Boutique brands push boundaries of English sparkling wine

New boutique brand Dancing Duchess, highlights the confidence and creativity of the category of the category with its new release Pinot Meunier rosé. 

Kent-based brand Dancing Duchess has launched its debut wine — a 100% Pinot Meunier sparkling rosé from the 2022 vintage, aged for two years on lees. The brand is the creation of English wine experts Archie Patel and Allie Cope, who also co-founded Great British Rosé Week.

As db has previously reported, English sparkling wine continues to gain ground both domestically and abroad, though producers face rising production costs and competition from established regions. Against this backdrop, Dancing Duchess aims to carve out a niche with a grape variety still relatively uncommon in English sparkling production.

“We found that whilst there were a handful of Pinot Meunier still rosé wines appearing, there was a gap in the market for a single varietal Pinot Meunier rosé sparkling,” said Patel. “We both just love Pinot Meunier and decided to make this our USP.”

From grape to glass

The pair had planned to start the project in 2021, but delayed due to what Cope described as a “challenging vintage” that made sourcing quality fruit difficult. “Pinot Meunier is harder to source compared with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and so with relatively lower production, it can be more expensive to buy,” she explained. “Thankfully 2022 was a bumper, brilliant vintage and so it meant our project could take off.”

Crafted from Kent-grown fruit, the resulting sparkling rosé opens with aromas of wild strawberry, cherry and pink grapefruit, leading to a dry, refined palate with notes of crushed red berries, delicate brioche and a mineral edge reflecting the region’s chalk soils.

Designed for both experts and newcomers

Patel said Dancing Duchess was created to appeal to a wide audience. “From the start, we wanted Dancing Duchess to resonate with classic Champagne drinkers, English sparkling fans, and those who might be discovering English wine for the first time,” she said.

“It’s a wine designed to delight both enthusiasts and professionals, while also sparking curiosity among newcomers. The fact that it’s made entirely from Pinot Meunier – a rarity in England – would spark interest and intrigue amongst professionals and enthusiasts. But equally important to us was creating a brand and a story that people could fall in love with at first glance.”

In short, Patel said, the wine is about “both style and substance – a wine that speaks to the seasoned expert but also captivates someone discovering English sparkling for the very first time.”

Adding to this, Cope described Dancing Duchess as “joyful and unpretentious, but deeply thoughtful.” “It’s about celebration big and small, connection, and not taking wine too seriously,” she said. “It’s beautifully made, but it’s also about enjoyment, not intimidation.”

That balance is reflected in both the winemaking and design. The founders worked with a Kent-based illustrator on a bespoke label, ensuring the visual identity matched the wine’s personality. “We’ve put just as much care into the design and visual identity as we have into what’s in the bottle,” Cope said.

A boutique approach to English wine

For Patel and Cope, who began their English wine journey as enthusiasts during lockdown before turning professional, small-scale production offers flexibility and creative freedom.

“Boutique producers are really helping to shape the personality and diversity of English wine right now,” Patel said. “Being small means we can be intentional. We can take risks, experiment with varieties like Pinot Meunier, and build a brand that feels personal and authentic,” she continued.

Unlike many English producers, Dancing Duchess does not own its own vineyard — something Patel sees as a strength. “It gives us the freedom to collaborate with exceptional growers and winemakers across the country, choosing the best fruit for the wine we want to make rather than being tied to one site,” she said. “It’s proof that you don’t have to own acres of vines to craft a premium English sparkling — just vision, great partnerships, and a clear sense of what you want to express.”

“In a way, the strength of English wine today comes from this collective of passionate, independent producers, each contributing their own story, voice, and sense of place. It’s that mosaic of creativity that’s making English wine such an exciting space to be part of,” Patel concluded.

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