Best English sparkling wine: Award-winning bottles to buy in 2024

It’s fair to say that English sparkling wine has bloomed in popularity over the last couple of years, becoming the drink of choice for everything from royal receptions to Michelin-starred meals. There’s even an English Wine Week dedicated to the stuff.  

So, what is it about this native wine that's caught people’s attention? Not only is it nice to know you’re buying something that’s been made up the road, English sparkling wine also has a deeply complex flavour with very similar characteristics to Champagne. In fact, it’s quickly becoming a drink to rival the famous French-made sparkling, with a number of big-name Champagne houses investing in land in the UK with the intention of producing their own English sparkling. 

The similarities between Champagne and English sparkling wine don’t stop there. Both are made using the ‘traditional method’ using a blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier grapes. One of the first, and now the most well-known, brands to start making English sparkling wine was Nyetimber, who planted their first vines back in 1988. We spoke to their winemaker Brad Greatrix, to explain how it's made. 

'Traditional method means the bubbles come from a second fermentation that happens inside the bottle. It differs from more industrial methods where the second fermentation happens in a tank, which is how Prosecco is made, for example. [Prosecco] is fermented in a tank and then bottled under pressure so the whole process is much quicker and much more cost effective.

'There are other varieties coming along – such as bacchus and seyval blanc – with a few people experimenting with different things. But if you want to speak generically about English sparkling wine, it's going to be made with the traditional method using chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier.'

Sparkling wine now accounts for about 80% of the grape-growing planted area in this country, which is huge. And sure, while there are a number of similarities between domestic wine and Champagne, what makes English sparkling all the more special is its unique flavour profile.  

'What English sparkling wines tend to evoke is a reflection of fruits and flavours that are typical and known for this country', Brad explains. 'Our rosé, for example, is typically evocative of red fruits that grow and succeed really well in in England, like strawberries and raspberries.  

'Our cool climate also means that English sparkling wines retain a freshness and an acidity that is needed for our long ageing, high quality sparkling. Because of the acidity, there's also an association with lemon. Apple and lemon flavours are not unusual.'

Specifics aside, the real question is knowing which bottle to buy when there’s so much choice on the shelves, so we took it upon ourselves to put in the tasting time and test some of the best English sparkling wines on the market right now. We’ve included tasting notes on each one, as well as a score out of ten, so you can see at a glance how each one stood up.  

Hattingley Valley Classic Reserve

Verdict: Hattingley Valley has risen from humble beginnings to become indisputably one of Britain's leading sparkling wine producers, with a reputation for pure, refreshing wines. This Classic Reserve incorporates around 18% reserve wines to help preserve a consistent style, and the flavour profile is typical of this part of Hampshire – high acidity, lemon peel and green orchard fruit, softening into some brioche and nutty pastry notes.
How much? £35
Rating: 9/10 
Buy now: Hattingley Valley Classic Reserve

Chapel Down Brut NV 

Verdict: Even if you don’t know much about sparkling wine, chances are you’ve heard of Chapel Down which is something of a household name these days. Based in Kent, this award-winning blend is made from chardonnay, pinot noir, pinot meunier and pinot blanc grapes and offers soft aromas of apple and blossom, with a long finish and lots of depth of flavour. It delivers all the hallmarks of a quality sparkling wine, and we rate it amongst the best in this list.  
How much? £20
Rating: 8/10 
Buy now: Chapel Down Brut NV

Wiston Estate Brut NV

What: Wiston Estate has quickly become one of the most reliable names in English winemaking, and these chalky south-facing hills have been growing grapes ever since the Romans arrived in Britain. The Brut NV is Wiston’s benchmark, and it’s quintessential English sparkling - bags of orchard fruit, some English hedgerow perfumery and a little toastiness too. For the price, it’s excellent.
How much? £34
Rating: 9/10
Buy now: Wiston Estate

Rathfinny 2018 Classic Cuvee

What: South Downs sparkling producer Rathfinny was established in 2010, but has quickly found its way into the hearts and wine lists of some of the best restaurants in the country. A 30-month stint on the lees gives the Pinot Noir-led Classic Cuvee very forward toast and patisserie aromas, as well as some lovely stone fruit notes. Rathfinny has also achieved B Corp status as of 2023, becoming the first grower-producer of sparkling anywhere in the world to do so - clearly the sign of a winemaker on the up.
How much? £29.25
Rating: 8.5/10
Buy now: Rathfinny 2018 Classic Cuvee

Ridgeview Bloomsbury

Verdict: Fun fact: this Bloomsbury bottle by Ridgeview was the official wine served at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, so naturally we had to taste a wine that's good enough for royalty. Ridgeview is another well-established winemaker that's been going for more than 25 years. Their vineyard is based in Ditchling in rural Sussex, and they were one of the first wineries in England to focus solely on the production of sparkling wines from chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier grapes. So, what did we think? A gorgeously light number with very fine bubbles that creates a lovely effervescent, melt-in-the-mouth feel. We detected subtle notes of red fruit along with plenty of crunchy, crisp tartness from lemony accents. A smart and striking bottle would make this a very nice gift for someone. 
How much? £35
Rating: 8.5/10 
Buy now: Ridgeview Bloomsbury

Exton Park Rose 

Verdict: We were particularly taken by the colour of this English sparkling rose by Exton Park, which is a beautiful blush and shown off in a clear, simple bottle. The pale colour matches its floral, slightly peachy flavour, with a good structure that renders it very crisp and dry. If you don’t trust us, trust Simon Rogan who serves it at his three-Michelin starred restaurant L’Enclume. 
How much? £39 
Rating: 7/10 
Buy now: Exton Park Rose

Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs 2014 

Verdict: Nyetimber was one of the first brands to put English sparkling wine on the map, when owner Eric Heerema saw its potential back in 2006 and brought head winemaker Cherie Spriggs and winemaker Brad Greatrix on board. We tested the Blanc de Blancs 2014, which was the first style of wine the vineyard started producing back in the 90s and is still one of the best English sparkling wines on the market right now. This single-vintage chardonnay offers a delicate flavour profile of vanilla, brioche and lemon, while a long finish and lots of acidity make it a great pairing with fresh seafood. A must buy!
How much? £48 
Rating: 9/10 
Buy now: Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs 2014 

Louis Pommery Brut

Verdict: Known for being the first English fizz to be made by a Champagne house, this high pedigree wine from chalky south-facing slopes in Hampshire pedals freshness and finesse in equal measure. Aromas of green orchard fruits and waxy petals on the nose are a prelude to a palate that continues the theme of joyous freshness – think zesty lemons, crisp Granny Smith apples and hints of white peach. As the wine warms in the glass, attractive lemon sherbert notes appear and honeyed peachy fruit come to the fore. A lovely long finish applies the punctuation. 
How much? £33
Rating: 8/10
Buy now: Louis Pommery Brut 

Bullards English Sparkling Rose

Gusbourne Brut Reserve

Verdict: One of the top dogs in the English sparkling wine world, Gusbourne planted their first vines in 2004 across their vineyards in Kent and West Sussex, going on to collect a series of awards over the years for all its sparkling wines. This best-seller offers floral blossom notes, good fruit and a hint of honey on the nose, while zesty grapefruit conspires with nutty, toasty flavours on the palate, with a hint of white pepper. A shaft of acidity keeps things fresh and the finish is rewardingly long. 
How much? £46
Rating: 9/10 
Buy now: Gusbourne Brut Reserve 

Tesco Finest English Sparkling Wine 

Verdict: Interestingly, this English sparkling wine from Tesco’s Finest range is crafted by another maker in this list, Balfour Winery (see below), so we were interested to see how they compared. With a dry and citrusy flavour - albeit a slightly bitter after taste - subtle brioche notes and plenty of bubbles, we thought it was a decent option for just over 20 quid a bottle. It’s the cheapest in this list and very good value. 
How much? £21 
Rating: 6/10 
Buy now: Tesco Finest English Sparkling Wine 

Balfour Brut Rosé 2018 

Verdict: At nearly £40 a bottle, this Brut rosé by Balfour Winery is one of the most expensive options on the list. It’s highly drinkable and super light, with notes of sherbet on the nose and a more rounded fruity flavour on the palate, without being too sweet or overbearing. This one’s worth the price tag and was one of the best rosés we tried. The grapes are grown on the Hush Heath estate in Kent and for the first six years, this was the only wine they made. Stick to what you know and all that... 
How much? £43 
Rating: 8/10 
Buy now: Balfour Brut Rosé 2018 

Nutbourne Nutty Vintage Brut 2018 

Verdict: A lesser-known label but one we’d like to firmly put on the map, this 2018 Brut from Nutbourne Vineyard in Sussex is a dangerously easy-to-drink entrant. Its deep golden colour acts as a precursor to its characterful flavour, with bold notes of apples and almonds. It’s not as citrusy as quite a few we tried, which makes it a good option if you’re still getting used to the lemony flavour that a lot of English sparkling wines possess. It's made from a combination of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot blancs grapes, then matured in oak barrels before being aged for 36 months underground. 
How much? £28 
Rating: 8/10 
Buy now: Nutbourne Nutty Vintage Brut 2018

Searcys Classic Cuvée English Sparkling Wine, NV

Verdict: British caterer Searcys has created its first ever English sparkling wine in collaboration with award-winning Greyfriars Vineyard near Guildford. The grapes are grown on sunny south-facing chalk slopes before being handpicked, while the wine itself is aged in cellars for at least four years. Our first impression was marked by bubbles - lots of them - which create a pleasingly creamy texture. Bready flavours and notes of apple emerge on the palate, while a citrusy finish (we detected grapefruit) leave a clean and bright aftertaste.
How much? £35
Rating: 7.5/10
Buy now: Searcys Classic Cuvée English Sparkling Wine

Hambledon Classic Cuvee 

Verdict: A blend of pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier grapes, this Classic Cuvee by Hambledon tends to come up trumps in best-lists and, without wanting to follow the crowd, we’d have to agree. Its grapes are grown on Newhaven Chalk, the same chalk found in the best Chardonnay areas in Champagne, allowing Hambledon to create something very similar in quality and flavour. This is a beautifully balanced wine with a precise, vibrant freshness provided by citrus and white stone fruit, overlaid with a yeasty, autolytic note that adds weight. Classy stuff. 
How much? £30
Rating: 9/10 
Buy now: Hambledon Classic Cuvee 

Digby Fine English 2013 Vintage Reserve Brut

Verdict: This Kent vintage fizz has been catching our eye for a number of years now, not just for its sense of place but for its sheer consistency. White flowers intermingle with toasty notes on the nose, while on the palate there is both bright fruit as well as nutty, citrusy complexity. Elegance and finesse are watchwords of this delicious wine.
How much? £45
Rating: 8/10 
Buy now: Digby Fine English 2013 Vintage Reserve Brut 

Brunch with limitless English sparkling wine might not exist yet, but these best bottomless brunches in London do involve endless Champagne and prosecco!