England and Wales Flashcards
When did modern winegrowing start in England and Wales?
after Second World War
How did modern wine growing start in England and Wales
mainly using German crosses or hybrids - traditional Champagne varieties were also planted in several estates in the late 1980s with a view to make traditional method sparkling wines
How much does Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier varietals account for in England and Wales
75% of all plantings and production in England and Wales
General SAT for white sparkling wines in England and Wales
high acidity
med alcohol
light to med body
flavors of apple and lemon along with autolytic notes
very good with some outstanding examples
premium to super premium prices
Besides white sparkling wines what other sparkling are made in England and Wales?
rose
Where are vineyards located in England and Wales?
northernly latitude - all located above 50 resulting in long daylight hours and a cool climate
How do long daylight hours and cool climates assist with making sparkling wines in England and Wales
suitable for growing grapes for traditional method sparkling wine
Where are 2/3 of all UK’s vineyard located?
South East of England
Where are vineyards that account for 85% of all production found in England and Wales?
southern England - although there are vineyards in Wales and other parts of the UK
What is the climate in Southern England?
cool maritime climate
average growing season temps of 14 C growing from 13C within the last century - still cool but less marginal
What do cool temps in England result in?
slow ripening, slow sugar accumulation, preservation of acidity and medium intensity fruit characters
What has occurred in recent years that has helped producers to ripen fruit in more years than previously
warming of the climate - raising quality
What has caused England difficulties over the more recent years
extreme weather events such as heavy rain, frost damage, earlier budding due to warmer springs
What type of varieties are being planted more in England instead of german and hybrid varietals? why?
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir due to warmer springs allowing for earlier budding varieties being able to be planted more
What is the biggest threat to yields in England?
prolonged rains and cool temps in June and July which can affect flowering and fruit set
What year was the wettest year in England where some estates did not pick any grapes?
2012
Besides June and July, when else can rain be a major threat for grapes in England?
during harvest in October
How can producers protect from rains in October in England
timely spraying for fungal disease and managing financial risks of fluctuation in yields and quality are highest priorities
What is important to consider when selecting sites to grow and ripen fruit in ENgland?
grape growing at northern latitudes and that south facing slopes are best for max sunlight exposure
site selection should concentrate on ones that maximize shelter from prevailing winds that are generally from southwest
good drainage is essential
altitude below 125 m above sea level
Describe soil types in England
vary across the country
Clay predominates Kent and parts of Sussex
Sussex and Hampshire have large amounts of chalk
What do clay soils provide to England wines?
slightly lower acidity
more pronounced fruit
high water holding capacity and fertility
What do chalk soils provide to England wines?
good drainage and lower fertility
tend to be on slopes at high elevations making more vulnerable to adverse weather
gives more finesse but higher acidity and leaner body
What density are new vineyards planted at in England?
med density - 4000-5000 vines per ha
Why are vineyards planted at med density in England?
to increase root competition and contain vigor of the canopy
What training system is preferred in England?
Guyot system with vertical shoot positioning (as is most cool climate northern Europe viticulture)
How do narrow rows with canes trained relatively close to the ground help vines in England
retain heat in the fruiting zone
why are thin canopies important In ENgland
to allow air and light to reach buds and the fruit to reduce disease pressure and to allow sprays to reach the leaves maintaining healthy grapes and raising quality
What causes vintage variation in England
variable, cool and damp climate - which then results in fluctuating yields
What are low average yields due to in England?
marginal climate and increased plantings of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that can flower poorly in wet and cool weather
what are the overall average yields for ENgland?
25 hl/ha- although the best vineyards can achieve twice this amount
Why are prices premium and super premium for England Sparkling wines?
due to the low and variable yields
What is the majority of sparkling wines made from in England?
White and rose - Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and some Meunier
a few made with german crossings or hybrids
What method is used to make England Sparkling wines?
almost all sparkling wines in ENgland are made using traditional method
Are sparkling wines in England primarily vintage or NV
vintage
Describe the length of time on lees for England sparkling wines?
it varies but min is 9 months in line with EU regulation
Do producers use oak for England Sparkling wines?
some producer use a portion of oak to add texture but majority of base wines are unoaked
Is Malolactic conversion used in England for sparkling wines?
it is widely used to reduce high acidity that results from the cool climate
Which producers can pick at acidity levels ideal for traditional method sparkling wine in England?
ones with most sheltered sites and those willing to risk waiting for fuller ripeness
Why have some producers switched to non vintage wines in England
using reserve wines to create a consistent style
Do producers in England make Pet Nat wines?
yes but only a few
How many varietals are allowed for English PDO sparkling wines and what are they?
6 - Chardonnay, PInot Noir, Pinot Noir Precoce (mutation of Pinot Noir that ripens 2 weeks earlier than PN) , meunier, PInot Blanc, and Pinot gris
What area in England obtained separate PDO status in June 2022
Sussex
What are the regulations of Sparkling Sussex PDO
must be made from grapes grown in region and predominately from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier
English PDO wines must be made by which method?
traditional method
What are all German varieties and hybrids labelled as in England?
PGI
What is the max yield for PDO wines in ENgland?
80 hl/ha
How are ENgland wines labelled in terms of sweetness
using EU labelling mostly in Brut style
HOw many planting are there in ENgland?
3,800 ha all varieties which is small by the world’s standard
What happened to plantings in ENgland between 2012-2020
it doubled
Who are significant producers of ENgland sparkling wines?
Nyetimber and Wiston Estate
Where is most of English sparkling wine consumed?
virtually all is consumed in England - 1/3 at cellar door but also sold at specialist wine shops, premium supermarkets, and hospitality sector
How much English sparkling wine is exported?
8%
What is a major financial challenge for ENglish sparkling wines
to deal with fluctuations in yields from year to year
What has the industry body recently rebranded itself to be for ENglish wines
WineGB
What does Wine GB seek to be?
act as a point of reference for and to represent vineyard owners and producers in technical services regulation marketing and education
