The English wine scene has exploded in recent years thanks to a string of good vintages and some showstopping performances at international wine shows. Such has been the quality of leading lights, such as Ridgeview, Camel Valley and Nyetimber, that even the great names of Champagne have had to settle for second place. Expert tip: the seam of chalk that runs through Champagne also extends under the English Channel to the south English coast and gives the sparkling wines their distinct mineral freshness
