The highly anticipated Domaine Evremond vineyard, a sprawling 60-hectare estate nestled on the serene hillsides of Kent, celebrated its grand opening with royal approval, as the Duchess of Edinburgh graced the event with her presence.
This vineyard is the product of a decade-long joint venture between renowned French champagne house Taittinger and its UK importer, Hatch Mansfield. The project began in 2015 when the land was purchased in the picturesque “Garden of England,” where apple orchards were replaced with grapevines.
A Decade in the Making
After nearly ten years of meticulous planning and cultivation, Domaine Evremond is set to release its first batch of 100,000 bottles of English sparkling wine. These will be available in the UK market starting in March 2025, with each bottle priced at around £50 (€59).
Sparkling Wine with a Unique Identity
While the estate’s sparkling wine promises elegance, it won’t bear the prestigious label of “champagne” due to strict EU regulations that reserve the name exclusively for products from France’s Champagne region. Vitalie Taittinger, president of the Taittinger house and great-granddaughter of its founder, emphasized the uniqueness of their English wine. “It will be very elegant, but with no comparison to champagne,” she said.
Despite this, Taittinger takes pride in being the first champagne brand to launch such a venture from the ground up in the UK. However, they are not alone in exploring British soil; other French wine houses have also ventured into English terrain. The 40-hectare Pinglestone estate in Hampshire, owned by champagne house Vranken-Pommery, produces “Louis Pommery England,” a sparkling white wine that saw a 9% sales increase in 2023.
Climate Change and the Rise of English Vineyards
Kent’s chalky soil, akin to that of the Champagne region, provides optimal conditions for growing Pinot Noir, Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes. Its coastal location and cooler, windier climate result in wines with more acidity. But with global temperatures on the rise, regions like Kent—England’s sunniest area—are seeing a flourish in viticulture.
Patrick McGrath, co-founder of Domaine Evremond, acknowledged the impact of climate change on winemaking. “There is no right side of climate change, but you could argue that here we are on the more positive side,” he remarked. The vineyard’s first harvest is set to begin within two weeks, with grape juice ready to ferment in the estate’s modern cellar equipped with stainless steel vats.
Champagne Faces Climate Struggles
Meanwhile, in France, the wine industry faces a challenging year. According to the French Ministry of Agriculture, French wine production is projected to drop by 18% in 2024 due to adverse climate conditions. The Champagne region is expecting a 16% decrease in production as extreme weather events such as heatwaves and heavy rains cause widespread damage across the country.
In contrast, English sparkling wines are experiencing a boom. According to WineGB, sales of English sparkling wines have soared by 187% since 2018. This growing popularity is attracting European winemakers, who have been scouting British lands for new opportunities over the past few decades.
A Growing Wine Industry in the UK
Today, southern England and Wales are home to more than 1,000 vineyards. The wine-growing area has more than doubled in the past decade, now covering 4,200 hectares, with increasing interest from international producers as English sparkling wines continue to gain traction in both domestic and northern European markets.
As Domaine Evremond’s grand opening marks a significant milestone, the future looks bright for English viticulture, which is poised to continue its rapid growth in the years ahead.
