In the English paradise garden of Kent, grape clusters are ripening and pointing towards the distant Chilham Church. These Pinot Meunier clusters, which are being prepared for the production of English sparkling wines, are 51 percent owned by the French Champagne house Taittinger. On this sunny day, Hilary Sharp, the host and sales manager, guides us through the gardens of Domaine Evremond and enthusiastically says, "England is now the most exciting winemaking region."
The Amazing Transformation of English Winemaking
The book Vines in a Cold Climate by Henry Jeffries describes the rise of English wines from a joke to a global level over 30 years. The book begins with a scene of grape planting at Domaine Evremond in May 2017: cold, rainy weather, with mud and captivating stories from Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger about the English women he met in his youth.
This garden is named after Charles de Saint-Évremond, a French nobleman in exile, symbolizing the artistic and hedonistic collaboration between England and France. He was the first to introduce Champagne to England, and Charles II, the passionate king, appointed him as the governor of Duck Island in St James's Park.
Unique Experience at Domaine Evremond
In this lush garden, visitors can not only admire the beautiful landscapes of England but also sample the produced wines. With climate changes and favorable conditions for grape cultivation, a bright future for English winemaking seems to be on the horizon. England currently appears to be a serious contender in the global winemaking arena, which could lead to a revolution in the wine industry.
