At the beginning of September, I went along to my first tasting of the Autumn season, the WineGB tasting at Old Billingsgate in London. WineGB is the national trade association representing Britain’s vineyards and wine producers, and the tasting brought together producers from across England and Wales.
The venue felt particularly great this year, with lots of space and natural light compared with previous WineGB tastings. With more than 350 wines on show from over 80 producers, there was plenty to explore. While I only tasted a fraction, these are the wines that really stood out for me:
Simpsons Rabbit Hole Pinot Noir 2024 13% £32
A blend of low-yielding Burgundian Pinot Noir clones, aged for six months in a combination of old (80%) and new (20%) French and American oak barrels. Very aromatic, with an earthy character alongside lovely fruity and savoury notes. Dry, with low to medium tannins and a slight touch of spice on the finish.
Blackbook Pygmalion 2023 13% £40
Blackbook is based in a Victorian archway in the heart of South London and takes a minimalist approach to winemaking. Made from 100% Chardonnay and aged for 24 months on gross lees in barrel, with 40% new oak. Citrus, honeydew melon and pineapple are joined by subtle nutty nuances. Dry and well balanced, with the oak kept nicely in check. Rich in style, with excellent length.
Hattingley Valley Kings Cuvée 2017 12% £91
A blend of 45% Chardonnay, 28% Pinot Meunier and 27% Pinot Noir, claimed to be the first super-premium sparkling wine made in England. Vibrant citrus aromas lead into apple, honey, brioche, vanilla and oak. Brut in style, with remarkable intensity and the longest finish I have ever experienced from an English sparkling wine.
Chapel Down Rosé NV 12% £34
Made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir Précoce. It matures on lees in tank for six months, followed by a further 18 months ageing on lees in bottle. Dry, with flavours of redcurrant, citrus and strawberry. There is a lovely balance between the fresh red fruit and leesy character, the latter sometimes getting lost when making sparkling rosé.
Langham Corallian Classic Cuvée 2023 12% £34.95
A blend of 69% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 1% Meunier. The dosage is very low, putting it firmly in the extra brut style. Very leesy and rich, with brioche and lemon aromas followed by pronounced apple and lemon flavours.
Exton Park Blanc de Blancs 2013 11.5% £65
Made entirely from Chardonnay. Marzipan and almond aromas lead into a rich combination of brioche, apple and nuts. Brut/dry, with a satisfying nutty finish.
Balfour Liberty’s Bacchus 2025 12.5% £25
Made from 100% Bacchus, with an RRP of £25. Tropical notes combine with elderflower and lime. Intense, vibrant and particularly refreshing.
Woodchester Valley Brut Blanc de Blancs 2019 12.9% £48
A 100% Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs with aromas of citrus, apple and brioche. Brut in style, with peach flavours and a very fresh, lively acidity. The finish is persistent and refreshing.
Veenow Origin 2024 11% £22
Made from 100% Bacchus, the lemon and elderflower aromas have an intensity reminiscent of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Lemon and peach follow, with a slightly sweet character.
Ridgeview Blanc de Blancs Limited Release 2021 12% £75
Made exclusively from Chardonnay. Citrus and floral aromas lead into grapefruit, lemon and buttery pastry flavours. Intense but very well balanced, with an impressively long finish.
Black Chalk Eighty Nine Point Six 2020 12.5% £165
A new wine made from 100% Chardonnay and matured for 56 months on lees. Presented in magnum, which is particularly rare to see. The balance is excellent, bringing the classic English Sparkling apple and citrus notes with a fresh, slightly mineral finish.
Ashling Park Estate Blanc de Blancs 2014 12% £41
Produced close to Chichester, this is an intense Blanc de Blancs that again came across slightly sweeter than expected, despite being brut and therefore dry in style. Lime and brioche aromas lead into plenty of lime, almond and brioche flavours. Long, fresh and expressive.
HiDE 2021 12% £80
A blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, produced from small yields of consistently exceptional fruit. It receives extended lees ageing for a minimum of 46 months and is brut in style. Classic English sparkling characteristics of lemon, apple and brioche come through with considerable intensity. This new wine is very reminiscent of some of the wines I have also selected above, that were award winners.
Balfour Luke’s Pinot Noir 2025 12% £30
A Pinot Noir aged using a mixture of French and American oak. Aromas of red cherry and strawberry are joined by a little vanilla, followed by cherry and raspberry flavours. Dry, with a lightly savoury finish.
Balfour Scout’s Sauvignon Blanc 2025 14% £30
Made from Sauvignon Blanc, with gooseberry, citrus and tropical aromas continuing through into the flavour. There is a New Zealand-like intensity, but with some of the nuance associated with Sancerre. An impressively successful example of Sauvignon Blanc grown in the UK, and unlike anything I had previously encountered from an English producer.
The English sparkling wines mentioned above were stunning. In fact, a number of individual wines left a stronger impression on me than many of those I tasted at The Definitive Champagne Tasting last April. As with Champagne, prices can be high. But much of English sparkling wine is, after all, made on a small, artisan scale, and I think it should be viewed in that context.
14th August WinGB Industry Survey 2025
