English sparkling wine has moved from curiosity to contender. Once seen as something to try for novelty’s sake, it now has the sales, recognition and ambition to sit alongside Champagne and Prosecco as a genuine global player. The latest half-year results from Chapel Down, the UK’s largest producer, show just how far the category has come, and hint at what’s still to come.
The Numbers Behind the Momentum
For the first half of 2025, Chapel Down delivered net sales revenue of £7.9 million, an 11% increase on last year. Sparkling wine now makes up 70% of the business, up from 68% in 2024. That might sound like small percentages, but when you’re talking about a young industry, every point matters. It means english sparkling wine is not just growing, it’s becoming the beating heart of the UK’s modern wine story.
Off-trade performance was the real standout. Sales through supermarkets jumped 30%, thanks to listings in Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s. This has given Chapel Down a 35% share of the category in the major grocers. For shoppers, that matters. When bottles of English fizz sit proudly beside Champagne and Prosecco, consumers stop seeing it as niche and start treating it as an equal choice.
Context: The English Wine Industry at Large
Chapel Down isn’t the whole story, of course. Across the UK, vineyard plantings now stretch past 4,000 hectares, with Kent, Sussex and Hampshire leading the way. According to WineGB, production has grown more than fivefold in the past decade, with over 12 million bottles produced in 2024 alone. Around 70% of that is sparkling, which makes sense, given our climate is increasingly suited to the same grapes that thrive in Champagne: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
What’s striking is how fast awareness has risen. Just a few years ago, most consumers had never heard of English fizz. Now, Chapel Down reports brand awareness at 46% among sparkling wine drinkers, and more than one in five have already tried their wines. That’s a cultural shift as much as a commercial one.
Why Consumers Are Trading Up
There’s also a broader lifestyle story here. People want to buy local. They want to know the story behind what they drink. And they’re willing to pay more for something that feels premium and authentic. Prosecco’s easy-drinking charm hasn’t gone away, but there’s a growing set of consumers who want something more refined. That’s where english sparkling wine is finding its sweet spot: traditional method wines with Champagne-like finesse, but with a distinctly British edge.
Sustainability plays into this too. Chapel Down is a founding member of Sustainable Wines of Great Britain and is committed to environmentally balanced viticulture. For younger drinkers especially, that’s no longer a “nice to have”, it’s part of the buying decision. English wine is well placed to tell that story.
Chapel Down’s Role as the Flagbearer
Chapel Down’s influence extends far beyond vineyard rows in Kent. Their partnerships with Royal Ascot, the Boat Race and the England and Wales Cricket Board have put bottles in front of millions of people who might never have tried them otherwise. That kind of visibility is invaluable. When your nation’s cricketers are raising a glass of English fizz after a win, it subtly rewrites what’s considered celebratory and prestigious.
The company’s results also show how it’s handling growth responsibly. Rather than pushing ahead with a costly new winery near Canterbury, Chapel Down has opted to expand production at its historic Tenterden base and lean on third-party capacity where needed. It’s a pragmatic move that avoids heavy debt while still building scale. Their long-term ambition? To capture 1% of Champagne’s global market by 2035. That might sound small, but in volume terms it’s huge, and it sets a bold target for the whole industry.
The Global Opportunity
Exports are still in their infancy, but they’re growing. Chapel Down’s sales abroad rose 17% in the half year, with new distribution deals in the US and Norway. Virgin Atlantic now pours Bacchus in-flight, while luxury operator SeaDream Yachts lists a curated range on board. That means international consumers are not just hearing about English fizz, they’re tasting it in premium settings where reputation is built.
The opportunity is clear. Champagne exports sit north of 300 million bottles a year. English sparkling wine currently produces only a fraction of that. But as vineyard plantings mature, quality remains high, and distribution expands, even a tiny slice of Champagne’s global pie could transform the scale of the UK industry.
A Personal Perspective
As someone who drinks Chapel Down Bacchus regularly, I can vouch for the fact that English wine no longer feels like a compromise. I often describe Bacchus as “England’s answer to Sauvignon Blanc”, aromatic, crisp, refreshing. When I see it poured in restaurants or listed in supermarkets, I don’t think of it as niche. I think of it as a mark of how far we’ve come. And I’m not alone. English wine is becoming part of the cultural fabric, not just something for enthusiasts.
The Next Chapter
So where does this all leave us? Chapel Down’s results highlight growth in sales, confidence in strategy and recognition abroad. More importantly, they act as a bellwether for the wider industry. The message is simple: english sparkling wine isn’t just good, it’s building the reputation, infrastructure and momentum to go global.
The underdog days are ending. The world’s newest fine wine region is finding its voice, and if these results are anything to go by, it’s only the beginning.
