Discover five English sparkling wines to try this summer, as recommended by Emily Jago, Group Wine Buyer at JKS Restaurants.
As the Summer season approaches and the nation looks for a new and exciting wine to try, Fitzrovia's The George (the latest opening by JKS Restaurants in partnership with Dominic Jacobs and two Michelin starred chef James Knappett) champions all things local & British with one of London’s first dedicated English Sparkling Wine bars.
Make sure to visit the newly opened small, elegant bar this season for a pre-dinner aperitif, a late-night drink or private wine tasting experience. The English Sparkling wine menu encompasses more than eighty references from around the country including unique wines from certain estates not available anywhere else in the UK. For those looking to experiment with home-grown wines this summer, here are The George’s top five producers to try this summer, whether ordering to enjoy at home or dropping in to visit The George’s English Sparkling Wine bar.
Based on the North Downs in Kent, Westwell works only with four grape varieties: Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Ortega. All of their wines are made on-site from estate-grown fruit, and their philosophy champions low-intervention winemaking from skin contact wines, wild ferments, amphora, and pet nats. You can find their full range listed at The George.
Since 1743 the Goring family’s ancestors have been stewarding this estate in West Sussex, until in 2006 Pip Goring planted a south-facing 16-acre vineyard and began the modern production as we now know it. Wiston is the benchmark for English Sparkling wines. Find an extensive range on the list at the George, with older bottlings and exclusive labels available in bottle and magnum. They recently opened a visitors centre along with their restaurant, Chalk, focusing on seasonal produce.
A new venture from Italian-Greek Susanna (Busi) and Swedish Douglas (Jacobsohn), the couple based in Kent are producing traditional-method wines currently focusing on a Brut and Rosé Cuvée (both on the list at the George), with a Blanc de Blancs soon to be released. Starting small with about 5 hectares under vine, and a focus on quality, they are ones to watch for the future.
A family enterprise producing outstanding quality-driven English wines from their 60-acre single vineyard in Hampshire. Quietly flying under the radar but one of our best discoveries from our visits this year. Their RB range draws on a 10-year library of reserve wines that have been curated and stored at Exton Park since 2011. The full range can be found on the list at the George.
Young couple Rebecca Dancer and Joe Beckett are the brains behind this small estate in West Sussex. With plans to grow slowly and focus on quality, they already have a loyal local following and we are delighted to have their wines on the list at the George, including still wines made from Pinot Gris and Precoce, along with their Sparkling Brut and Rosé. Their wine bar & café is well worth a visit, and their own vineyards will be coming into production in the next few years.
Emily is Group Wine Manager for JKS restaurants. She was previously at Bibendum Wine selling to the premium on-trade, and has also worked for specialist importer Indigo. Her first job in the industry was at Noble Rot restaurant.
|
English Sparkling Wines to Try this Summer
|
 |
title
text
