The Domaine Evremond vineyard, a sprawling 60-hectare estate nestled on a serene hillside in Kent, celebrated its grand opening with notable royal attendance from the Duchess of Edinburgh, Sophie.
Vitalie Taittinger, president of the esteemed wine house Taittinger, reflected on the decade-long friendship that led to this moment. “It’s a story of ten years of friendship between two families and two companies,” she stated, highlighting the collaboration between her family and Patrick McGrath, head of the vineyard’s UK importer, Hatch Mansfield.
McGrath reminisced about their initial discussions a decade ago regarding the burgeoning English sparkling wine scene. “Ten years ago, we were talking about the rise of English sparkling wine… and Pierre-Emmanuel (Taittinger) said: ‘You know, why don’t we do a project together?’”
The picturesque region, often referred to as the “Garden of England,” is located near the quaint village of Chilham. The land was acquired in 2015, transforming apple orchards into flourishing vineyards.
Set to make its debut in March 2025, the first release of Domaine Evremond will consist of 100,000 bottles of English sparkling wine priced around £50 ($67). Vitalie Taittinger emphasized the wine’s elegance, noting, “It will be very elegant, but with no comparison to champagne.”
Due to stringent European Union regulations, the wine cannot bear the label “champagne,” which is reserved for sparkling wines produced in the Champagne region, located east of Paris. Taittinger claims this venture marks the first time a champagne brand has embarked on such a project “from scratch” in the UK, although it is not the sole French house exploring British terroir.
The Pinglestone estate, a 40-hectare vineyard located northeast of Winchester, is owned by the Vranken-Pommery champagne house, which produces “Louis Pommery England,” a sparkling white wine exclusive to the UK. Sales of this wine surged by 9 percent in 2023.
The Kent region’s chalky soil is optimal for cultivating Pinot Noir, Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes, facilitating proper water drainage and mitigating humidity. This soil composition closely resembles that of Champagne, making it easier for French producers to adapt, despite the maritime and breezy climate in Kent contributing additional acidity to the wines.
As temperatures rise, the region has become increasingly favorable for viticulture, boasting England’s sunniest weather. McGrath noted, “There is no right side of climate change, but you could argue that here we are on the sort of more positive side.”
Harvesting is anticipated to commence in two weeks, with grape juice fermenting in a dozen state-of-the-art stainless steel vats housed within the vineyard’s modern facility.
In contrast, French wine production is facing significant challenges. The Ministry of Agriculture recently reported an expected 18 percent decline in wine output for 2024 due to adverse weather conditions, with Champagne vineyards projected to see a 16 percent reduction. The Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE) warned of increasingly severe weather events, such as heatwaves and torrential rains, adversely affecting French vineyards.
The growing popularity of sparkling wines among British consumers and Scandinavians has sparked interest from emerging vintners. Following the pioneering efforts of early viticulturists three decades ago, southern England and Wales now boast over 1,000 vineyards, with the wine-growing area more than doubling in the last decade to 4,200 hectares.
According to WineGB, sales of English sparkling wines have skyrocketed by 187 percent since 2018. “We’re feeling very on trend, and it’s fantastic to mix the older tradition of champagne with the newer, which is English sparkling,” stated Nicola Bates, president of the organization, in an interview with AFP.
You Might Be Interested In:
- How to Use a SodaStream to Make Sparkling Wine?
- The 4 Best Kinds of Sparkling Wine for Mimosas
- How Many Calories Are in a 750ml Bottle of Sparkling Wine?
