A Brief History of English Wine
Wine production in the UK dates back to the days of the Roman Empire, with plenty of archaeological evidence to support this history. It is believed that the Romans were the first to establish vineyards and introduce the art of winemaking to Britain. Archaeological finds suggest they used buried clay amphorae to ferment wine – ancient vessels that are still in use today by innovative English estates like Tillingham. These producers combine traditional techniques with more modern materials such as concrete, stainless steel and oak to build complexity and texture in their wines.
When it comes to sparkling wine – the style for which the UK has become particularly celebrated – one name deserves special recognition. In 2017, in the Cotswold town of Winchcombe, a plaque was unveiled to honour Christopher Merrett, a 17th-century scientist, physician and naturalist. In 1662, he documented how to put the fizz into sparkling wine. In a paper presented to the newly formed Royal Society, Merrett described how English winemakers had been adding sugar to still wines to create a refreshing, bubbly effect – predating Dom Pérignon’s reputed invention of the second fermentation method in Champagne by 35 years.
The English wine industry has seen cycles of decline and revival over the centuries, shaped by shifting climates and the rise of other beverages such as beer. But today it is thriving. In 2023, the UK produced approximately 21.6 million bottles of wine (a 77% increase on the previous year) with sparkling wines accounting for 76% of this production. While this is still less than half the annual output of a single large Champagne house, the quality and reputation of English wines are growing rapidly. For comparison, France’s Champagne region shipped 299 million bottles in 2023, a decline of 8.3% on the previous year.
The contemporary English wine scene is defined by creativity and experimentation, with producers embracing both ancient and innovative methods to craft wines that are distinctive, expressive and of exceptional quality. It is this same spirit that informs the wine culture at Hand Picked Hotels, where our commitment to exceptional wine is deeply rooted in the passion of our owners, Julia and Guy Hands.
Among the extensive wine lists at some of our properties, you’ll find hand-selected bottles from their private cellar, made available at remarkable value to reflect their belief in sharing the very best with our guests. That passion is also reflected in the exclusive wine events hosted across our hotel collection. At our Italian wine dinners, we partner with the Hands family’s own Tuscan vineyard, Villa Saletta, to bring a taste of Italy to our guests. Our wine evenings, meanwhile, offer a guided experience of fine food and carefully paired wines, celebrating the unique character of each bottle. For those eager to explore British wine at its source, we also partner with esteemed British winemakers such as Chapel Down (England’s leading winemaker) to offer bespoke wine tours in the heart of Kent.
As English wine continues its ascent on the world stage, Hand Picked Hotels is proud to champion it – both through the bottles we serve and the experiences we offer. This English Wine Week, we invite you to discover the past, present and exciting future of British wine with us.
