English wine is no longer a joke: even the Queen has served it at a number of high-profile ceremonies. Here's the xxxx best to try this weekend
1. Greyfriars Cuvee Royale 2015, Surrey, England (£30, Greyfriars Vineyard)
Perfectly judged and an equal blend of pinot noir and chardonnay, only 2,400 individually numbered bottles of this limited-edition sparkling wine have been released. Lively and fresh with an appealing citrusy fruitiness, and barrel-fermented for a yeasty complexity, gentle hints of soft lemony fruits lead to a long, crisp finish. Wonderful with smoked salmon canapes.
2. Bolney Estate Kew Sparkling Blanc de Noirs NV, Sussex, England (£33, Marks & Spencer, in store only)
Bolney have teamed up with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, to create a sparkling wine 'that evokes the fragrant sights and sounds of the Sussex countryside with every sip'. Decorated with sketches of dragonflies, ladybirds and wildflowers, inspired by illustrations from the archives at Kew Gardens, this blanc de noirs (predominantly made from pinot noir) has enticing aromas of honey, truffles and pear, with a red fruit structure and a ripe, rounded palate that happens to be a superb accompaniment with chicken liver parfait on French bread.
3. Chapel Down Classic Non Vintage Brut, Kent, England (£22 per bottle in store, or £132 for case of six, Tesco Wines)
Deliciously dependable, approachable and fruit forward with toasty aromas and hints of red apple, pears and citrus fruits, it's light and makes for easy drinking, with refreshing English acidity that works so well with finger-food and mini fish and chips with tartare sauce.
4. Westwell Special Cuvee 2014, Kent, England (£29.95, westwellwines.com)
A double trophy winner at the 2017 International Wine Challenge (IWC) - Westwell Special Cuvee romped home with trophies for English Sparkling and English Sparkling Vintage Classic Blend - this is a fine three-way split of chardonnay, pinot noir and meunier.
Very classy, with hints of lemon and flowers on the nose, a fresh, fruity, rounded character and long citrusy finish that makes for a beautiful glass of bubbly. Perfect as an aperitif as well as seafood starters.
5. Jenkyn Place Brut Cuvee 2013, Hampshire, England (£29.50, jenkynplace.com)
Fashionably on time, Jenkyn Place have just released their 2014 Sparkling Rose. A gold medal-winner at the 2018 IEWA (Independent English Wine Awards), we love its finesse and freshness, with gentle florals, a yeasty richness and zesty, chardonnay dominated fruit and lingering acidity. Again, highly recommended on its own or with seafood.
6. Tesco Finest English Sparkling Wine, Kent, England (£18 per bottle in store, or £108 for case of six, Tesco Wines)
Similar in style to their Balfour 1503 Classic Cuvee, and a blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and meunier, it's fresh, lively and fruit forward, with hints of citrus, crisp apple and brioche, with a lemony acidity to cut through battered cod with a sprinkle of salt and splash of vinegar. Ta-da!
7. Louis Pommery England Brut NV, Hampshire, England (£39.99, Ocado)
English winemakers may aspire to rival the best of champagne, but here we have the first champagne house to put down roots in England and release a sparkling wine named after Pommery's founder. With delicate hints of red apple and toasty aromatics, this blend of pinot noir and meunier has vibrant red fruits and tangy, citrusy flavours, with a lovely tingling acidity and freshness on the finish. A must with Jersey Royals and quail's eggs.
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