Scotland

English wine is reveling in unprecedented growth. As its reputation improves both domestically and abroad, more vineyards are being planted and existing ones grow older, offering the happy combination of scale and quality.

Although situated at a perilously high latitude, the effects of global warming appear to be, at least in part, benefiting the English in their attempt to produce wine. While wine has been produced here for a long time, often using Germanic and other cool climate grape varieties, the industry really seems to have found its stride in the production of sparkling wine from the traditional Champagne varieties.

Furthermore, the best sites in the south of England are grown on south-facing slopes with chalky soils, not unlike their French counterparts in Champagne, a mere stone throw across the channel.