The popularity of English sparkling wine soared this summer according to the world’s most downloaded wine app
English sparkling wine hit an all-time high in the UK this summer as interest boomed from drinkers wanting to try home-made tipples.
User engagement, including review uploads and searches, on the world’s most downloaded wine app, Vivino, for English sparkling beverages grew by 32 per cent in June, 17 per cent in July and 17.5 per cent in August.
English sparkling wine is also taking some of champagne’s share as the country’s most popular bubbly.
Although champagne still accounted for 51.57 per cent of total sparkling consumption in the UK in August 2016, this was a fall from 55.12 per cent in August 2015, Vivino said.
Read more: Middle classes in a fizz tizz as Prosecco shortage looms
Overall sparkling wine sales in the UK have fizzed in the last five years, as the amount on sale has nearly doubled.
The eruption in demand for champagne and cheaper alternatives such as prosecco has also helped drive the English wine industry.
Read more: How Nyetimber put English wines on the map
Last month, a 2010 vintage of Nyetimber Classic Cuvee became the first English sparkling wine to be traded on the international wine exchange Liv-ex.
And in July, the Aim-listed, Kent-based producer Gusbourne launched a £10m bond to fund capital expenditure on recently-planted vineyards and other operations.