Five flag-friendly British bubbles that hit the right notes
These brilliant English sparkling wines are the perfect accompaniment to waving the Union Jack during September’s musical highlights. As the BBC Proms celebrates 130 years, discover the finest English sparkling wines hitting all the right notes
11 September 2025 3:15pm BST
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The BBC Proms season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events, held predominantly at the Royal Albert Hall and which began in the third week of July, will culminate with its celebrated Last Night of the Proms performance on 13 September.
For a great British institution celebrating its 130th anniversary this year, what could be more apt than to recommend a collection of English sparkling wines from the Laithwaites range, all made by the traditional method, to enjoy with the music.
The quality of these English wines is now so high that they are as good as, if not better than, many Champagnes. Two factors are at play in this respect: first, global warming has allowed the principal Champagne grapes – Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier – to ripen fully in the south of England; secondly, the world’s most celebrated stretch of limestone, the Paris Basin, runs from the Loire, Burgundy and Champagne under the Channel into the southern counties.
Vines grown on a decent proportion of limestone invariably produce wines with glorious freshness and brightness, marked by vivid acidity that is well integrated. Indeed, the fact that England is still a cool-climate wine region, despite recent heatwaves, is another bonus, with the generally low nocturnal temperatures preserving precious acidity.
1. English Heritage Sparkling Rosé NV (12 per cent ABV, £28)
This cracking bubbly, a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, was made by Ridgeview’s Simon Roberts, the International Wine and Spirit Competition International Winemaker of the Year in 2018. By buying the wine, drinkers will support the important role that English Heritage plays in protecting national buildings and artefacts.
Fittingly, the label features human figures in period dress from the Middle Ages. The fruit came from Ridgeview’s Sussex vineyards. A citrus core, framed by strawberries, is evident along with biscuity notes and a creamy mousse. This one is a real crowd-pleaser.
2. Harrow & Hope Brut Reserve Release No 8 English Sparkling NV (12 per cent ABV, £33)
In 2010, Henry Laithwaite, having honed his winemaking skills in Australia and Bordeaux, planted six hectares, later increased to 10, of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier vines in the rolling hills above Marlow in Buckinghamshire. A winery was built there in 2013, and only six years later, Harrow and Hope was named UK Winery of the Year at the Wine GB awards.
Aged on the lees for three and a half years, this dry white delivers a fine mousse before creamy apricot and autolytic notes emerge, along with toasted brioche. Laithwaite’s wife, Kaye, is part of a winemaking team that also produces a fine Blanc de Noirs.
3. Bee Tree Sugrue English Sparkling Rosé 2020 (12 per cent ABV, £35)
This enchanting sparkling rosé (80 per cent Pinot Noir, 20 per cent Pinot Meunier) was made by former Nyetimber winemaker Dermot Sugrue and his wife Ana, who own three vineyards in Sussex: Bee Tree in Wivelsfield Green, Mount Harry near Lewes and Coldharbour, which is south of Petworth. Honeyed peach and light summer berry notes, and a long toasty finish, make this a delight to drink as an aperitif or with food.
4. Windsor Great Park Vineyard Release 8 English Sparkling NV (12 per cent ABV, £44)
Although vines were first grown in Windsor Great Park as far back as the twelfth century, the most recent ones were planted in 2011 on a south-facing, three-hectare site. The 2015 vintage bubbly from them won a gold medal at Mundus Vini and a bronze at the Sommelier Wine Awards (both in 2020). This alluring non-vintage blend has citrus, peach and cooked apple notes with a long, fresh finish.
5. Kew Gardens Crémant de Loire Rosé Brut, Crémant de Loire AOC (12 per cent ABV, £18.99)
This lovely Crémant, also made by the traditional method, comes from Cabernet Franc grapes (with a splash of Grolleau) in the Loire Valley, but is named after a collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, south-west London.
This is the largest living plant collection in the world, which would have appealed to the winemaker Jean-Pierre Sauvion, himself a devotee of both sustainability and biodiversity of flora and fauna. Creamy raspberry and strawberry notes are prominent, along with a stony, citrus edge. A very enjoyable bubbly at a competitive price.