Devon vineyards lead the way as English fizz climbs to 4th most popular in the wine trade English sparkling wines are now the 4th best selling sparkling wines in the UK market.
Its producers are enjoying an extraordinary year of growth, with sales up by 48.5% compared to the summer of 2014, and has now overtaken New Zealand, which has slipped from fourth to sixth behind South Africa, according to Nielsen figures seen by wine web site Grapevine.
Right up there are the leading Devon sparkling wine producers with a string of international awards.
Notwithstanding the 2012 deluge, the progress of English wines in the last year has been remarkable. You can hardly open a paper or magazine, or a wine website or trade publication, without a eulogy to England appearing.
Take this from Berry Brothers & Rudd in October last year. They went on record in the Independent..."The quality (of English wine)... stands up to the rest of the world and, in the case of some sparkling wines, exceeds their rivals."
The newspaper asked "Is English wine now exceeding the quality of French?" and returned the answer: yes. "Start with...
The eighth Devon Wine Week special event this year takes place from 25 May-2 June.
Organised by the Yearlstone Vineyard near Exeter, Devon's oldest vineyard, decerning wine lovers will have the choice to visit several places around the county celebrating the very best that we have to offer with our award winning Englsih wines.
Participating vineyards this year include: Yearlstone, Bickleigh; Sharpham, Totnes; Pebblebed, Topsham; Manstree, Shillingford St George; Lily Farm, Budleigh Salterton and Castlewood. Axminster.
Participating Devon Food Venues during the week...