England & Wales

Question 1

Main Varieties

Answer 1

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier now account for 70 per cent of all plantings and production in England and Wales

Question 2

Method of Production

Answer 2

Traditional only

Question 3

Permitted Varieties

Answer 3

”- Chardonnay

• Pinot Blanc
• Pinot Gris
• Pinot Noir
• Pinot Noir Préoce {mutation that ripens 2 weeks earlier than PN}
• Meunier
• German varieties and hybrids must be labeled PGI {not PDO}”

Question 4

Flavor Profile

Answer 4

”- High acid, med ABV, med body

• Flavors of apple, lemon, autolysis
• Most Brut
• V high ABV + just-ripe fruit = distinctive characteristics”

Question 5

Growing Environment

Answer 5

”- Above 50° Latitude = long days and cool maritime climate

• Climate change has helped producers ripen fruit more than previously possible, raising quality
• Climate change has also caused extreme weather events (e.g. heavy rains)”

Question 6

Benefit of England’s cool temps?

Answer 6

Cool temperatures result in slow ripening, slow sugar accumulation, preservation of acidity and the creation of medium intensity fruit characters.

Question 7

Risks

Answer 7

”- Prolonged rain during flowering/fruit-set {reduced yields}
- Frost {budding has been earlier due to warmer springs and deicision to plant early budding Champagne varieties}”

Question 8

Site Selection

Answer 8

”- South facing slopes

• Shelter from prevailing winds
• Good drainage {free draining or have drainage installed}
• Altitude below 125m above sea level”

Question 9

Soils

Answer 9

”- Varies across the region but clay {Kent, Sussex} and chalk {Sussex, Hampshire}

• Chalk: Good drainage and lower fertility giving wines more finesse with higher acid and leaner body
• Clay: Good water holding capacity and fertility resulting in slightly lower acid and pronounced fruit”

Question 10

Training & Pruning

Answer 10

”- Guyot system with vertical shoot positioning
- Narrow rows with canes trained relatively close to the ground helps to retain heat
in the fruiting zone
- Open canopies for air flow to reduce disease pressure”

Question 11

Yield

Answer 11

Variable, cool, and damp climate results in often low and variable yields = drives up prices {premium to super-premium}

Question 12

Winemaking

Answer 12

”- Often vintage, some NV

• Lees varies {9 mos minimum}
• Some use oak maturation to add texture
• MLF common”

Question 13

The Market

Answer 13

”- Fast growing {land is cheaper than Champ and attracting new entrants}

• Significant producers: Nyetimber, Wiston Estate
• Nearly all production consumed in England, 8% exported
• 1/3 sold Cellar Door {specialist shops, restaurants = the diff}
• Plantings doubled YoY 2018 to 2019”