Let’s make something clear: English wine is having a moment. Long gone are the days of politely saying “oh, it’s actually not bad!” - today’s bottles are bold, brilliant, and absolutely worthy of international attention.
Yes, we all know the flipside: English wine isn’t always cheap. With a young industry and relatively small yields, prices can feel a bit punchy - and that can make trying something new a bit of a gamble.
But here’s the good news: that’s changing. More and more producers are offering wines that are both excellent and affordable. We’ve rounded up nine bottles from across the country - from the chalky soils of the south to gold-medal winners in the north - that prove you don’t need to spend a fortune to drink well. Most of them come in under £20, and not one breaks the £40 mark. So whether you’re after something crisp, creamy, sparkling or still, there’s plenty to get excited about - whatever your mood, budget, or dinner plans.
Three Choirs Stonebrook 2022/23 (Gloucestershire)
Back in 1973, Alan McKechnie decided his farm in Gloucestershire - tucked between hills and sheltered from the worst of the weather - might be just the place for growing vines. That’s how Three Choirs Vineyard got started, named after one of the UK’s oldest choral music festivals.
Since then, their wines have racked up awards, travelled the world, and even made it into British Airways First Class. But these days, more and more bottles are staying right here at home, with growing demand from UK wine lovers.
The team at Three Choirs say it’s the sandy soil that gives their wines a lovely fruit-forward character - and it definitely comes through in Stone Brook. It’s a blend of Siegerrebe and Solaris (grapes that love cooler climates), and it smells like a summer garden in full swing… with a tropical twist. Think lychee, pineapple, peach - surprising, but somehow it works.
Just when you’re floating off to warmer places, a zing of grapefruit, a hit of fresh-cut grass and a pinch of white pepper bring everything back into balance.
Try it with a mild curry or a goat’s cheese salad. It’s a great reminder that English wine isn’t just having a moment - it’s here to stay.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 11%
Find here: £11.00 Mix Six (£12.50 per bottle) - Majestic
Chapel Down Bacchus 2023 (Kent)
If Bacchus, the Roman god of wine had Instagram, this one would definitely be on his grid. Once a bit of an underdog, the Bacchus grape has been making waves in English vineyards lately - soaking up more sunshine (thanks, climate change?) and growing in confidence.
Chapel Down’s Classic Bacchus brings together fruit grown in Kent, Essex and East Sussex - three regions with their own microclimates and terroirs. The soils here range from chalk to clay, which helps give the wine its crisp texture and vibrant aromatics.
It’s also a more sustainable choice. Bacchus ripens relatively early, reducing the need for energy-intensive vineyard interventions. Many producers (including Chapel Down) are now moving toward lower-impact farming and greener bottling practices.
In the glass, it’s a pale straw colour. On the nose: gooseberry, elderflower and a hint of nettle. Take a sip and you’ll find crisp green apple, a twist of lemon zest, and a slice of sun-warmed melon. Bright, clean and expressive - a snapshot of the English countryside in late spring.
The finish is fresh, zippy, and lingers like a long summer afternoon.
Pro tip: take it out of the fridge 15–20 minutes before pouring. Pairs beautifully with seasonal veg, herby fish dishes, or anything fresh from the farmers’ market.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £12.50 - Waitrose
Simpsons Estate Pinot Noir Rosé 2023 (Kent)
About twenty years ago, Charles and Ruth Simpson were happily making wine in the sunny south of France - but then came a change in the wind (or maybe just the English weather calling), and they decided to become part of the English wine revolution.
Their estate is in one of Kent’s designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The winery is nestled between two vineyards, both within walking distance, which means the grapes get the VIP treatment from vine to vat.
This is the more wallet-friendly rosé from the same winemakers whose Railway Hill Rosé was crowned Best Still Rosé at the 2024 WineGB Awards. Made from 100% Pinot Noir, this rosé is a bright, expressive showcase of local terroir. It kicks off with fresh aromas of strawberries and pink grapefruit, then opens up into juicy watermelon, peaches, and tart cranberries sprinkled with a hint of savoury herbs.
The colour alone is calling out for a plate of salmon - grilled or smoked, your choice. That said, it’d pair just as nicely with roast chicken or a herby couscous salad.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £12.50 - Waitrose
Silverhand Estate Sparkling Brut (Kent)
For a while now, English sparkling wines have been making headlines for beating Champagne in blind tastings - but they haven’t always been easy on the wallet. That’s what makes Silverhand Estate Sparkling Brut stand out: it offers impressive quality at a price that won’t make you wince.
Based in Kent, Silverhand is the UK’s largest single-estate organic vineyard and also the first in the country to achieve a carbon-negative status. Rare-breed sheep roam freely between the vines, helping fertilise the land and break up the soil naturally. The estate sits on the same chalky, flinty soils as Champagne’s Côte des Blancs - ideal for growing the classic sparkling varieties.
This bottle blends the traditional Champagne grapes - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. It’s made using the Charmat method (just like Prosecco), keeping the price reasonable without compromising on flavour.
On the nose, there’s citrus, pear and honeysuckle with a soft creamy touch. It’s not bone-dry, but has lovely refreshing acidity. Think pear tart with lemon zest and juicy white peaches on the palate. A perfect partner for a seaside picnic - preferably with fish and chips.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £13.00 Mix Six (£16.00 per bottle) - Majestic
Stopham Estate Pinot Gris 2023 (West Sussex)
What does Formula 1 have in common with English Pinot Gris? Quite a lot, actually, if you ask Simon Woodhead. Before turning his talents to winemaking in 2007, Simon designed parts for race cars. Now, he’s steering things in a slightly more bucolic direction, crafting wines in the rolling hills of West Sussex with a medieval church watching over the vineyards.
At Stopham Estate, sustainability is built into everything they do. The team avoid over-cultivating the soils, never spray herbicides, and let wild grasses flourish between the vines.
Their Pinot Gris is a fantastic snapshot of how English still wines are evolving, winning multiple awards over the years - including a Bronze at the 2024 Independent English Wine Awards. Once crisp and bracing, it’s now blossomed into something with more complexity and elegance. You’ll find floral aromas wrapped around tropical fruit, ripe melon, and a gentle hint of ginger spice. You could even cellar it for a couple of years, but it’s already drinking beautifully.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 11.3%
Find here: £18.00 Mix Six (£21.00 per bottle) Majestic
Dunesforde Pinot Gris 2022 (Yorkshire)
Who says good wine only comes from the south? Let’s head up north to the Yorkshire Vale to meet a wine that’s been turning heads - and winning trophies. Dunesforde’s 2022 Pinot Gris scooped Gold and the Best Single Varietal White Wine Trophy at the 2024 WineGB Awards. Not bad for a family-run estate that only released its first wines in 2019.
The Townsend family is on a mission to prove cool-climate wines can be exceptional - and the long, warm summer of 2022 gave them just the opportunity. Alongside their sparkling wines, they crafted this still Pinot Gris, and the results are delicious: a vibrant, textured wine that’s as moreish as it is sophisticated.
Imagine ripe pears and apricots drizzled with honey, a flicker of citrus peel, and a mouthfeel that’s silky yet bright. Serve it chilled, but not straight from the fridge - let those delicate aromatics shine. It’s a dream with chicken tikka masala, pad Thai, or a wedge of Manchego cheese.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 11%
Find here: £25 - Dunesdorde
Lyme Bay Winery Chardonnay 2022 (Devon)
Lyme Bay is definitely one to watch. Just a few weeks ago, this Devon-based winery did what no other English producer had managed before: it scooped National Trophies for both Best English Red and Best English White at the 2025 International Wine Challenge. Not bad for a team tucked away in the picturesque Axe Valley, a stone’s throw from the Jurassic Coast.
They’ve been at it for over 30 years, now sourcing top-quality grapes from the best soils and microclimates across the country. This Chardonnay, the younger sibling of their award-winning white, is made from fruit picked in early October from four vineyards in Essex, including Crouch Valley, which winemaker consultant Clem Yates MW calls “the best place in the UK for still wines right now.”
“We’re not chasing Burgundy - we’re chasing excellence,” Clem says. And this wine is heading in that direction: rich, creamy, and structured enough to age for a good few years. Expect grilled peach with a squeeze of lemon, orange marmalade, and a little toasted almond on the finish. Lees ageing and gentle oak give it body without heaviness, and a bright acidity keeps everything in balance. A top pick for pairing with creamy pasta, roast white fish, or vegetable risotto.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £23. Master of Malt
Balfour Luke’s Pinot Noir 2023 (Kent)
There was a time when “English wine” basically meant “English sparkling.” But still wines are gaining ground - and when it comes to reds, Pinot Noir is leading the charge. Tricky, temperamental, and totally irresistible to winemakers, it’s the grape so many want to master. But only a few succeed.
The team at Balfour are veterans of the English wine game. They work with Burgundian clones - in other words, the good stuff. Grown on clay soils, this Pinot channels the light, silky character of cool-climate New World styles, but it’s developed a personality all its own.
The nose is lively with red cherry, raspberry and wildflowers. On the palate, you’ll find deeper forest berries and a whisper of woodland after rain. A light touch of oak (around 8%) brings subtle structure and a touch of peppery spice. Winemaker Fergus Elias suggests pairing it with barbecued lamb rubbed in Moroccan spices, moussaka, or roasted aubergine. It’s also a dream with a confit duck.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £30 - Balfour Winery
Leonardslee Vintage Brut Rosé 2021 (Sussex)
Each year, a barn swallow makes the journey from Sussex to Africa and back again. No wonder it’s a fitting emblem for Leonardslee, the UK’s first golf & wine estate, founded by a family with deep South African winemaking roots.
The estate brought in South African expertise too: winemaker Johann Fourie and viticulturist Barry Anderson now lead the charge in the vineyard. The focus here is firmly on sustainability - even the on-site restaurant has earned a Michelin Green Star.
This 2021 vintage rosé brut, a medal winner at the 2024 WineGB Awards, adds a South African twist to the classic blend too: 10% Pinotage, grown right here in English soil. Grapes are handpicked at dawn and whole-bunch pressed, with the wine spending 30 months on lees.
The result? A sparkling rosé that evokes a spring orchard in full bloom, with raspberry, cherry, and a faint whiff of sea salt over rose-flavoured Turkish delight. Pair it with ripe strawberries and soft cheeses like Brie or Robiola. Fewer than 7,000 bottles were made - so if you see one, grab it while you can.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £38 - Leonardslee
Right now is the perfect time to get tasting. Plan a trip to a local vineyard (there are more than you think), explore a new bottle or two, and raise a glass to the brilliant producers shaping the future of English wine. With every harvest, it gets more exciting - and the best bit? This is just the beginning.
For more wine suggestions, head over to our dedicated wine page here.