The English have become wine producers as well as wine consumers
English wine is changing the landscape
Beyond its famous orchards, jams, and reality-TV series, Essex is steadily cultivating a reputation for grapes that yield quality wine. In the last two decades over 400 hectares of vines have been planted in the Crouch Valley. Clay soil, south-facing slopes and low rainfall help grape ripeness, while proximity to a tidal river offers protection from spring frosts. “We get a lot of sunshine,” says Emily Wilsdon of Creeksea Vineyard. She has planted 30 hectares of vines since 2021 in partnership with McNeill Vineyard Management, which oversees the vineyard. When Ms Wilsdon and her husband Harry bought the farm in 2008 it was derelict. Today it grows grape varieties used for making still wine, including Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. Wine has brought a “new identity” for the Crouch Valley, says Ms Wilsdon.
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This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Grape Britain”
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