UK-produced premium fizz now sold to 27 countries as industry nets sales of £100m a year. The rise of English sparkling wine from a novelty to a major player in the global drinks market continues, with home-produced premium fizz now exported to a record 27 countries.
Figures published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs reveal the number of countries receiving cases of British bubbly, which makes up nearly 70% of the UK’s total wine production, was up from 19 in 2015, with exports heading to destinations such as Japan, Taiwan, France and Italy.
“Thanks to sparkling rosé from Kent, and Chardonnay from Sussex, we are rightly taking our place among the world’s most renowned wine producers,” said the environment secretary, Andrea Leadsom.
“The number of countries enjoying our wine has increased by a third this year, and with major producers on track to deliver a tenfold increase in exports, we could soon be tapping into more countries.”