English Wines
In the main the English produce aromatic, elderflower-scented whites using Germanic grapes such as Sylvaner, Muller-Thurgau and Riesling. The best of them are clean, dry and fruity, not especially designed to match food although good with a picnic and refreshingly pleasant on their own. However, for me the Carter`s Bacchus has just about enough edginess to it to match Colchester oysters at The Shed in Mersea if a wholly local produce lunch is required! Or, if you prefer, Carter`s sparkling wine. Some of England`s sparkling wines are dry and malic aperitif wines, others delicate and floral for drinking on their own. Carter`s is somewhere between, not Champagne by any means but really quite good.
In a warm year the English can make a pretty good red wine too, especially using Pinot Noir, but sadly good value is still the exception rather than the rule. Our local red, King Coel, is made up of a blend of Pinot Noir and Germanic red grape varieties Rondo, Dornfelder and Dunkelfelder. It`s a light, fruity style red and a fair example. Nonetheless for hearty winter-warmer stews and Sunday Roasts, better to look elsewhere!
White
Red
Rose
Sparkling
Sweet