British wine makers are taking on Champagne

The landmark moment that proves British wine makers are taking on Champagne

The Telegraph , Luxury editors choice, writing explaing about the “Hallmark Great British Classic Method”

ByVictoria Moore, WINE CORRESPONDENT17 February 2021 • 7:00am

English sparkling wine has come a long way over the last decade or two and as the industry, and its reputation, have grown there have been many landmark moments to celebrate.

I’m thinking of the times that English sparkling wine has beaten champagne in blind tasting competitions; the planting of huge and ambitious new estates like Rathfinny on the South Downs; the transformation of wine farms into places whose restaurants and tours put them on the rural tourist trail; new export deals that take wine from England and Wales around the world; and the statistical milestones passed on the way to becoming a country with 770 vineyards, 3,500 hectares of vines, 165 wineries and a production (in 2019) of 10.5m bottles.

Now there’s a new landmark moment: the introduction of a smart new quality hallmark for sparkling wines, called the Great British Classic Method hallmark. I admit this doesn’t have the glamour of some of the other moments but it’s an important branding stage as the wines of England and Wales build a reputation as world-class sparkling wines.