English Rose Wine

I think it’s pretty sure that whenever the majority of us go through the countries which are famous for producing wine not many of us would bring to mind England. Please read on …. Generally speaking grapes need sunshine to create wine of a high standard. We therefore picture the warmer countries like France, Spain, Italy, and Australia and then we visualise acres or hectares of vines ripening while in the hot sun. Wine is also produced in many other countries but as a rule of thumb these too have more than their fair share of sun and a lot less rain than the UK. I have to say though that there is little to compare with a really beautiful English summer day - and it does happen !

There are in fact over 400 vineyards in the UK now - a far cry from the 38 mentioned in the doomsday book. The climate has proven to be ideal for growing early ripening varieties such as Rondo which are superb for producing fruity rose’s. An English rose wine (Denbies Ashcombe Hill Rondo Pinot Pinot Noir 2010) picked up the gold medal at the international wine challenge this year.

Nevertheless several English winemakers at the moment are producing award winning wines which are giving the long established rivals a run for their money. With both still and sparkling white wines particularly single estate vineries like Denbies in Dorking,Surrey have already been filling their display cabinets with medals for several years. Their Ashcombe hill 2010 won best English wine producer at the International wine and spirits competition.last year.

So what on earth helps to make the climate within this area of the UK so great for certain grape varieties ? The majority of English vineyards are based in the south of the country where although hardly similar to Spain for example, the average rainfall is less and the average sunshine more than in more notherly parts. The south of England has long been associated with cider production so why not grapes.

There has been a large element of snobbery over the years regarding English wines which have in fact been quietly produced ever since the 12th century. Possibly the UK continues to be associated with the manufacturing of beers, gin and run throughout its long naval background and the wines just took a back seat to the larger European wine wine producing countries. Those countries, specifically France in addition have a much more highly lauded culinary tradition which perhaps goes in conjunction with wine.

In either case it's been a troublesome proposition to locate English wines in the shops until very recent times in fact it is still less of a challenge to discover if you buy wine online. Many English wine producers have their own own web stores though the fast improving reputation these wines are garnering more of the big retailers are offering them via their online portals.

A great website which works with a great variety of UK wine merchants is http://www.wineday.co.uk There's not much when it comes to wines, wine gifts and accessories you cannot find here and the store works with retailers like Majestic and Adnams both of whom offer a range of English wines. Definitely worth looking at. Wineday Uk is an online wine megastore which offers you all the best wine and wine related gifts and accessories. With products on offer from the biggest names in wine retailing in the UK you will find everything you need under on virtual roof. Visitbuy wine onlineand find out how easy it is to buy wine online today.