Grape Varieties

The three classic grapes of Champagne also shape the sparkling wine of Kent and Hampshire: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Domaine Evremond's Classic Cuvée Edition I is composed, according to the producer, of 55 percent Pinot Noir, 35 percent Chardonnay and 10 percent Pinot Meunier.

Louis Pommery England weights things differently: 55 percent Chardonnay, 37 percent Pinot Noir and 8 percent Pinot Meunier, according to figures for the first blend from the 2015 harvest. These proportions shape the style. A cuvée with more Pinot Noir typically carries more body and fruit, while one with more Chardonnay brings more freshness and citrus.

Chapel Down plants Kit's Coty near Aylesford with only Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Elsewhere in Kent, Bacchus grows, a German crossing that became known in England mainly as a still wine. The sparkling wines of the major houses, by contrast, rely on the three classic French varieties.

Each of the three brings something different. Chardonnay delivers acidity, citrus and a fine, mineral edge. Pinot Noir gives the wine backbone, red fruit and structure, even though its juice stays pale since the skins don't ferment with it. Meunier is round and fruity, and it buds slightly later in spring, which is an advantage when frost threatens.

There are two reasons these particular varieties are planted. Picked early, they deliver high acidity and low tannin, which is the foundation for sparkling wine. And anyone selling a wine in the Champagne style in England can rely on varieties that buyers already know.