United Kingdom

Question 1

United Kingdom

General info

Answer 1

• German crosses and hybrid varieties since after 2WW
• Traditional champagne varieties planted in the late 80’s
• PN, Chard and PM now account for 75% of all plantings
• apple and lemon + autolytic notes
• high acidity / light to medium body / med alcohol
• just-ripe fruit flavours
• very good to outstanding
• premium to super-premium
• Rosé sparkling also made

Question 2

United Kingdom

Growing enviroment

Answer 2

• all vineyards above the 50˚ = long daylight hours + cool climate (suitable for sparkling wine grapes)
• South East = 2/3 of all UK’s vineyards

Question 3

United Kingdom

Climate

Answer 3

• southern england = 85% of production
• cool maritime climate
• Avarage growing season temp = 14˚C (risen from 13˚C last century)
• cool temperatures = slow ripening, slow sugar accumulation, preservation of acidity, medium intensity fruit character

Higher temp due to climate change:
- helped producers to ripen fruit in more years than was previously possible
- great number of extreme weather events (heavy rain)
- earlier budding due to warmer spring = increased frost risk
- Increased plantings of Chard and PN = early budding variety = increased frost risk

• rain and cool temp in June = flowering and fruit set disrupted = drastically reduced yields
• Vineyard management is pivotal = timely spraying against fungal diseases
• Managing the financial risk of fluctuations in yields and quality is priority

2012 = wettest June for 100 years = some estate picked NO fruit

Question 4

United Kingdom

Site selection

Answer 4

• northern latitude = south-facing slopes are best for maximum exposure to sunlight
• maximum shelter from prevailing winds from the south-west = strong winds and rain ccan hinder flowering and fruit set and disperse heat
• good drainage is essential to avoid regularly wet soils (either free-draining soils or drainage systems installed = add cost)
• altitude below 125m

Question 5

United Kingdom

Soils

Answer 5

• Clay dominates in Kent and part of Sussex (high water-holding capacity and fertility)
• Clay soils = gives lower acidities + more pronounced fruit
• Sussex and Hampshire = high chalk content (key quality factor, like Champagne) = good drainage + lower fertility
• chalk soils tends to be on higher elevation slopes = more vulnerable to adverse weather
• Chalk soils = highr aciditeis + more finesse + leaner body

Question 6

United Kingdom

Vineyard management

Answer 6

• med density plantings = 4000-5000 vines per ha (to increase root competition and contain the vigour of the canopy
• Guyot + VSP is preferred
• canes relatively close to the ground help to retain heat in the fruiting zone
• Canopy management is important to allow air and light to reach buds and fruit + reduce disease pressure and allow spray to reach the leaves

Question 7

United Kingdom

Yields

Answer 7

Low avarage yields due to marginal cool climate + increased Chard and PN plantings (can flower poorly in wet conditions
- oveall avarage yields at 25hL/ha = 1/3 of champagne
- best sites can achieve 50hL/ha
- highly variable production

Question 8

United Kingdom

Winemaking

Answer 8

• Chardonnay e PN dominant + some Meunier
• Small amounts from German crossings and hybrids
• Almost all Traditional method / mostly vintage wines
• min 9 months on lees (as per EU regulation)
• some use Oak maturation to add texture (majority of base wines unoaked)
• MALO used to reduce the very high acidity (due to cold climate)
• Larger producers moved to NV wines using reserve wines (most [producers are just building up a library of reserve stock to be able to do it)
• Useful to have reserve wines in a marginal climate (yields and quality variation)

Question 9

United Kingdom

Wine law & wine business

Answer 9

• 6 varieties allowed for English PDO: Chardonnay, PN, PN Precoce, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris
• Sussex PDO since 2022 (must be predominantly Chardonnay, PN, PM / must be traditional method)
• max yield at 80hL/ha
• 3800ha of plantings in UK / planting continuing rapidly
• Land price significsantly lower than Champagne = attracts new entrants (including major Champagne houses)
• only 8% export / mostly consumed in UK / sold at cellar door + specialist wine retailers + premium supermarkets
• premium to super-premium prices = compete with super good champagne
• Major financial challange = fluctuations in yields from year to year (reserve wine help to cope with it)