The Journal

English wine has developed rapidly over the past two decades, with vineyards sprouting up across southern England, producing sparkling and still varieties that increasingly appear on international markets, amid ever-growing demand. Most of this success comes from the chalk and limestone soils found across the southern counties such as Sussex, Kent and Hampshire, where conditions closely resemble those of the Champagne region in northern France. Such is the reputation of these soils, rumour has persisted for years now that multiple houses from the French region have been buying up land to produce their own alternatives to their homegrown crop.