United Kingdom

England and Wales

Most wine made in England and Wales is sparkling: 69% of 2024 output, according to WineGB, from 4,841 ha of vineyards.1 Quality sparkling wine is protected by the English and Welsh PDOs and by the Sussex PDO.2,3

Designations

UK rules separate quality sparkling wine with a protected designation of origin (PDO) from regional sparkling wine with a protected geographical indication (PGI).2

DesignationLevelKey rules
English Quality Sparkling WinePDOtraditional method, six varieties, 9 months on lees
Welsh Quality Sparkling WinePDOparallel category for Wales
SussexPDO (2022)hand harvest, 12 months on lees, 15 months before release
English Regional, Welsh RegionalPGIwide variety list incl. hybrids, at least 85% from England or Wales

The English PDO allows only Champagne-family varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier, and no hybrids.4,2 Regional (PGI) sparkling wine may use a much wider list, including hybrids such as Seyval Blanc.2 The Welsh PDO specification was not reviewed separately for this page.

The industry in numbers

The WineGB Industry Report 2025 counts 4,841 ha of vines, 1,104 vineyards and 238 wineries. Over 10.6 million bottles were produced in 2024, 69% of them sparkling and 31% still.1

An early English record

On 17 December 1662 Christopher Merret read a paper on the treatment of wines to the Royal Society in London. It records that wine-coopers added "vast quantities of Sugar and Melosses" to wines.5,6 The Royal College of Physicians reads this as adding sugar to make wine sparkle through a second fermentation in bottle; the Royal Society catalogue summarises the paper more generally, as notes on preserving and correcting wines.6,5 See the timeline.

See also

English Quality Sparkling WineRegionsSussexRegionsEnglish Quality Sparkling WineRegionsSussexRegionsTraditional methodMethodsChardonnayGrapesPinot NoirGrapesMeunierGrapesTimelineHistory

Sources

  1. WineGB Industry Report 2025 (summary page) (2025)
  2. Food Standards Agency, Wine Standards. Wine Standards Guide to UK Wine Scheme: Sparkling Wine (2024) (2024)
  3. GOV.UK (Defra). Sussex: protected food and drink names register (PDO) (2022-07-05)
  4. Defra. English Wine PDO specification (December 2011), Part 2 Quality Sparkling Wine (2011-12)
  5. Royal Society (Science in the Making archive). 'Some observations concerning the Ordering of Wines' by Christopher Merrett, RBO/2i/14 (1662-12-17)
  6. Royal College of Physicians (history blog). Christopher Merrett and the beginnings of champagne

Facts checked on 2026-10-19