UK
The industry, which is still quite young (the oldest vineyards date from the 1960s), has not only matured but has developed a distinctive English style - particularly delicate, sunny aromatic whites - which is winning fans, as well as international awards for zingy Champagne-style sparkling wines. UK wine has shown a stable and consistent development in quality and production of wine. Due to this positive development in UK wine it now serves as a quality alternative for Russian and Australian wines. The most important grape varieties in UK production are Reichensteiner, Seyval Blanc, Müller-Thurgau and Bacchus among others. Classic champagne varieties are also grown to produce the sparkling wines.
The Nyetimber Estate in West Sussex is now the largest vineyard in the UK comprising of 438 acres under vine. Nyetimber is also the only UK producer to make premium sparkling wine exclusively from estate grown fruit. Sedlescombe Vineyard in East Sussex was the first UK organic vineyard established in 1979, and in 2010, it also became England’s first biodynamic vineyard. Glyndwr Vineyard in the Vale of Glamorgan is the oldest established vineyard in Wales.