When considering European wine-producing nations, many individuals will instinctively mention France, Italy, Spain, and perhaps Germany. Conversely, England often does not come to mind as a significant wine-producing country. However, this perception is rapidly evolving. While traditional winemakers continue to enjoy popularity, English vintners are making impressive strides. Sales of English wine are flourishing, with the financial firm UHY Hacker Young reporting a remarkable 15% increase in turnover for leading English wine producers over the past year. Furthermore, experts are taking note, as English wines have been consistently winning awards.
“To say English still and sparkling wines are winning awards is an understatement,” stated a spokesperson for The English Wine Collection. “They’re dominating the New World wine awards. One English sparkling wine (Hambledon Classic Cuvée NV) achieved world recognition, causing a media frenzy, when it scored more points in a blind tasting than those from Pol Roger, Veuve Clicquot, and Taittinger.”
So, what factors have contributed to the soaring popularity of English wines?
How has England become a winemaking success story?
The first reason is that English winemaking is not as new as many might assume. While both industry professionals and consumers have only recently discovered these wines, they have a rich history.
“English wines have been part of the beverage market for around 30 years, with vineyards like Chapel Down established in the 1970s and Gusbourne vineyard opening in 2004,” explained James Simmonds, partner at UHY Hacker Young, to FoodNavigator.
Although it may seem like overnight success, the reality is more nuanced. With proven success, English winemakers are now expanding their reach across the UK wine market.
“In recent years, UK winemakers have begun attracting significant international attention, particularly for their sparkling wine,” Simmonds noted. “This growth in popularity has prompted new areas of the UK, such as Wales, to increase vineyard plantings.”
While this news bodes well for the UK wine industry, it also highlights a concerning environmental issue: climate change.
“In the UK, rising temperatures are creating warmer conditions that enable grapes to fully mature, resulting in a higher quality harvest,” Simmonds added.
This climatic shift is likely to impact winemakers across Europe, presenting both opportunities and challenges. This raises the question: which other countries are poised to emerge as the winemakers of the future, and what does the future hold for the industry?
Which countries are set to emerge as the winemakers of the future?
Alongside the UK, several other nations are discovering they can now grow grapes and produce wines in areas once thought unsuitable.
“Most of the ‘new’ wine-producing regions are in the northern hemisphere, as we have greater latitude to expand into,” stated Dr. Alistair Nesbitt, CEO of winemaking consultancy Vinescapes, to FoodNavigator. “Significant expansion is occurring in parts of Canada, China, Belgium, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, and around the Finger Lakes in the USA.”
Winemakers in established markets are also adapting their growing practices to align with climate changes.
“We’re observing shifts to higher elevation viticulture in parts of Chile and Argentina, opening up and creating new regions,” Dr. Nesbitt remarked.
Moreover, the emergence of new grape varieties is creating fresh opportunities for winemakers.
“Climate change, particularly during the growing season, coupled with various new grape varieties, is transforming previously non-viticulture areas,” he added.
However, these trends are only part of the evolving winemaking landscape.
What are the new trends in winemaking?
Throughout the food and beverage industry, including winemaking, there is growing concern regarding the effects of climate change. Consequently, growers are focusing on sustainable practices.
“We’re observing a greater adoption of sustainability initiatives, including regenerative viticulture,” Dr. Nesbitt noted. “This positive trend is driven by market demands and producers’ desire to protect their land while crafting exceptional wines.”
Additionally, there is a movement towards genetically modified crops to mitigate losses due to disease.
“We’re witnessing new disease-resistant varieties gaining prominence in new plantings and wine styles,” Dr. Nesbitt added.
Innovations aren’t limited to grape varietals; winemakers are exploring other ingredients, including blueberries and even cocoa. Recently, beverage brand LŌV Ferments introduced its Cocoa Wine called ‘26’, made using cocoa mucilage, the pulp surrounding cocoa beans.
“Great wines depend not only on the grape but also on the process,” affirmed Nicolas Lavalliere, CEO and co-founder of LŌV Ferments, during the Desafía FoodTech event in London. “We believe that fermentation is what truly creates the beverage.”
Looking ahead, the wine industry is poised for significant transformation over the coming decades as climate change reshapes the growing landscape. Our upcoming article will explore the threats facing established winemaking regions and discuss further steps to safeguard the future of European vintners.
