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English Wine
Romans were first to grow vines and make wine in the United
Kingdom. Unfortunately, as we Brits could have told them, the
climate proved too cold and too wet. Yet, due to good-old British
determination, a few persisted in attempting to grow grapes
and at one point Britain boasted 40 vineyards, but most of what
was bottled was communion wine.
Then, all ofv a sudden really, English wine experienced a growth
spurt in the 90's, a spirt of enthusiasm born mainly because
wine from the Australia, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand and South
Africa were suddenly competing seriously with France for bigger
and bigger market share. The British entrepreneurial spirit
bubbled to the surface like champagne bubbles and English wine
producers, inspired by the quality wines being produced outside
of France, decided to join the race for at least a share of
this new and growing market and used Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
grapes with which to compete. In 2004 judges of European sparkling
wine awarded many of the top positions to English wines, placing
English wine firmly beside French champagnes.
Now there are vineyards in the Wiltshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset
and Cornwall who are beginning to enjoy some serious success
and more vineyards are popping up all the time as the vineyard
trend moves further north.
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