English Quality Sparkling Wine

PDO · traditional method

English Quality Sparkling Wine is a PDO for traditional-method sparkling wine from England, made only from six Champagne-family varieties and aged at least 9 months on the lees.1 It was registered in the EU on 29 December 2011 and in the UK scheme on 10 March 2021.2

Grapes

Only six varieties are allowed, and no hybrids:1,3

Production rules

The rules are in Part 2 (Quality Sparkling Wine) of the Defra English Wine PDO specification of December 2011.1

RuleRequirement
Methodsecond fermentation in bottle, lees removed by disgorgement
Time on leesat least 9 months
Actual alcoholat least 10% vol
Total alcohol of the cuvéeat least 9%
Natural alcoholat least 6%
Pressureat least 3.5 bar at 20 °C
Yieldmax 80 hl/ha

All figures in the table come from the same specification.1

Area

The vineyards must be in England (the specification refers to land north of latitude 49.9° N). Wine may be made outside the area only in a contiguous county, with authorisation from Wine Standards.1

Related designations

Wales has a parallel Welsh Quality Sparkling Wine PDO.3 Within England, Sussex has its own PDO with stricter ageing rules.4 For the steps of the method, see disgorgement and ageing on lees.

Compared with Sussex

The Sussex PDO, registered in 2022, asks for 12 months on the lees and 11% vol actual alcohol, against 9 months and 10% vol here.5,1

See also

United KingdomRegionsSussexRegionsTraditional methodMethodsAgeing on leesMethodsChardonnayGrapesPinot NoirGrapesMeunierGrapes

Sources

  1. Defra. English Wine PDO specification (December 2011), Part 2 Quality Sparkling Wine (2011-12)
  2. GOV.UK (Defra). English: protected food and drink names register (PDO) (2021-03-10)
  3. Food Standards Agency, Wine Standards. Wine Standards Guide to UK Wine Scheme: Sparkling Wine (2024) (2024)
  4. GOV.UK (Defra). Sussex: protected food and drink names register (PDO) (2022-07-05)
  5. Defra Wine Team, hosted by WineGB. Defra guidance / application specification: Sussex quality sparkling wine PDO (rev. Sept 2019) (2019-09)

Facts checked on 2026-10-19