Five modern English Wines to try this English Wine Week

Today, 20th June, kicks off English Wine Week 2026! A week to celebrate and experience what our country has to offer in wine.

My first taste of English wine was in a city pub (Harrys) almost 20 years ago. It was...foul.

But, English wine has come a long way in the last decade. Sparkling wine is and remains the category that first attracted international attention, but producers, particularly in my home county of Essex are now making world-class still wines and experimenting with styles that would have been almost unheard of a generation ago.

Below are five of my top picks of English wine to really showcase the breadth of what England can offer, including premium Pinot Noir and traditional method sparkling wines, and innovative orange wine made from a disease-resistant grape variety.

1. Chapel Down Kit's Coty Chardonnay (Kent)

This wine has been a favourite of mine for many years now, each vintage consistently delivers.

Chapel Down is one of England's best-known wine producers, and its Kit's Coty range represents some of the estate's most ambitious wines. The fruit comes from the 100-acre Kit's Coty vineyard on the North Downs of Kent, where chalk soils and a south-facing aspect provide excellent conditions for growing high-quality grapes.

Made from 100% Chardonnay, Kit's Coty Chardonnay has helped redefine perceptions of English still white wine. The wine is whole-bunch pressed and matured in French oak barrels, producing a style that combines ripe orchard fruit with texture, complexity and a distinct mineral character derived from the vineyard's chalk soils.

2. Danbury Ridge Pinot Noir (Essex)

Danbury Ridge has quickly established itself as one of England’s most exciting producers of still wine. Located in the Crouch Valley of Essex, the estate was founded by the Bunker family, who planted their first vines in 2014 after recognising the potential of the area's warm, dry climate and long growing season.

Danbury Ridge Pinot Noir has become one of the benchmark examples of English red wine. Whilst yes it is on the pricier side, it's worth trying to see just how incredible English wine can be.

3. Roebuck Estates Blanc de Blancs (Sussex, Kent)

First point - this isn’t the bottle pictured, I didn’t have my own pic of the BdN! Their Classic Cuvee is great too, but the BdN has that premium edge….

Blanc de Noirs translates as “white from black” and refers to sparkling wine made from dark‑skinned grapes while still producing a white wine. Roebuck’s Blanc de Noirs is made entirely from Pinot Noir, a variety particularly well suited to England’s cool climate. This is a wonderfully rich, textured sparkling wine that will impress even guests who usually reach for Champagne.

Roebuck takes its name from the roe deer that are often seen in vineyards across southern England. Established in 2013, the producer works with vineyard sites in Sussex and Kent, focusing exclusively on premium traditional method sparkling wines.

4.Langham Rosé NV (Dorset)

I discovered this estate by chance as we were driving to a wedding. Langham Wine Estate, just outside Dorchester in Dorset, has since become one of England’s most acclaimed sparkling wine producers. The first vines were planted in 2009 by Justin Langham, and the estate has grown steadily ever since. Today it spans over 30 hectares, planted on chalk and limestone‑rich soils that echo those of Champagne.

Langham focuses entirely on traditional‑method sparkling wines, working with the classic Champagne varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Its Rosé NV, usually led by Pinot Noir, brings that just‑bitten red berry fruit along with freshness that has become a hallmark of the estate’s style. Langham’s low‑intervention approach is all about expressing the character of its Dorset vineyards as clearly as possible.

5.Denbies Orange Solaris (Surrey)

Ooh wildcard! Now this isn't something I would usually buy, but I was sent a bottle to try and fell in love with it. Yup, English orange wine from Denbies Wine Estate in the Surrey Hills. This is one of England's largest and most established vineyards. The estate has played an important role in the development of English wine and continues to experiment with new grape varieties and winemaking techniques.

Its Orange Solaris is made from 100% Solaris, a grape developed to ripen reliably in cooler climates. Although Solaris is a white grape, the wine is made using extended skin contact, a technique more commonly associated with red winemaking. The grapes remain on their skins for several months, giving the wine its distinctive amber-orange colour, texture and complex flavour profile. Denbies has become one of the leading producers of this style in England, demonstrating the innovative spirit that continues to drive the industry forward.

A snapshot of English Wine today

My first taste of English wine in that city bar could not have predicted what was to come. 

Together, these wines illustrate the remarkable diversity now found across England's wine regions,, and they reflect an industry that is rapidly establishing its own identity on the world wine stage.