Souvignier Gris

Souvignier Gris is an increasingly popular grape variety at UK vineyards, offering British winemakers a reliable and distinctive option for English wine production. This pink-skinned hybrid was developed in Switzerland during the 1980s, crossing Cabernet Sauvignon with Seyve-Villard, and has proven remarkably well-suited to the cooler British climate and challenging growing conditions.

The variety has gained considerable interest among English wine producers because of its excellent natural disease resistance, particularly to downy mildew and powdery mildew. This resilience makes Souvignier Gris an attractive choice for UK vineyards seeking to minimise spray interventions while maintaining healthy vines. With 13 British vineyards now cultivating this variety across six distinct wine regions including South East, Wessex, Ireland, Mid and North, Wales, and the Channel Isles, Souvignier Gris is establishing itself as a significant player in English viticulture.

When ripened successfully in the English sunshine, Souvignier Gris produces wines of genuine character and complexity. The grape typically yields wines with bright acidity and aromatic intensity, often displaying notes of tropical fruits, citrus, and stone fruit. Some English Souvignier Gris wines also show subtle smoky or mineral qualities that reflect their terroir, with styles ranging from crisp and refreshing dry whites to more rounded off-dry expressions.

The variety performs particularly well in warmer English summers, developing good sugar levels while retaining the acidity essential for balanced wine production. British winemakers appreciate the consistency of cropping and the ability to harvest healthy fruit even in challenging vintage years. This reliability has made Souvignier Gris a valuable addition to many UK vineyard portfolios, often complementing established English varieties like Bacchus and Chardonnay.

For wine enthusiasts seeking to explore English Souvignier Gris, three UK vineyards open to the public offer tastings and tours, while one certified organic or biodynamic producer demonstrates the variety's potential for sustainable viticulture. As the UK wine industry continues expanding, Souvignier Gris represents both an innovative approach to British winemaking and an exciting expression of what English terroir can achieve.