English vineyards enjoyed a record-breaking summer, with demand for sparkling wine and rosé among younger drinkers helping sales surpass the bumper Christmas period.
The abnormally warm weather this summer has benefited English grape varieties, with wineries hailing a record harvest, and sales have followed suit.
Data from Ocado Retail show that overall sales of English sparkling wine and rosé are up 19 per cent year-on-year.
The last week of June was the retail platform's biggest week for sales, which were up 115 per cent, surpassing the previous record set last Christmas.
There has been a gradual shift in tastes towards grapes grown in cooler climates, with Kent firm Chapel Down toasting sales of more than 1million bottles of its sparkling wine last year.
It remains one of the most popular English wine brands on Ocado, with sales rising 64 per cent year-on-year.
English vineyards have enjoyed a bumper harvest this year due to the warmer weather
Research by Ocado shows that younger wine drinkers are driving the trend, with 55 per cent of 18-34 year-olds saying they are interested in exploring more English wines.
Meanwhile, more than half of 25-34 year-olds say the quality of English wine has improved and is as good as traditional wine-producing countries such as Italy and France.
Vanessa Pearson, BWS Trading Manager and Wine GB Ambassador, said: 'English wine is no longer a niche purchase reserved for special occasions.
'We're seeing customers become increasingly confident exploring the category, whether that's discovering a new sparkling wine for a celebration or choosing an English rosé to enjoy with friends over the summer.'
She added: 'The quality coming out of English vineyards today is exceptional, and producers continue to innovate across a range of styles, helping more people find a wine that suits both their tastes and budget.'
To meet growing consumer demand for domestic vineyards, Ocado has increased its range of English wines by 19 per cent over the past year.
New products include Greyfriars, Henners and Flint.
More broadly, rosé has been the clear winner over the summer, with sales up 25 per cent over the last 12 weeks compared to the same period last year.
The cocktail of the summer is the Hugo Spritz, an aperitif based on prosecco, elderflower syrup, sparkling water and mint leaves, as drinkers shun the traditional Aperol Spritz.
Wine drinkers are also experimenting more, with chilled reds enjoying growing demand, while white and rosé port are experiencing a revival, with sales surging 21 per cent year-on-year.
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