Wine of The Week: Wiston Estate Blanc de Blanc

The south of England (of all places) is producing some seriously good sparkling wine.

In the world of wine, climate change is a hot topic. Famed wine-growing regions from Bordeaux to Napa Valley have lately been forced to deal with unusual temperature changes, and those same weather fluctuations have led some wine aficionados to anoint England’s sparkling wine scene as a new frontier for bubbly.

Drive just two hours South of London and you’ll hit Sussex—a pastoral region known for rolling farmlands and cozy overnight stays–which is now a serious sparkling wine destination. Wiston Estate is a Sussex-based former turkey farm turned sparkling wine house, with a full winery, restaurant, and events destination on the property.

The estate has a range of excellent sparklings, from blanc de noirs and joyous roses, but one of the standouts is the always-present Blanc de Blanc, made with estate-grown Chardonnay pulled from various vintages. Expect notes of juicy, crunchy green apples, ripe apricots, and a driving, lemon-fresh acidity. ($56)

Kate Dingwall is a WSET-trained sommelier and spirits writer. Her work has appeared in Wine Enthusiast, Eater, Forbes.com, and Food & Wine, and she pours wine at one of Canada’s top restaurants.