The 20 best English wines, according to an expert

English wine has come a long way from being a curiosity to becoming a serious player on the global stage. Once underestimated, our wines are now winning international awards and showing up on the wine lists of top restaurants.

Thanks to climate shifts, better winemaking techniques, and a new wave of ambitious producers, England is making wines that are just as good (if not better than) those from more established regions—especially in sparkling, but increasingly in still reds, whites, and rosés too.

But where to start? Here, our wine expert Christine Austin picks the very best English wines across all styles and colours to drink right now. Whether you’re after a crisp, elegant sparkling, or a summer-perfect rosé to rival those from Provence, you’ll find something here worth your glass…

Still white

1. Blueprint English Dry White Wine 2023

£10, Waitrose

2. Chosen by Majestic English White 2023, Surrey

£10 on a mix-six deal, Majestic

Solaris, bacchus and ortega grapes blend to give light floral and spice aromas, with lime and grapefruit flavours.

3. Bowler & Brolly White Cuvée 2023, Lyme Bay

£10.99, Aldi

4. Chapel Down Bacchus 2023, Kent

£14 with a Nectar card until 1 July then £16, Sainsbury’s

With floral and tropical fruit notes, a whiff of pea shoots and bright citrus flavours, this goes well with a Thai stir fry.

5. Lyme Bay Shoreline 2022, English White Wine

£15, Booths

Still rosé and red

Who can resist a rosé on a hot day?

6. Finest English Rosé 2024, Kent

£12.50, Tesco

A blend of mainly pinot noir and meunier give ripe strawberry and cranberry fruit with an elegant style. Goes well with roast salmon.

7. Chapel Down English Rosé 2023, Kent

£12.50 until 1 July then £15, Waitrose

Strawberry and redcurrant aromas, a thread of fresh citrus with a creamy, rounded finish.

8. Simpsons Estate Pinot Noir Rosé 2023, Kent

£12.50 until 1 July then £15, Waitrose

Could England be the new Provence? This wine’s delicate colour, cherry and strawberry fruit with a citrus backbone, make it perfect for sunshine lunches.

9. Balfour Pinot Noir Red 2023, Kent

£22, Marks & Spencer

English wine is not limited to fizz, whites and rosés. This pinot noir has silky red cherry and ripe strawberry fruit with subtle tannins.

10. Balfour English Rosé 2024, Kent

£23, Marks & Spencer

Sparkling white

Celebrate the sunshine with some bubbles

11. Bowler & Brolly Winemaster’s Lot English Sparkling Classic Cuvée Brut 2021

£9.99 until WEDS then £17.95, Aldi

Classic grapes, and classic long ageing, this is a bright, fresh-tasting glass of bubbles. A giveaway at this price.

12. Bramble Hill English Sparkling

£14, Marks & Spencer

13. Ellercombe English Sparkling Wine

£17 with a Nectar card until 1 July then £22, Sainsbury’s

This creamy fizz has ripe red apple and toasty brioche notes and a fresh, crisp finish.

14. Asquith Gardens English Sparkling Brut

£17.97, Asda

A biscuity fizz, made from chardonnay, pinot noir and meunier, then aged five years.

15. Louis Pommery England Brut, Hampshire

£25 until 14 July with a Clubcard then £29.75, Tesco

Sparkling rosé

A sparkling rosé is perfect for a summer’s evening

16. Chapel Down A Touch of Sparkle Rosé 2023

£13 until 1 July then £16, Waitrose

Strawberries, raspberries and citrus with a touch of creaminess on the palate. Perfect for parties.

17. Pet Nat Rosé Brut 2024, England

£15, Marks & Spencer

Slightly cloudy because of the natural yeast, this has dry fruity flavours with some grip and texture. A barbecue wine.

18. Irresistible Eight Acres Sparkling Rosé, Kent

£18.70 in store, Co-op

Pale pink and packed with summer fruit flavours, these creamy bubbles have enough flavour to carry through from aperitif to starters and salads.

19. Balfour ‘1503’ Sparkling Rosé NV, Kent

£20 on a mix-six deal, Majestic

Pinot noir, chardonnay and meunier fermented and aged in the long, slow way gives small bubbles and great taste.

20. Finest English Sparkling Rosé Brut NV

£21.50, Tesco

Only red grapes, pinot noir and meunier go into this delicious, raspberry and strawberry-filled wine. Delicately pale, with a clear, fresh finish.