Wine Awards, including the Supreme Champion, the Best English Sparkling Wine and the Best English Blanc de Blancs.
Winery Website: coatesandseely.com
6 – Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs Sparkling, Sussex
Average Price: $52 – £40
Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
What is it about? Vintage English sparkling wine made exclussively with Chardonnay white grapes. Grapes are gently pressed with Coquard Presses imported from Epernay in Champagne. The second fermentation takes place in bottle (traditionnal method) before a 5-year aging on its lees. Follows riddling, disgorging and at least 6 months in bottle before release.
Winery Website: nyetimber.com
7 – Gusbourne Estate Blanc de Blancs
Average Price: $49 – £38
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
What is it about? Gusbourne’s flagship wine, the Blanc de Blancs is made using hand selected (predominantly Burgundian clone) Chardonnay. The wine is aged for a minimum of thirty six months on lees and three months on cork before we deem it ready for release.
Winery Website: gusbourne.com
See It in Video:
8 – Digby Fine English Non Vintage Brut
Average Price: $49 – £38
Grape Variety: Chardonnay – Pinot Noir – Pinot Meunier
What is it about? “For this blend I start by tasting my way through all of our Pinot Noir base wines. The Pinot Noir at the core of the Non-Vintage blend is bold and brassy, quite a character and was expressive even as the juice was running off the press. This is complimented by aged Chardonnay reserve wines which have spent an additional 1.5 years on the lees, which helps to retain the vitality at the heart of Digby’s house style while bringing a mellow richness to the blend. The addition of Pinot Meunier helps to keep the whole affair light and on its toes.” – Trevor Clough, CEO and Head Blender
Winery Website: digby-fine-english.com
9 – Nyetimber Sparkling Rosé, West Sussex
Average Price: $48 – £37
Grape Variety: Chardonnay – Pinot Noir – Pinot Meunier
What is it about? 49% Chardonnay, 49% Pinot Noir, 2% Pinot Meunier. Nyetimber vineyards are all located in the middle of the South Downs which provide shelter from the coastal winds. Rosé made using the traditional method, aged for at least three years on the lees.
Winery Website: nyetimber.com
10 – Ridgeview Vintage Blanc de Blancs
Average Price: $47 – £36
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
What is it about? Ridgeview’s flagship wine, the Blanc de Blancs is the only single estate wine solely from Ridgeview’s home Chardonnay vineyard.
Winery Website: ridgeview.co.uk
See It in Video:
11 – Hambledon Vineyard Premiere Cuvée, Hampshire
Average Price: $47 – £36
Grape Variety: Chardonnay – Pinot Meunier – Pinot Noir
What is it about? The blend of Chardonnay (58%), Pinot Meunier (18%) & Pinot Noir (24%) was carefully developed under the guidance of our leading Champenois chef de caves, Hervé Jestin.
Winery Website: hambledonvineyard.co.uk
12 – Bolney Estate Blanc de Blancs Brut, Sussex
Average Price: $45 – £35
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
What is it about? Vintage, traditional method, 100% Chardonnay. Longest established English vineyards, Bolney Estate has been making award-winning English wines for over 35 years
Winery Website: bolneywineestate.com
13 – Hattingley Valley Sparkling Rosé, Hampshire
Average Price: $45 – £35
Winery Website: hattingleyvalley.co.uk
14 – Digby Fine English Vintage Rosé Brut
Average Price: $45 – £35
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir – Chardonnay
What is it about? This Vintage sparkling rose wine is made from grapes grown in vineyards in South East England. The 2009 Vintage is a blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay.
Winery Website: digby-fine-english.com
15 – Hoffmann & Rathbone Classic Cuvée Brut, Sussex
Average Price: $45 – £35
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir – Chardonnay – Pinot Meunier
What is it about? This Hoffmann & Rathbone’s Cuvée is an assemblage of two different vineyards and four different blending components of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier.
Winery Website: hoffmannandrathbone.co.uk
16 – Hattingley Valley Blanc de Blancs Sparkling, Hampshire
Average Price: $44 – £34
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
What is it about? This English sparkling wine is made from Hattingley Valley’s very best parcels of Chardonnay.
Winery Website: hattingleyvalley.co.uk
17 – Hush Heath Estate Balfour 1503 Sparkling Pinot Noir Rosé, Kent
Average Price: $44 – £34
What is it about? 1503 refers to the year Hush Heath Manor was built. This Traditional Method English sparkling is produced entirely from Pinot Noir grapes, fermented in cool, stainless steel tanks. Secondary fermentation in bottle is followed by a minimum of twelve months lees ageing.
Winery Website: hattingleyvalley.co.uk
See It in Video:
18 – Exton Park Vineyard Vintage Blanc de Blancs, Hampshire
Average Price: $44 – £34
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
What is it about? This vintage wine is produced from 100% Chardonnay grapes, grown on a pure chalk terroir. 2011 was the first vintage to be released, in 2015.
Winery Website: extonparkvineyard.com
19 – Hoffmann & Rathbone Blanc de Blancs Brut, Sussex
Average Price: $44 – £34
Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
What is it about? This Blanc de Blancs is crafted from the winery’s best Chardonnay base wines with a lot of emphasis being put on a long ageing in the cellar.
Winery Website: hoffmannandrathbone.co.uk
20 – Chapel Down Vintage Reserve English Rosé Sparkling, Kent
Average Price: $44 – £34
Grape Variety: Unknown
What is it about? This wine is produced from hand-harvested fruit which undergoes cool fermentation followed by full malolactic fermentation. The wine is then left to mature on its fine lees in tank for six months. Once bottled, the wine is further aged on its lees for 9 to 24 months.
Winery Website: chapeldown.com
21 – Denbies Vineyard Noble Harvest
Average Price: $44 – £34 per 750ml (only available in 375ml bottles)
Grape Variety: 100% Ortega
What is it about? This wine is a sweet dessert wine made from botrytized Ortega grapes. Once harvested, usually in early October, the grapes are first de-stemmed and crushed. The fruit is then left to macerate for 12 hours before pressing. Fermentation is conducted partly in oak and partly in stainless steel.
Winery Website: denbies.co.uk
22 – Sussex Vineyards Mayfield Expression Brut Rosé, Sussex
Average Price: $44 – £34
Grape Variety: Unknown
What is it about? Mayfield Expression Brut Rosé was produced from the first time in 2009 using extended maceration on the skins and a long cool fermentation. The bottles spend 24 months on the lees before being disgorged. After dosage at 10g/L, the wine was kept cellared for 4 months prior to release to allow the wine time to integrate and develop.
Winery Website: sussexvineyards.com
23 – Chapel Down Three Graces Sparkling, Kent
Average Price: $43 – £33
Grape Variety: Chardonnay – Pinot Noir – Pinot Meunier
What is it about? As its name suggests, this wine is a blend of three of the grape varieties typically used to produce sparkling wine: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. It results from cool fermentation in stainless steel, followed by full malolactic fermentation. A portion of this wine is from reserve stocks having been stored in barrel and tank. The wine is aged on lees for at least 3 years.
Winery Website: chapeldown.com
24 – Wiston Estate Blanc de Blancs
Average Price: $43 – £33
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
What is it about? The wine is a blend of the Chardonnay wine vinified in 2014 with older reserves wines from 2013 and 2009 vintages.
Winery Website: wistonestate.com
25 – Hart of Gold English Sparkling Wine, Sussex
Average Price: $43 – £33
Grape Variety: Chardonnay – Pinot Noir – Pinot Meunier
What is it about? Hart of Gold is the brainchild of Justin Howard-Sneyd MW, formerly of Chapel Down. It is made from grapes grown in Ross-on-Wye and aged at Ridgeview. The name draws on folk legends of an elusive and mysterious white stag with golden horns – The Hart. This legend fascinated Richard II, who made the Hart his personal symbol.
Also Read the Top 50 Most Expensive Wines in the World
Or the Top 25 Most-Expensive Australian Wines:
27 – Charles Palmer Pinot Noir – Chardonnay Brut, Sussex
Average Price: $43 – £33
Winery Website: charlespalmer-vineyards.co.uk
28 – Astley Vineyard Late Harvest, Worcestershire
Average Price: $43 – £33
Winery Website: astleyvineyard.co.uk
29 – Bride Valley ‘Rose Bella’ Sparkling Rosé, Dorset
Average Price: $43 – £33
Winery Website: bridevalleyvineyard.com
32 – Wiston Estate ‘Sugrue Pierre’ Cuvée Brut
Average Price: $41 – £32
Winery Website: wistonestate.com
34 – Camel Valley Pinot Noir Brut, Cornwall
Average Price: $41 – £32
Winery Website: camelvalley.com
Related Article:
35 – Ridgeview Knightsbridge Blanc de Noirs Brut
Average Price: $41 – £32
Winery Website: ridgeview.co.uk
36 – Nyetimber Classic Cuvée Sparkling, Sussex
Average Price: $40 – £31
Winery Website: nyetimber.com
39 – Bride Valley Blanc de Blancs, Dorset
Average Price: $40 – £31
Winery Website: bridevalleyvineyard.com
41 – Chapel Down Kit’s Coty Estate Chardonnay, Kent
Average Price: $39 – £30
Winery Website: chapeldown.com
42 – Ridgeview Grosvenor Blanc de Blancs Brut
Average Price: $39 – £30
Winery Website: ridgeview.co.uk
44 – Hush Heath Estate Balfour Brut Rosé, Kent
Average Price: $39 – £30
Winery Website: hushheath.com
46 – Ridgeview South Ridge Blanc de Blancs Brut, Sussex
Average Price: $39 – £30
Winery Website: ridgeview.co.uk
48 – Giffords Hall Vineyard Sparkling Brut, Suffolk
Average Price: $37 – £29
Winery Website: giffordshall.co.uk
49 – Hambledon Vineyard Classic Cuvée Rosé, Hampshire
Average Price: $37 – £29
Grape Variety: Chardonnay – Pinot Noir
What is it about? Chardonnay (90%) and Pinot Noir (10%) was developed under the guidance of the Champenois chef de caves, Hervé Jestin.
Winery Website: hambledonvineyard.co.uk
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This list of the Top 50 most expensive English wines was retrieved from the biggest wine price database in the world at Wine-Searcher.com as per October 2017. Prices are is USD and GBP, ex-tax worldwide averages for 750ml bottles.
Sources and References
Pricing Data from wine-searcher.com
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