Still White Wines
Highly recommended
Chardonnay (for still wine only on top sites)
Best on warm, ripe sites (e.g. East Kent, Crouch Valley)
High-quality potential; profitable if sold within 24 months
Use mainly for sparkling unless site is exceptional
Pinot Gris
High quality; consumer-recognised; reliable style
Needs a good site; yields can vary
Useful for blending in less ripe years
Pinot Blanc
Neutral, versatile, takes oak well
Good blending partner; suitable for sparkling
Bacchus
Now a recognised “British” signature variety
High yields on good sites; strong market pull
Seyval Blanc
Reliable, disease-resistant hybrid, high yields
Good for still, sparkling, blending; good for marginal regions
Reichensteiner
Excellent yields; works on less-favourable sites
Good blending variety; suitable for sparkling
Ortega
Aromatic, high-quality wines; early ripening but tricky to grow
Susceptible to frost and botrytis
Solaris
Very early ripening PIWI; disease-tolerant; high sugars
Mixed reputation because widely planted in marginal regions.
Can produce very good wines on good sites
Conditionally recommended
Albariño
Only for excellent, warm, sheltered sites
White Pinot Noir / White Meunier
Some good examples emerging
Auxerrois, Gutenborner, Regner
Historically good performers; interesting options for small plantings
Optima, Orion, Schönburger, Siegerrebe
Worth trying on good sites
Not recommended
Faberrebe, Huxelrebe, Kerner, Kernling, Scheurebe, Würzer
Riesling
Does not ripen reliably
Sauvignon Blanc
Only works in exceptional vintages
