A new dawn for UK wine at Decanter World Wine Awards 2026

Drive through the Kent countryside today and, between the apple and pear orchards, you’ll catch sight of something that would have raised eyebrows not so long ago: long rows of vines, combed neatly across the chalk soils. This was cereal and hop country once. Now the region grows some of the most talked-about wines in the world.

The change has been astonishingly quick. In 2005, the UK had fewer than 800 hectares of vines. By 2024, it had more than 4,800 – a rise of over 500% in under two decades. Warmer, longer summers explain part of it. Average temperatures across the main wine regions have risen by roughly 1°C in recent decades, helping grapes ripen where they once struggled.

But the climate is only half the story. Investment has flowed into land and wineries, cellar doors have become weekend destinations, and a new generation of growers has decided England is worth the gamble.

That bet is paying off. At the 23rd edition of the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA), the world’s largest wine competition, the UK’s 2026 results show that a new era has dawned for local winemakers.

While bubbles still lead the way, still wines, new counties and even Welsh vineyards are stepping up onto the podium.

Bubbles still set the pace

For the second year running, the UK’s sole Best in Show, the rarest accolade the competition awards, went to a sparkling wine in magnum: Balfour’s Blanc de Blancs, Kent 2018, a pure Chardonnay that spent years on its lees before release.

For Balfour’s Fergus Elias, the secret is the big bottle itself. A magnum ages more slowly, he explains, which ‘helps preserve freshness while allowing the wine to build texture, depth and complexity over time’. The reward is a wine that keeps ‘the purity and drive of the fruit, but with more breadth, softness and savoury character’. He puts it more plainly, too: ‘I bloody love magnums!’

Still wine stirring

Still wine is stirring too. Tidebrook’s Staddle Stone Chardonnay, Sussex 2023, became the first English still Chardonnay ever to achieve a Platinum, scoring a remarkable 97 points.

Behind it is an unusual story. Winemaker Christy Jordan’s family spent almost four decades running Jordan Wine Estate in South Africa before turning their attention to Sussex.

Reds are joining the conversation, too. A still Pinot Noir from Higham Vineyard earned Suffolk its first red medal DWWA 2026, a small but telling sign that English ambitions now stretch well beyond fizz.

The map is still being drawn

One of the most exciting headlines from this year’s awards is that England’s wine country is spilling well past the traditional areas of Kent, Sussex and Hampshire.

Berkshire, a historic county situated west of London, landed its first-ever Platinum for Winding Wood’s Rosé Brut 2022. ‘What an accolade for West Berkshire,’ says owner Christopher Cooke, who farms a boutique plot where, by his own account, he is ‘on first-name terms with my vines’. His point is simple, and increasingly true across the country: ‘Small can be beautiful.’

Oxfordshire broke new ground as well, claiming its first Gold for Hundred Hills’ Hillside No. 3 2019, another magnum. Winemaker Stephen Duckett credits the land itself, those ‘thin, nutrient-deficient chalk soils and cool, dry, maritime microclimate’, worked by hand with near-obsessive care. Elsewhere, counties from Rutland to Shropshire appeared on the medal roster for the very first time.

Then there is Wales. Burgeoning and built on a handful of passionate micro-producers, but definitely making its mark. White Castle Vineyard in Monmouthshire took a Silver for its Pinot Noir Précoce 2023. ‘Wales, so often overlooked, is emerging as a gem in the UK wine industry,’ says owner Robb Merchant MBE, ‘proving that something truly special can flourish in areas thought to be challenging.’

Sparkling may have built the UK wine reputation. Now, still wine is broadening it. And from the chalk of Berkshire to the hills of Monmouthshire, the message is the same: do not underestimate what can grow here.

DWWA 2026: Top-scoring UK wines

Balfour, Blanc de Blancs, Kent, England 2018 (in magnum)
Best in Show, 97 points
For the second year in a row, the sparkling wine which most impressed our GB and Ireland panel was one bottled in magnum. In contrast to last year’s Sussex blend, though, the 2026 laureate was a Blanc de Blancs wine from Kent. It was a much younger wine, too – a 2018 rather than a 2009. A youthful style, then, with a seethe of fine-beaded bubbles and incision to the fore in its sensual profile? Absolutely. But remember what a generous summer the UK enjoyed in 2018. The aromas of this pale sparkler sing: poised lemon cream, sourdough and cut stone tease and linger in the glass. While the palate is bracing, mouth-watering and impactful, that splendid season is evident in its length and resonance. The extra-dry style throws the spotlight on the wine’s fruit qualities (orchard fruits as well as lemony citrus) and the quality of its acidity (dominant, taut yet unquestionably ripe — as you can see in the wine’s latent aromatics). This is an English wine magnum with a long future ahead if well stored. Alcohol 12%

Tidebrook, Staddle Stone Chardonnay, Sussex, England 2023
Platinum, 97 points
An exquisite synchronicity of lush lemon curd and succulent stone fruit underscored by the cool climate tension of chalky minerals. Racy acidity ripples through the sheen of creamy oak complexity and garnishes the long finish. Alc 12.5%

Winding Wood, Rosé Brut, Berkshire, England 2022
Platinum,97 points
Ethereal rose garden and subtle strawberry and red apple aromatics weave into the plush toasted brioche core. Beautifully fresh with a gentle yet persuasive mousse and a long, allusive finish. An allegory of national intent. Alc 12%

Chapel Down, Kit’s Coty Coeur de Cuvée Extra Brut, Kent, England 2016
Gold, 96 points
Deliciously evolving aromas of ripe apple, quince, caramel and bread fill out the plump structure and settled mousse, quenched by the tapering lemon tonic acidity. Alc 12%

Hundred Hills, Hillside No. 3, Oxfordshire, England 2019 (in magnum)
Gold, 96 points
Sizzling with energy; comprising vivid citrus, biscuit and chalky mineral elegance that harmonises with the ample texture and plush creamy mousse. Very complete and long. Alc 12%

Wiston, Blanc de Blancs Brut, West Sussex, England 2018
Gold, 96 points
Ebullient tropical fruit and floral aromas thrive over the frothy, mouth-filling bubbles with a subtle acidity finely tuning. Savoury, creamy notes gather at the end. Alc 12%

Bluestone, Premier Reserve Brut, England 2018
Gold, 95 points
Smouldering smoky matchstick characters pair admirably with a fine veneer of lemon tart, brioche and apricot jam. A plush opulence cushions the pervading acidity. Exceptional. Alc 12%

Coolhurst Vineyards, Lady Elizabeth, Sussex, England 2018
Gold, 95 points
An attractive composure of fresh strawberries, raspberries, cherries and red apples allied with sumptuous brioche and savoury saline charm. Weighty and structured with supple mousse. Alc 12%

Gusbourne, Boot Hill Vineyard Chardonnay, Kent, England 2022
Gold, 95 points
Assonant aromas of baked apple, pear and creamy oak sit regally over the luxuriant structure and ease gently towards the deceptively long finish. Perfectly expressed Chardonnay. Alc 13%

Hambledon, Blanc de Blancs Brut, Hampshire, England NV
Gold, 95 points
A paradigm of English character: floral, green cow-parsley and vanilla cream aromas fold into the exuberant lemon-pith mousse and racy acidity. Very long and compelling. Alc 12%

Discover all winners at awards.decanter.com