Ten years ago, English sparkling wine was still something people joked about, but look at where we are now. We have producers across the country making bottles that are being taken seriously on the world stage, winning blind tastings and appearing on international wine lists, and Chapel Down is right at the centre of that change.
I had already opened this bottle before filming because the in-laws came round earlier and we somehow managed to get through almost all of it, so I was left with about half a glass to review properly. That probably tells you quite a lot already, because this is one of those wines that disappears very easily once it is open, especially when you have a few people around and a reason to celebrate.
The first thing you notice before even tasting it is the bottle itself, because Chapel Down have made this look like a proper occasion wine. The gold, red and black give it a very elegant, almost regal feel, which makes sense when you consider the sort of reputation the brand now has. It is one of the biggest names in English sparkling wine, it has been served at major national occasions and it has become a bottle that people recognise, which is quite an achievement for a category that was nowhere near this position a decade ago.
What Is Chapel Down English Sparkling Wine?
Chapel Down is based in Kent, which is not far from me, and that part of England has become one of the strongest areas for sparkling wine production because of its climate and chalky soils. Those chalky soils are often compared with Champagne, and while we should be careful not to pretend the two regions are identical, there is a very obvious reason people draw the comparison.
This wine is also made using the traditional method, which is the same basic production method used in Champagne, where the second fermentation happens inside the bottle. That extra fermentation is what gives traditional-method sparkling wine some of those lovely bready, yeasty and pastry-like notes, rather than tasting purely of fresh fruit.
The grape varieties are familiar too, because Chapel Down uses Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, the same three grapes most people associate with Champagne. Put all of that together and you can see why English sparkling wine is no longer being treated as a novelty, because the structure, production method and ambition are all there.
Why English Sparkling Wine Has Changed So Much
One of the most interesting things about drinking a bottle like this is thinking about how quickly the perception of English wine has changed. It really was not that long ago that suggesting English sparkling wine instead of Champagne would have raised a few eyebrows, whereas now people are actively seeking it out.
Chapel Down has played a big part in that shift because it has managed to build a recognisable brand while still making wine that stands up on quality. That combination matters, because it is one thing to get people interested once, but quite another to get them coming back and recommending the bottle to other people.
The scale is now significant as well, with Chapel Down producing and selling wine at a level that would have been hard to imagine years ago, and the fact that English sparkling wine is now appearing on menus outside the UK shows how much confidence there is in the category. This is no longer just something we are drinking because it is local, it is being judged alongside serious sparkling wine from other countries.
How Does Chapel Down Compare With Champagne?
This is where the conversation gets interesting, because Chapel Down is not cheap enough to be treated like an everyday Prosecco, but it is generally cheaper than many well-known Champagne brands.
The bottle I bought was around £31 from Majestic because I was buying several bottles, although you will often see it priced a little higher depending on where you shop. If you compare that with a familiar Champagne brand that might cost £45, £50 or more, Chapel Down starts to make a lot of sense.
You are still getting the traditional method, you are still getting Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, and you are still getting that combination of fresh fruit and more developed bready character. The obvious question is whether you are losing much by spending less, and for me, the answer is not really.
That does not mean every English sparkling wine automatically beats Champagne, and it does not mean Champagne suddenly stops being special, but it does mean the gap is nowhere near as obvious as many people assume. In some blind tastings, English sparkling wines have performed extremely well, which tells you that the quality is there rather than the appeal being based purely on patriotism.
What Does Chapel Down Smell Like?
The first thing I get on the nose is apple, followed by lemon zest, then underneath that there is a gentle bready character that comes from the traditional-method production.
That combination works beautifully because the citrus keeps everything fresh while the softer bready notes make the wine feel more developed and serious. It is not heavy or overly yeasty, and it does not lose the bright fruit that makes sparkling wine so enjoyable.
This is exactly the kind of smell that makes you want to drink it straight away, because there is freshness at the front but enough complexity underneath to remind you that this is not simply fizzy wine.
What Does Chapel Down Taste Like?
The first thing that struck me was how easy it is to drink, because there is a really nice balance between freshness and richness. The apple and citrus flavours come through clearly, the acidity keeps it lively, then that slightly bready character rounds everything out and gives it more depth.
It is extremely moreish, which is slightly dangerous when you remember the price, because this is not a £12 or £13 bottle you are going to open without thinking. At around £30 or more, it sits firmly in special-occasion territory for most people, but when you do open it, it feels like you are getting something genuinely worthwhile.
There is also a confidence to it that I really like, because it is not trying to imitate Champagne in a cheap way. It has its own identity as English sparkling wine, and that is probably where the category is strongest now, because it no longer needs to apologise for what it is.
When Would I Buy It?
For me, this is absolutely a bottle for an occasion. If you are having friends round, celebrating something important or simply want to open something that feels a little bit special, Chapel Down works really well because it looks the part and tastes the part.
You could serve it before dinner, open it for a birthday or take it to someone’s house instead of Champagne, and I would be very comfortable doing that. In fact, I think a lot of people would enjoy the fact that you have brought something English, particularly once they realise how good it is.
I would not necessarily buy it for a random Tuesday night, because the price puts it above everyday drinking for most people, but that is not really what it is trying to be. This is the bottle you buy when you want sparkling wine to feel like part of the occasion rather than just something cold and fizzy.
Is Chapel Down Better Than Champagne?
I do not think there is a simple answer, because Champagne covers an enormous range of styles and quality levels, just as English sparkling wine does. What I would say is that Chapel Down proves you no longer need to default automatically to Champagne whenever you want something special.
If you put this next to a well-known Champagne at a higher price, I would not feel as though I had chosen the inferior option simply because it came from Kent rather than France. The quality is absolutely good enough to make the comparison interesting, and once price comes into it, Chapel Down becomes even more compelling.
For me, that is the real story here. English sparkling wine has reached the point where the conversation is no longer about whether it is good enough to compete, but about which bottle you prefer.
Verdict
I loved this bottle. It has fresh apple and lemon on the nose, that lovely bready character underneath, plenty of energy in the glass and enough elegance to make it feel genuinely special.
It is not cheap, and I would not pretend otherwise, but compared with many Champagnes it represents very good value, especially when you consider how much quality you are getting for the money.
More than anything, I think Chapel Down is a brilliant example of how far English sparkling wine has come. We went from being the joke to producing bottles that people are proud to serve, happy to buy and increasingly confident comparing with Champagne.
That is a pretty good place to be.
Watch the Full Chapel Down Review
Prefer to watch rather than read? In the full video I taste Chapel Down English sparkling wine, explain why Kent has become such an important area for sparkling wine and compare it with Champagne in terms of production, flavour and price. Have a watch below, then let me know whether you think English sparkling wine has caught up with Champagne, or whether France still wins for you. Cheers!
