Why not Try Some English Wines

Many people who love wine are typically surprised when one starts to talk about English wines as being not just drinkable, but actually some of the better wines available.  After all, good winemaking relies heavily on a particular climate so as to grow the best grapes possible, and England is not usually known for its desirable climate.  Grapes typically grow better in warm and dry climates, and England is usually known for having chilly and damp summers that scare off both the tourists and the good crops.  However, in the past few years especially have vineyard owners come to realize how to get around poor climate and how to prepare their product, so that now English wines can be competitive with some of the finer wines of the world.

One of the key factors when considering wines from England is just what types of grapes that English vineyards are likely to have more success with.  Many of the common French grapes that are used for wines are off limits to those in England.  This means that rarely will you see an English version of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.  Instead, wines from England are more likely to include Huxulrebe, Phoenix, Bacchus, and Seyval Blanc.

An interesting twist in the business of English wines is the issue of global warming.  Many wine growers are agreeing that as average temperatures creep up, even by just a degree or two, this becomes much better for their business.  Warmer temperatures also typically mean less humidity which is also good for grape growing.  It is of course a very controversial subject, as few would think that global warming is good for everyone overall, but it is something that you'll often hear talk about when it comes to the manufacture and production of wines.  Many vineyard owners in England have found their crops do a bit better in the past few years than they have done previously, simply because of this slight shift in temperature.

Some of the best brands of wines from England are Nyetimber and Ridgeview, which produce a sparkling wine that are often considered world-class and competitive with some of the best in the industry.  Sparkling wines seem to do well in the climates of England, as their damp climate produces a much more tart and overripe grape that is well suited for this type of wine.  For other types of English wines, try Denbies, which has a visitor's center near Dorking in the North Downs, and has a wide variety of wines that are considered to be very flavorful and well worth the trip.