As the warmth of late spring transitions into the early days of summer, wine enthusiasts across the UK prepare to acknowledge English Wine Week. The annual event is a celebration of the English wine industry, highlighting the exceptional quality of wine that our country produces and offering encouragement to support your local vineyards, whether it be for the first time or already your favourite tipple.
Sussex and Hampshire, the home counties of Elite Hotels, boast numerous award-winning vineyards, placing England firmly on the winemaker’s map. Particularly notable in the sparkling sector of the industry with wineries like Nyetimber, Ridgeview, and Chapel Down, all three of which we are honoured to partner with and which have earned comparisons to Champagne. And it is not just our own residents who enjoy the English grape; more than 30 countries have English wine shipped to them, with 67% of overseas orders going to Scandinavia - clear fans!
Every wine-producing country has different challenges to face throughout its process. England’s being (you guessed it!) the weather. This is why vineyards are more prevalent in the south of England, where higher temperatures help to ripen the grapes. Rainfall and wind speeds both also impact grape growing conditions, influencing the quantities produced each season.
As the popularity of English wine grows, so does its presence on our wine list, with our cellar team always excited to discover something new to add. We are proud to offer a variety of white, red, rose, and sparkling English wines across both of our restaurants and in our cocktail bar, available by the glass or the bottle.
Bluebell Vineyard is just a short 12-minute drive from Ashdown Park, making it the perfect spot to visit and try some local English wine for yourself. Throughout English Wine Week, Bluebell is offering 10% off all bottles and glasses of wine sold at their vineyard cellar door (open Fridays – Sundays). If you can’t make it to us this week, why not book an evening experience with us and Bluebell Vineyard at our Winemaker’s Dinner in November? Bluebell Vineyard Estate Winemaker's Dinner | Ashdown Park Hotel