Waitrose adds 12 new English Sparkling wines to range

By Jo Gilbert

Published: 11 April, 2016

Waitrose has announced its decision to expand its current range of English and Welsh wine by a quarter.

The supermarket is hoping to capitalise on the growth in this category in time for the spring season, after seeing sales of English and Welsh wine rise 22% at the supermarket compared to last year.

An additional dozen English fizzes will be added to the range including three exclusives: Castle Brook Classic Cuvée from Herefordshire, Squerryes Vintage Reserve Brut from Kent and Black Dog Hill Classic Cuvée from the South Downs, Sussex.

Waitrose is currently the biggest stockist of English and Welsh wine out of the multiples.

Waitrose wine buyer Rebecca Hull MW said: "We have been tasting tirelessly to unearth the very best English wines available and share them with our customers. Many of these wines come from small beginnings and we are really proud to be so closely involved in the English wine industry at such an exciting time. From rich reds to delicious dessert wines, the UK can now offer a home-grown wine for every occasion, which is something to be extremely proud of."

Waitrose Waitrose

Other new additions to the range include an ice wine from Nottinghamshire, fizzes from Buckinghamshire and Herefordshire and a white from Staffordshire.

This is the first time these counties have appeared in the Waitrose range.

The expansion is being helmed by the Waitrose Local and Regional scheme, where wines are stocked in branches 30 miles or less from their vineyards.

The whole range will also be available nationally via the Waitrose Cellar website.

The dozen new English Sparkling Wines launching at this spring:

Camel Valley Cornwall Brut NV Cornwall £26.99

Chafor Estate Vintage Cuvée 2013 Buckinghamshire £30 exclusive to Waitrose

Hush Heath Balfour Leslie's Reserve NV Kent £24.99

Squerryes Vintage Reserve Brut 2011 Kent £30 exclusive to Waitrose

Furleigh Estate Dorset Coast Special Reserve 2010 Dorset £22.50 exclusive to Waitrose

Castle Brook Classic Cuvée Brut 2009 Herefordshire £32 exclusive to Waitrose Cellar