Best English wines

The quality of English wine has flourished in recent years, and it's rapidly gaining international repute.

While it can be pricier than wines from abroad, our expert taste test proves you don't need to spend a huge amount to get a great English wine, and we've uncovered some fantastic options around the £10 mark.

To find the best bottles at UK supermarkets, we asked a panel of four independent wine experts to blind-taste and rate 27 English wines including sparkling, white and rosé wines. 

We tested bottles from popular brands including Chapel Down, Balfour and Nyetimber, alongside own-label offerings from the likes of M&S, Sainsbury's and Aldi.

Find out which ones our experts recommend, and all the key need-to-knows about buying English wine.

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Best English sparkling wines

Only logged-in Which? members can view our full expert taste test results and tasting notes below. 

If you're not yet a member, you'll see an alphabetically ordered list of the English sparkling wines on test. To get instant access to these,  and all our reviews, join Which? today.

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Aldi Bowler & Brolly Brut Reserve NV

£15.99 for 75cl

Aldi's Reserve sparkling wine is one of the cheapest we tested. How did it compare with pricier bottles?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? This wine is available in store only at Aldi.

Aldi Bowler & Brolly Winemasters Lot English Sparkling Wine

£19.99 for 75cl, vegan 

According to Aldi, this sparkling wine is 'fruity and fresh, with fine bubbles and an enticingly soft mousse'. Did it score well in our taste test?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? This wine will be available from Aldi from 20 April 2023.

Asda Asquith Gardens Traditional English Sparkling Wine

£18 for 75cl

Made from a blend of pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier, this wine is aged in cellars for more than five years to help develop complex flavours. It's cheaper than most English sparkling wines, but is it any match for pricier rivals?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Asda.

Chapel Down Brut NV English Sparkling

£27 for 75cl

Chapel Down is one of the most well known English wineries, with vineyards across the south-east of England. But did this popular brand prove itself worthy in our expert taste test?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from M&S, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.

Fitz Brut English Sparkling

£19 for 75cl, vegan

Unlike traditional English sparkling wines, which are fermented in the bottle, Fitz wine is produced in temperature-controlled tanks designed to retain fresh and fruity flavours. Does it make for a delicious fizz?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Ocado.

Hambledon Classic Cuvee Brut NV

£30 for 75cl, vegan

Made with a blend that includes 20% higher-quality reserve wines, Hambledon describes its wine as having 'layers of floral and stone fruit aromas and a rich palate'. Was it a hit with our panel?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Ocado, M&S and Waitrose.

Harvey Nichols English Sparkling Brut NV

£30 for 75cl

Produced by Digby Fine English, Harvey Nichols sparkling wine is made with a blend of chardonnay and pinot noir grapes grapes grown in Sussex and Hampshire. Is this premium brand worth splashing out on?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Ocado.

Hattingley Valley Classic Reserve

£32 for 75cl, vegan

Family-owned business Hattingley Valley ages its wine for a minimum of three years and uses partial barrel fermentation to create its signature style. Does it make for a winning formula?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Ocado and Waitrose.

Louis Pommery England Sparkling Wine Brut

£26 for 75cl

The first Champagne house to launch an English fizz, Louis Pommery claims its sparkling wine offers 'beautiful notes of blackcurrant and white fruit topped with a hint of honey'. Is it a good choice for celebrations?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Ocado and Sainsbury's.

M&S Balfour Classic Cuvee Brut

£23 for 75cl, vegan

Bottled and aged at Hush Heath's winery, this wine promises 'lively citrus, apple fruit and vibrant acidity'. Is it the perfect choice for parties?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from M&S and Ocado.

M&S Bramble Hill English Sparkling

£16 for 75cl, vegan

Made in Kent with a blend of bacchus, chardonnay, pinot meunier and pinot noir, this wine is described as being an 'aromatic, lively fizz with floral notes'. As one of the cheapest on test, can it compete with pricier rivals?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from M&S and Ocado.

Nyetimber Classic Cuvée

£38 for 75cl, vegan

The most expensive sparkling wine we tested, Nyetimber says it aims to make the finest English sparkling wine to rival the best in the world. Is it worth paying more for?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from M&S, Ocado, Sainsbury's and Waitrose.

Ridgeview Bloomsbury NV

£34.99 for 75cl

Made from grapes grown in the South Downs, Ridgeview's signature blend (which was the official wine served for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee) combines chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier. Is it a safe bet if you're after a crowd-pleasing coronation fizz?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Waitrose.

Sainsbury’s Ellercombe English Quality Sparkling Wine

£22 for 75cl, vegan

Crisp green apple aromas, toasty brioche notes and delicate citrus flavours characterise this English fizz, according to Sainsbury's. Should you add it to your shopping list?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Sainsbury's.

Tesco Finest English Sparkling Wine

£21 for 75cl, vegan

Produced by Balfour winery, Tesco says this is a crisp and refreshing wine that's perfect for celebrations. Did our expert judging panel agree?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Tesco.

Best English still white wines

Only logged-in Which? members can view our full test results and tasting notes below. 

If you're not yet a member, you'll see an alphabetically ordered list of the English white wines on test. To get instant access to these and all our reviews, join Which? today.

Aldi Bowler and Brolly English Bacchus 2022

£9.99 for 75cl

This wine from Aldi is made with bacchus grapes, which are often likened to sauvignon blanc. How did it fare among our expert panel?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? This wine is available in store only at Aldi.

Aldi Bowler and Brolly English White Cuvée 2022

£9.99 for 75cl

English wine can be pricey, but this is one of the cheapest white wines we tested. What did our expert panel make of it?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? This wine is available in store only at Aldi.

Chapel Down Bacchus 2021

£16.99 for 75cl, vegan

Chapel Down's offering promises 'excellent citrus fruit characters and a refreshing finish'. Did it stand out in our taste test?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Waitrose.

Giffords Hall Suffolk Bacchus 2021

£13.99 for 75cl, vegan

This bacchus wine from Giffords Hall is described as having an aromatic elderflower character. Is it one of our top picks?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Waitrose.

M&S Balfour Chardonnay Ortega 2021

£14 for 75cl, vegan

This Balfour wine is made from grapes grown in one of England's oldest ortega vineyards. Should you favour it over other brands?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from M&S (in store only).

Simpsons Estate Chardonnay Kent 2021

£16.99 for 75cl

Simpsons says its English chardonnay has 'lively tropical fruit aromas, a textured palate and a fresh finish'. It's the most expensive white wine we tested, but is it a cut above the rest?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Waitrose.

Waitrose English Dry White 2021

£10.99 for 75cl, vegan

According to Waitrose, this white wine is 'bursting with spring hedgerow aromas and tangy flavours of lemon and lime'. Did it impress our expert panel?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Waitrose.

Best English rosé wines

Only logged in Which? members can view our full test results and tasting notes below. 

If you're not yet a member, you'll see an alphabetically ordered list of the English rosé wines on test. To get instant access to these and all our reviews, join Which? today.

Aldi Bowler and Brolly English Pinot and Precoce Rosé 2022

£9.99 for 75cl

As the cheapest English rosé we tested, Aldi's wine could be a good-value option. How did it compare with pricier bottles?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? This wine is available in store only at Aldi.

Bolney Estate Foxhole Rosé Sussex 2019

£13.99 for 75cl

Made predominantly from rondo and dornfelder grapes, this wine promises fruity, smooth summer fruit flavours. How does it match up to other English rosés?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Waitrose.

Botham & Balfour English Rosé Wine 2020

£13 for 75cl, vegan

This rosé from the Hush Heath winery claims to showcase the delicate, silky smooth, aromatic flavours of the fruit while carefully balancing the fine acidity. Was it one of our panel's favourites?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? This wine was previously available at Tesco but is currently out of stock.

Chapel Down English Rosé Kent 2021

£14.99 for 75cl

Chapel Down says its English Rosé 'epitomises English summer' with aromas of strawberries and cream. Is it a good choice for summer parties?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Amazon and Waitrose. 

Simpsons Estate Pinot Noir Rosé 2021

£16.99 for 75cl

Simpsons described its rosé as having 'fresh aromas of citrus and lychee and a mouthwatering finish' - but at more than £15 a bottle, it doesn't come cheap. Is it worth the premium price?

Join Which? to unlock our test results and find out where this wine ranked overall.

Want to buy without reading our results? Available from Waitrose.

All prices and availability information correct as of March 2023. Wines that are vegan are labelled as such.

English red wine

There are very few English red wines available in supermarkets. 

In the UK, it's harder to ripen pinot noir grapes sufficiently to make good red wine, so it tends to be expensive. Instead, English reds are often made from a blend of other grape varieties including rondo, regent and dornfelder, however they can still be pricey.

If you're interested in trying an English red wine, there are a couple of supermarket options available, athough there weren't enough for us to test this time:

• Bolney Wine Estate Dark Harvest - £11.99
• English Nouveau Pinot Noir- £11.99

English sparkling wine vs champagne

English sparkling wines and champagne have a lot in common.

They are typically made in the same way (bottle fermentation), use the same grape varieties, and share similar chalky soils. Both have a cool climate and, although England is cooler and wetter, champagne vines have bigger yields to ripen – so it’s hard to generalise about which region achieves better ripeness. 

English vs British wine: what's the difference?

If you see a bottle labelled ‘British wine’, don’t be fooled into thinking it’s the same as English wine. While they may sound similar, our experts explained that they're actually two very different types of wine. 

English wine is made from grapes grown in English vineyards, whereas British wine is made from imported grape concentrate that’s been fermented and bottled in the UK. 

As a result, British wine tends to be lower quality and much cheaper, so it’s worth checking the label carefully to make sure you know what you’re getting. Look for terms such as ‘Wine of England’, ‘English Quality Wine’ or ‘English Regional Wine’ on the bottle which indicate it’s an English wine.

Why is English wine more expensive?

English wine tends to be pricier than wine from other regions such as France, Spain and Italy. Most English sparkling wines cost £20 or more, and you'll typically pay £10-£17 for a bottle of red, white or rosé.

Our experts told us this is because English wine is still a young industry, produced on a much smaller scale than established wineries abroad, which brings with it higher risk and higher production and promotion costs. 

English weather also plays a role, as an unpredictable climate can makes growing conditions challenging, particularly for still wines.

Choosing the best English wine: regions and vintages

Most English wine is produced with grapes grown in Essex, Sussex and Kent. According to our experts there’s no need to get too hung up on regions though, as the industry isn’t yet mature enough to show much regional variation in taste profile. 

Grape variety is more important. It’s worth keeping an eye out for wines made with bacchus grapes, which thrive in the UK’s cooler climate - particularly if you enjoy sauvignon blanc, which has a similar flavour profile with notes of grass, nettles, elderflower and gooseberries. 

The vintage (the year the grapes were harvested) makes a difference too. It’s worth looking out for wines from particularly warm years. This is less important for sparkling wines, as the grapes don’t need to be as ripe. If you’re keen to explore further, our experts suggest getting hands on by going on vineyard tours and tastings to discover the styles you enjoy. 

How we tested English wine

Our panel of four independent wine experts blind-tasted 27 English wines, including non-vintage sparkling wine, white wine and rosé.

Our expert tasting panel included:

• Sam Caporn MW Master of wine, consultant, speaker, writer and co-chair of the International Wine Challenge
• Magnavai Janjo Founder of wine importer and consultancy MJ Wine Cellars
• Peter McCombie MW - Master of Wine, speaker, consultant and co-chair of the IWC
• Federica Zanghirella Wine expert and vice-president of the UK Sommelier Association

Our test included all English wines that were available in supermarkets at the time of testing (and had ongoing confirmed availability), including brands and own-labels.

The taste test was blind, so the panellists didn’t know which wine they were trying. Each expert tried the wines in a different order to avoid any bias and, after all the wines had been tasted, the panel agreed on a score for each bottle and which ones deserved to be Best Buys, before the brands were revealed. 

How to recycle wine bottles

Glass bottles can usually go in your household recycling bin. If your council doesn’t accept them, you can take them to a local bottle bank.

The recycling process can vary depending on where you live, so make sure to check with your local area if bottles require rinsing first and whether metal screw caps should be replaced or recycled separately.

Natural corks can’t go in your recycling bin. You can recycle natural corks through Recorked UK – either by posting them or dropping them off at your nearest collection point.

Synthetic corks, which are made of plastic, can’t be recycled. They should be disposed of in your general waste bin.

Please drink responsibly. See Drinkaware for advice.