Langham Wine Estate From Dorset pick up the 'Top Sparkling' English Wine Trophy

I’ve spent the week in Portugal, with interludes talking with many wine savvy people. Building a world view of the warps and wefts of the world of fine wine is a much-loved topic. While opening bottles from across the Alentejo, Douro, Dao, Vinho Verde, Champagne and beyond, our conversation naturally turns to the subject of quality English wines and then (like the taste of last night's garlic in the morning) to our national woes.

Untangling wine and politics

It is certainly topical in this context to receive today the list of winners of the British 'Best In Show'. 

As a disclaimer, I see no link between the quality of contemporary British dry, still, sparkling wine and the travesty of Brexit that we now face. Nationalism, or anti-European-ism is not our aim or game.

The Irony

While Brexiteers may conveniently hinge themselves to the success of English wines (for whatever tenuous reasons), it should be stated very clearly that this success is correlated scientifically to the global warming effects of profligate carbon emissions. 

It's not a criticism, just a statement of fact considering so many politicians in favour of Brexit, disfavour meaningful action to make the Paris Climate Agreement a reality. 

Thus by doing do, they are against conserving (or at least, prolonging) the period of euphoria that our home grown bevvy of producers currently enjoy.

Enough said, there are celebrations afoot. Without further ado, let's list them accordingly:

Gold Medals:

ALDER RIDGE VINEYARD 

Blanc de Noirs 2014 

BOLNEY WINE ESTATE 

Pinot Noir 2018 

BREAKY BOTTOM 

Cuvée Peter Christiansen 2014
Cuvée Gerard Hoffnung 2009
Cuvée Oliver Minkley 2011 

CAMEL VALLEY VINEYARD 

Bacchus Dry 2018 

CHAPEL DOWN 

Bacchus 2018
Kit’s Coty Chardonnay 2016 Kit’s Coty Coeur De Cuvée 2014 Three Graces 2015 

DAVENPORT VINEYARDS 

Limney Estate 2013 

DENBIES WINE ESTATE LTD 

Ranmore Hill 2017 Cubitt Blanc de Noirs 2013 

DIGBY FINE ENGLISH 

Non Vintage Brut NV 

GUSBOURNE 

Pinot Noir 2016 Guinevere 2016
Blanc de Blancs 2013
Brut Reserve Late Disgorged 2010 Rosé 2015
Cherry Garden Rosé 2018 

HARROW & HOPE 

Harrow & Hope Blanc de Blancs 2014
Harrow & Hope Brut Reserve NV
Harrow & Hope Blanc de Noirs 2013
Harrow & Hope Brut Rosé 2015 

HATTINGLEY VALLEY WINES 

Hattingley Valley Blanc de Blancs 2013 

SILVER MEDALS

ASHLING PARK ESTATE 

Rosé 2014 

BEARLEY VINEYARD 

Bearley Sparkling 2016 

BLUEBELL VINEYARD ESTATES 

Hindleap Blanc de Blancs 2013
Ashdown Rosé 2018
Hindleap Classic Cuvée 2014 

BOLNEY WINE ESTATE 

Pinot Gris 2018

Estate Bacchus 2018

Autumn Spice 2018 

BREAKY BOTTOM 

Cuvée Michelle Moreau 2014 

CAMEL VALLEY VINEYARD 

Pinot Noir Rosé Brut 2016
Cornwall Brut 2015 

CHAPEL DOWN 

Kit's Coty Blanc de Blancs 2014
Rosé Brut NV 

CHARTHAM VINEYARD 

Pinot Gris 2018 

COATES AND SEELY 

Rosé NV 

DAVENPORT VINEYARDS 

Diamond Fields 2017 

DENBIES WINE ESTATE LTD 

Cubitt Blanc de Blancs 2013 

DIGBY FINE ENGLISH 

2010 Vintage Reserve Brut
2014 Vintage Rosé 

FLINT VINEYARD 

Pinot Noir Précoce 2018
Bacchus 2018 

For a full list that includes Bronze medal winner visit the WineGB website.