English White Wine For Christmas

Looking for the best English White Wines to try this Christmas? Here’s the Marasby 5.

Want to drink English wine this Christmas, but don’t know where to start? We can help. We’ve tasted hundreds of English wines from lean Chablis style English Chardonnay to super floral English Bacchus.

Our cool climate white wines have high acidity levels and this is a good thing. Because wines with higher acidity are great for pairing with food. And let’s face it, there’s a lot of food over the festive period.

If you prefer a white wine classic, then we recommend trying English Chardonnay. Top tip if you like a more full bodied Chardonnay is to look for wines from the east of the country – especially Essex. A handful of winemakers are making award winning wines that are scoring big with the critics. Or for something a little more adventurous try an English Pinot Blanc.  A small group of pioneering producers are making extremely interesting and delicious English white wines from the white Pinots.

Want to know what English white wines we’re drinking this Christmas? Here’s our top 5, all of which are available to buy direct from the winemaker on Marasby Market, at farm-gate prices.

1. Meophams Ridge Lane –  Fridge Door White Wine For Christmas.

Put a few bottles of this in your fridge over Christmas and you’ll be well prepared for any festive drop ins. That’s because this wine is one of the best value English white wines on the market. At just £13.95 it’s a super versatile wine and is especially good with Christmas nibbles.  Meophams Ridge Lane is from the hugely charismatic Surinder Basi. You can read all about his Meopham Vineyard in Simon’s winery profile.

Taste: Surinder describes Ridge Lane White as a luxurious and vibrant white wine crafted from Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Madeleine Angevine. Opulent but balanced with a mineral edge.

Buy: Meophams Ridge Lane £13.95 on Marasby Market

2. Artelium Chardonnay –  A Classic English White Wine for Christmas.

A multi-layered Chardonnay, with a dash of barrel aged Pinot Gris, it works brilliantly on its own, or with food. It’s made by one of the UK’s most famous winemakers Owen Elias and it’s drinking beautifully now. It will also age well in the cellar, and so makes an excellent Christmas gift.   Read more about Artelium, one of the UK’s leading boutique winemakers, in Simon’s winery profile.

Taste: Artelium describes their Chardonnay as bright lemon citrus with hints of juicy, fresh mango and pineapple at the core. Perfect for a pescetarian Christmas, especially lobster. Also works great with roast chicken.

Buy: Artelium Chardonnay £25.00 on Marasby Market 

3. Simpsons Gravel Castle Chardonnay

Simpsons’ Wine Estate Gravel Castle Chardonnay is brilliantly soft and rounded. From stunning vineyards near Canterbury in Kent, it’s one of the very best unoaked styles available from England. And one of the best value. Read more about the dynamic husband and wife team behind Simpson’s Wine Estate.

Taste: Delicate aromas of white melon and orange blossom, with superb mouth-watering minerality. Perfect for a cheese and charcuterie board or equally at home with Christmas dinner.

Buy: Gravel Castle Chardonnay £19.50 on Marasby Market

4. Ark Bachhus 2021 an English white wine with a twist for Christmas.

Bacchus is the quintessential English grape with distinct hedgerow and elderflower flavours it conjours up the English countryside. It’s often described as England’s Sauvignon Blanc. It’s also a very versatile grape and Suffolk based Ark has given their Bacchus a twist. Aged in new oak barrels for 9 months and unfiltered and unfined, it is both aromatic and smokey.

Taste:  With hints of toffee popcorn and cedar, producers Ark describe this as a bold spin on the traditional English Bacchus. Great with strong hard cheeses and Christmas turkey cooked in plenty of herbs.

Buy: £26 on Marasby Market

5. Missing Gate Pinot Blanc 2021.

Missing Gate Vineyard Pinot Blanc falls into the category of “wines we can’t believe are from England”. Reminiscent of a Northern Italian white wine, this wine is from Essex. That’s significant because many claim Essex vineyards are the best in the country for still wine. Their 2020 was described as the best Pinot Blanc in England and was a sell out. So don’t delay.

Taste: Missing Gate Pinot Blanc is effortlessly opulent, and offers aromas of juicy stone fruits, hazelnut and citrus zest. This wine is great for rich, creamy dishes. It would also make a perfect pairing with a ripe oozing English Brie such as Baron Bigod.

Buy: Missing Gate Pinot Blanc £25 on Marasby Market

And finally …

At the time of writing all our recommended English and Welsh white wines are available to buy on Marasby Market at the same price as available at the vineyard.  But many of the best wines are made only in tiny quantities, so be quick to avoid disappointment.