Siofra O’Brien, a Wine Specialist at Harvey Nichols Birmingham delves into her favourite English wine to celebrate #EnglishWineWeek.

While traditionally it has been seen as the unfashionable bridesmaid to its French and Italian counterparts, English wine is finally making a real name for itself. At Harvey Nichols we are renowned for introducing our customers to exciting, new innovations, and our range of bottles produced close to home is no exception.

The English wine industry is definitely a young, vibrant and, thankfully, thriving one – especially when it comes to the high quality, sparkling varieties. Our Wine Shop offering very much reflects this, with our collection now including great-tasting bottles from the main players as well as artisan vineyards including Nyetimber, Wiston, Hattingley Valley, Gusbourne, Litmus and Stopham. From these fast-growing wineries we are delighted to offer our customers an impressive range, from Brut NV, Brut Rosé to Blanc de Blanc and vintage sparkling.

We also boast tasty chardonnays that are sure to entice even the hardened Old World fan. These include: Gusbourne Guinevere 14, a wine with great length and a great combination of citrus and mineral notes, with a buttery creamy complexity; and the Hattingley Valley Entice 16, a limited release vinified in an ice-wine style. With notes of nectarine and candied lemon, it’s the perfect partner to soft cheese, lemon tart or fresh fruit dessert.

These are all testament to the potential of home-produced wine and prove, if proof were needed, that England really can hold its head high.

Meet Siofra O’Brien at her Complimentary Wine Wednesday sessions at Harvey Nichols Birmingham. Join her in store for informal Wine tastings from 7pm-8pm every Wednesday. Booking is essential, call 0121 616 6024 for more details.

We’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of Laurent-Perrier’s iconic Cuvée Rosé with a special summertime garden party ahead of each performance of Birmingham Royal Ballet’s enchanting production of Romeo and Juliet.

Bringing the outside in, our Thorp Street Atrium will be transformed into a romantic country garden filled with flowers and the sounds of midsummer to make the most of the long evenings. Find all information on our website here.