English Sparkling Wine vs Champagne: Key Differences
At first glance the square off between English Sparkling Wine and Champagne is a matched competition. After all, the similarities are obvious with classic grape varieties and production methods reflecting each other, climate and topography of similar style.
So, if English Sparkling Wine is the upstart, is it merely mimicking its more famous counterpart across the channel or are there truly unique differences that set it apart from the famous French fizz?
The Taste
There are undoubtedly plenty of similarities between Champagne and English Sparkling Wine and therefore should have a very similar taste. After all the grape varieties are the same, climate is similar, and the production methods don’t differentiate.
But this doesn’t take the subtleties of taste and flavour into account. With our cooler and longer growing seasons our fruit achieves a greater level of phenolic ripeness which leads to a taste profile in English wines that can often favour ripe apple and citrus fruits and delicate floral notes, rather than the dominant brioche flavours that can characterise many Champagnes. The cooler night temperatures we experience also help retain the wonderful acidity levels in our grapes, awarding a characteristic freshness that is unique to English Sparkling Wine.
Discover the Best of English Sparkling Wine with Roebuck Estates
Production Methods
The production method of Champagne is so famous that it lends its name to the second fermentation in the bottle. Methode Champenoise or the Traditional Method is employed to make English sparkling wines as well, however decisions made at key points in this process affect the final differences in taste and style.
English wine tends to lean towards a characteristic high acidity due to our cooler climate. Our Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) requirements state that ageing needs to be for a minimum of 9 months on the lees, unlike the three years required of vintage Champagne. At Roebuck Estates we bottle-age our vintage sparkling wine for a minimum of three years for our Classic Collection, resulting in wines that are deliciously complex with richness and depth of flavour. Our Blanc de Noirs, a wine that is only made in exceptional years, is aged for a minimum of 45 months adding to its complexity and generosity of flavour whilst our Rare Expressions wines are aged for considerably longer.
Protected Origin
The Champagne region has been producing sparkling wines since the 17th century and the name Champagne is protected with legendary fierceness, but protecting the name is simply the tip of the iceberg for the region. French wine laws, known as Appellation d’origine controlee, do not only protect a region and a name, but also give criteria for style and production. These have been ingrained in law and dictate not just the name but growing and production processes.
A similar protection exists for English Sparkling Wine, known as the PDO or Protected Designation of Origin. The laws around this also specify grape varieties, techniques and analysis to ensure that the contents of the bottle meet certain rules, and the consumer can ensure that what they are buying is true and honest. However, these are much less corralling than their French counterparts, leaving room for innovation and producer variation.
At Roebuck Estates we aim to craft the most exquisite vintage English sparkling wines every single year and are always able to adapt and improve our vineyard practices and approach to production to reflect this, rather than being dictated to by enshrined rules and regulations. Our Roebuck Rare Expressions No. 19 is a testament to this innovation, being a wine crafted from a single block of Pinot Noir grapes grown at our Roman Villa vineyard and aged on its lees for 84 months.
Sustainability
As a relatively young industry, English sparkling wine is highly committed to sustainability, with over 1,400 hectares (ha) of English vineyards certified as Sustainable under the Sustainable Wines of Great Britain certification scheme. At Roebuck Estates we are incredibly proud to be one of the founder members of the Sustainable Wines of Great Britain certification scheme and have a full-time ecologist whose sole objective is to create a haven of biodiversity at all our vineyard sites.
Whilst these moves are happening in Champagne, given acceleration by the visible markers of global warming, many vineyards in the UK are listed as sustainable, B-Corp or other initiatives that limit environmental impact.
At Roebuck Estates we have stopped using herbicides on our established vines, choosing instead to focus on growing cover crops and mulching back into the soil, with regular audits of flora and fauna to make sure that we are continually increasing our biodiversity. Additionally, our packaging is also as environmentally friendly as possible with foils made from recyclable plant-based polyethene derived from sugar cane and use water based inks.
Much like the graceful roe deer that roams our landscape, we aim to leave only the lightest footprint on our wonderful environment. We have enormous respect for our beautiful surroundings and aim to protect our environment as best we can and in every way possible.
Therefore, whilst Champagne dominates in many people’s minds as the drink of choice for pleasure and celebration, English sparkling wine can certainly sit shoulder to shoulder in terms of quality, and, in many cases, surpass the offerings of our French neighbours.
Next time you are looking to mark an occasion why not do so with a glass of Roebuck Estates, which is perfect for all your vintage moments.
