{"title":"English Wines To Sip Alongside the World Cup!","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe world cup is in full flow and despite a stressful and tiring late night scare against Mexico, we're still in the running! What better way to cheer England on from here til the final, than with a glass of something red, white or bubbly from here in England!\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"flint-silex-2023","title":"Silex Flint Vineyards 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003eI compare it to white Burgundy - as that's the closest experience I can relate it to - like a fine St Aubin or village Meursault (but a very good one). It is made from a good proportion of Chardonnay - with some Pinot Blanc (a grape allowed in Burgundy) and Pinot Noir (but the white juice) and Pinot Gris. The wine is from Flint Vineyard in Norfolk, with grapes from Crouch Valley and Kent. If this was from France, Spain, Portugal, California or South Africa, I'd still be raving about it. I put it right up there at the top of any white wine blend in the world.  It is not only wonderful wine, it's surely one of the best value wines out there. It makes you think it's going to be a good mineral experience on the palate, and it is, but then you start notice the apple, lemon, and hint of high quality butter, and a touch of toasted almonds. It's got plenty of body, but its tautly textured, with a nice waxy, juicy, grippy finish. Superb! It's hard to stop drinking this. It's also only 12% alc. which is a big tick. Nosing and sipping this is good fun and with any fish and shellfish it's going to be a wonderful match. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e#Tasting#   \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMade from 39% Chardonnay, 28% Pinot Blanc, 17% Pinot Gris and 16% Pinot Noir\u003cbr\u003eIt's been made from the best juice of the grape - called the coeur de cuvee - that runs freely out the grape without pressing - and it's been aged in neutral and new oak for 12 months. 12% alc.. From vineyards in Crouch Valley, Essex, and Kent, and Norfolk. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e","brand":"FLINT \u0026 VINE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54880455131522,"sku":"A5546123","price":27.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/Silex_2023_grey_960x960_crop_center_b3931ad9-78ed-4a9e-a09a-346b349eff02.webp?v=1740482429"},{"product_id":"solstice-by-danbury-ridge-1st-edition-nv","title":"Solstice by Danbury Ridge, 1st Edition NV","description":"\u003cp\u003eA s\u003cspan\u003eensational small production release from Danbury Ridge. Just released, this first edition is absolutely gorgeous. Being fuller, more golden in colour and flavour, with notes of malt, and baked apple pie, buttery pastry, with layers of fruit and complexity, with some delicious oxidative notes, with a fine core of acidity, it is rather different from the other English fizzes we know, which are crisper. Although this is still completely dry. At just over 4g\/l dosage, that puts it in the extra brut category (if Champagne) and make it drier that most English sparklings. A triumph!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMulti-vintage, barrel-fermented Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, a part of which passes through our perpetual solera. 4.8 g\/l dosage. This is a first edition from one of England's top still wine producers, Danbury Ridge, based in one of the warmest and driest corners of the UK, the Crouch Valley in Essex.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DANBURY RIDGE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54932101169538,"sku":"A56161NV","price":62.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/danbury_solstice_ed1_L_144ae197-a820-44b1-a4a5-e990d11dea1c.jpg?v=1742383337"},{"product_id":"flint-charmat-rose-nv-1","title":"Flint Charmat Rosé NV","description":"\u003cp\u003eGloriously pink, and an all-round joyous aperitif. This is produced with the Charmat method, most famously used to produce Prosecco, and was the first of its kind to be produced in the UK. It's all summer pudding with lots of perfectly ripe summer berries, a soft creaminess and pretty floral notes. We love drinking it with summery picnics, tapas and bread and cheese.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBen Witchell's interest in learning more about wine quickly became an obsession, which led to him quitting his job in IT and enrolling at Plumpton College for a 3 year degree in Oenology and Viticulture. After graduating with a first class degree and awards for Best research project and \u003cspan\u003eTop winemaking student, Ben upped sticks to Beaujolais, where he was based for 2 years. It's here, where he experienced a more intuitive and creative side of winemaking and where he cites he draws his greatest influence with his wines today. Now based in the beautiful Earsham area of Norfolk, with 6 hectares under-vine and a state-of-the-art winery, Ben and Flint Vineyard are leading the charge for serious English still wines that are rather hard to get hold of.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"FLINT \u0026 VINE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55305533555074,"sku":"A10161NV","price":22.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_059763fb-a518-4b2a-b91b-bf95a9d2a9ac.jpg?v=1750862612"},{"product_id":"the-trouble-with-dreams-sugrue-2020","title":"The Trouble with Dreams Sugrue 2020","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 2020 has amazing finesse and purity. The nose makes me think of the most perfect white meringue, with a hint of sherbert, a touch of lemon syllabub, and then there's a depth of fruit, but dry, cool fruit like you get with classic Chablis, but then you find some riper more generous notes, and you feel the poised vinous texture and the tempering fine scintillating bubbles. The beautiful flavour held up by its tension and acidity lasts for a minute. It's such a delicious wine with such a wonderful sensation on the palate that you can't help but sip and appreciate its quality and beauty and finesse, again and again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTen years ago I met Dermot Sugrue for the first time. It was a tasting at Claridge's. All the producers present had a table except for Dermot, who was sitting outside the entrance to the ballroom clutching an unlabelled bottle, looking forlorn. Everyone scurried past, in their rush to taste the famous wines beyond. But it's precisely what other people overlook that I find the most interesting. Dermot poured me a taster and I could not believe how good it was. For a moment it was like the world stopped turning as I realised this was a seminal wine in the history of English wine. It was as if I'd been waiting my entire wine career to taste this wine. In a movie it would have been with an accompaniment of Ode to Joy. I put my hands up for all we could get. It was 25 dozen. I described it as my wine experience of the year. And it's that very same wine, The Trouble with Dreams 2009, but in magnum, that won Best in Show at the Decanter wine awards, picked among thousands of top wines from around the world, include famous Champagnes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sugrue","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55336702509442,"sku":"A6706120","price":50.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_448ea45b-e450-4902-9ab9-c9a6ef46300b.png?v=1751013085"},{"product_id":"digby-leander-pink-brut-nv-1","title":"Digby Leander Pink Brut NV","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe official sparkling wine of world renowned Leander club. 50% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay and 15% Meunier, 2017 base vintage. The palate here is just beautiful, all muddled berries folded into whipped cream and crushed meringues, with dried rose notes and blood orange. Fab to pair with lobster rolls, smoked trout pate smeared on crispbreads or a berry laden pavlova.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne of England's most awarded wineries, as made by the brilliant Dermot Sugrue. Named after Sir Kenelm Digby, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethe polymath and inventor of the first strong glass that made it possible to bottle sparkling wine, Digby \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ewas established by founders \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJason Humphries and Trevor Clough after they took a life-affirming trip to the Napa Valley to escape the grind of London corporate life. After talking to top producers around the world, they opted to buy grapes from the best vineyards rather than settle on one vineyard site, establishing contracts and relationships with quality-obsessed growers across a diverse range soil types across the southeast: chalk, greensand and clay soil sites. It's given them the flexibility ever since to make blends that represent the very best vineyards in England.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DIGBY","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55467922981250,"sku":"A63861NV","price":36.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/DIGBY_LEANDER_PINK.jpg?v=1783336635"},{"product_id":"danbury-ridge-chardonnay-2023","title":"Danbury Ridge Chardonnay 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 2023 is delicious. It's got a hint of salinity on the nose, or a minerality, mixed in with it's exciting depth of Chardonnay aromas. The quality here is remarkable - piercing bright, and unlike anything else we've tasted from England. Beautiful Montrachet style. \u003cspan\u003eLick of vanilla and stones on the nose, with lime and spice, and lovely oak, from the 10 months in barrel. There's such intensity to the nose that leads to a broad and dense palate - hawthorn blossom, honey and toast, with a sherbet-y edge keeping it all in check. There's a little warmth too- even a hint of tropical fruit, with real grip to the palate and good volume. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLocated in the warmest, driest area of the UK, the first vineyards were planted at Danbury Ridge in 2014, and 2018 was their debut vintage. And as Jancis Robinson said, \"what a debut!\" The focus here has, and always will be still wines, and with the climate they have, and the ripeness levels the grapes are reaching, one can certainly see why. When Swig was founded, who knew one day we would be talking about the brilliance of Essex terroir! We firmly believe that Danbury Ridge have raised the bar exponentially for English still wine, and we're so excited to join them at the beginning of their journey.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DANBURY RIDGE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56017987797378,"sku":"A1896123","price":40.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_1c968013-6af5-4c83-9ecc-dc2ab62bdd60.jpg?v=1764342936"},{"product_id":"flint-precoce-2024","title":"Pinot Noir Precoce Flint 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003eGrapes from Crouch Valley, Essex, but made in Earsham, Bungay, Norfolk. Lovely, light, fruity style, almost like a Beaujolais. Vibrant and charming. Serve chilled for a delicious summer drink. Very fruity with notes of fruits of forest and ripe red cherries. Just delicious. be careful as it is dangerously easy to drink! Super value too.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBen Witchell’s interest in learning more about wine quickly became an obsession, which led to him quitting his job in IT and enrolling at Plumpton College for a 3 year degree in Oenology and Viticulture. After graduating with a first class degree and awards for Best research project and Top winemaking student, Ben upped sticks to Beaujolais, where he was based for 2 years. It's here, where he experienced a more intuitive and creative side of winemaking and where he cites he draws his greatest influence with his wines today. Now based in the beautiful Earsham area of Norfolk, with 6 hectares under-vine and a state-of-the-art winery, Ben and Flint Vineyard are leading the charge for serious English still wines that are rather hard to get hold of.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"FLINT \u0026 VINE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56347731657090,"sku":"A2566124","price":24.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/flint_precoce_2024_bottle_shot.jpg_single_b0387648-e58f-4f00-b691-bedfc2ff5bb9.png?v=1782297047"},{"product_id":"danbury-ridge-pinot-noir-2023","title":"Danbury Ridge Pinot Noir 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBeautifully soft, rather grand aroma of Pinot Noir with a touch spice and oak. Beautifully smooth with a plush and velvety texture. This has length for days. Utter decadence... This is probably the best Pinot Noir made in England!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLocated in the warmest, driest area of the UK, the first vineyards were planted at Danbury Ridge in 2014, and 2018 was their debut vintage. And as Jancis Robinson said, \"what a debut!\" The focus here has, and always will be still wines, and with the climate they have, and the ripeness levels the grapes are reaching, one can certainly see why. When Swig was founded, who knew one day we would be talking about the brilliance of Essex terroir! We firmly believe that Danbury Ridge have raised the bar exponentially for English still wine, and we're so excited to join them at the beginning of their\u003c\/span\u003e journey.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DANBURY RIDGE","offers":[{"title":"DUTY PAID","offer_id":56489461252482,"sku":"A1886123","price":44.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_3f23adba-0f6c-4fc0-bdde-8048adce06d6.jpg?v=1778750391"},{"product_id":"digby-rose-brut-mvb","title":"Digby Rose Brut MVB","description":"\u003cp\u003e42% Pinot Noir, 33% Chardonnay and 19% Meunier, 2018 base vintage and 6 years of lees aging behind it. The palate here is just beautiful, all muddled berries folded into whipped cream and crushed meringues, with dried rose notes and blood orange. Fab to pair with lobster rolls, smoked trout pate smeared on crispbreads or a berry laden pavlova.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne of England's most awarded wineries, as made by the brilliant Dermot Sugrue. Named after Sir Kenelm Digby, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethe polymath and inventor of the first strong glass that made it possible to bottle sparkling wine, Digby \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ewas established by founders \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJason Humphries and Trevor Clough after they took a life-affirming trip to the Napa Valley to escape the grind of London corporate life. After talking to top producers around the world, they opted to buy grapes from the best vineyards rather than settle on one vineyard site, establishing contracts and relationships with quality-obsessed growers across a diverse range soil types across the southeast: chalk, greensand and clay soil sites. It's given them the flexibility ever since to make blends that represent the very best vineyards in England.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DIGBY","offers":[{"title":"DUTY PAID","offer_id":56489691382146,"sku":"A71761NV","price":39.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"DUTY FREE","offer_id":56712458961282,"sku":"A71761NV","price":39.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_78ea8892-01ad-456f-99d6-3651388303c3.png?v=1773931064"},{"product_id":"digby-blanc-de-blancs-brut-mvb","title":"Digby Blanc de Blancs Brut MVB","description":"\u003cp\u003eA marvellous MV blend from 2018, 2019 and 2020. 100% Chardonnay as you'd expect and 100% superb, made with guidance from the UK's most awarded winemaker, Dermot Sugrue. Super fine and very Blanc De Blanc, giving you youth and age all at once. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne of England's most awarded wineries, as made by the brilliant Dermot Sugrue. Named after Sir Kenelm Digby, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethe polymath and inventor of the first strong glass that made it possible to bottle sparkling wine, Digby \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ewas established by founders \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJason Humphries and Trevor Clough after they took a life-affirming trip to the Napa Valley to escape the grind of London corporate life. After talking to top producers around the world, they opted to buy grapes from the best vineyards rather than settle on one vineyard site, establishing contracts and relationships with quality-obsessed growers across a diverse range soil types across the southeast: chalk, greensand and clay soil sites. It's given them the flexibility ever since to make blends that represent the very best vineyards in England.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DIGBY","offers":[{"title":"DUTY PAID","offer_id":56489736438146,"sku":"A71661NV","price":39.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/digbyBdBMV.png?v=1774008196"},{"product_id":"flint-bacchus-2025","title":"Flint Bacchus 2025","description":"\u003cp\u003eFlint have gone back to their roots and released a pure Bacchus from the 2025 vintage.  Notes of lime and kiwi on the nose, this is zesty and fun. Considered winemaking including the use of mainly neutral oak and concrete to let the varietal character of Bacchus shine. The 2025 Bacchus is vibrant and expressive, with loads of elderflower, grass and apples. Balanced by a fleshy palate and a long, textural finish with flavours of melon and pear, it is  joyful and charming. A brilliant expression of Bacchus showing the variety at its best.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e#Tasting#\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBen Witchell’s interest in learning more about wine quickly became an obsession, which led to him quitting his job in IT and enrolling at Plumpton College for a 3 year degree in Oenology and Viticulture. After graduating with a first class degree and awards for Best research project and Top winemaking student, Ben upped sticks to Beaujolais, where he was based for 2 years. It's here, where he experienced a more intuitive and creative side of winemaking and where he cites he draws his greatest influence with his wines today. Now based in the beautiful Earsham area of Norfolk, with 6 hectares under-vine and a state-of-the-art winery, Ben and Flint Vineyard are leading the charge for serious English still wines that are rather hard to get hold of.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"FLINT \u0026 VINE","offers":[{"title":"DUTY PAID","offer_id":56728307171714,"sku":"A1006125","price":20.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2466\/1541\/files\/BC_Upload_dc3b0480-b2ca-4953-b9ac-df72aad9fe9c.png?v=1782209437"}],"url":"https:\/\/swig.co.uk\/collections\/english-wine-week\/region-essex.oembed","provider":"Swig Wines","version":"1.0","type":"link"}