Rest of World

English wine is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with. The country’s top vineyards can be found in Hampshire, Sussex and Kent; where limestone-dominated soils allow cool-climate varieties to thrive. A range of wine styles are produced, but England is becoming internationally-renowned for its fine sparkling wines – which frequently trump top Champagne Houses in blind tastings.

The 102,000 hectares of German vineyards produce the world’s greatest Rieslings, the grape’s touch of sweetness underpinned by a racy acidity and a fresh purity from the fruit. Germany is the tenth largest wine producer in the world. Its vineyards are close to the major rivers and their tributaries, and the continental climate is perfect for late-harvest wines. White grapes make up 64 percent of plantings, with reds on the rise.