Folc launches first English sparkling rosé using negotiant approach 

Folc, the artisanal English wine producer, has launched its first English sparkling rosé, showcasing the power of the négociant approach in English winemaking. 

The launch comes at a watershed moment for English wine, with this year’s International Wine Challenge ranking England ninth globally and awarding 15 gold medals, marking an increase from 13 in 2024.  

Sales of English sparkling wine have surged 187% since 2018 to 6.2 million bottles, establishing England as a respected, high-quality niche player in the global sparkling wine market, WineGB confirmed. 

The category’s growing acclaim has also attracted major French Champagne houses to invest heavily in Kent’s chalk soils, further underscoring the region’s world-class potential. 

Unlike traditional estate wineries limited to their own vineyards, Folc’s négociant model enables the careful selection of the finest grapes from premier vineyards across Kent, Sussex, Suffolk and Essex, ensuring each bottle represents the very best of English terroir, the WineGB team added. 

This approach, perfected in France’s most prestigious wine regions by the likes of iconic Champagne house Louis Roederer, allows Folc to focus entirely on winemaking excellence rather than being constrained by single vineyard limitations. 

“Our négociant approach is what makes Folc different,” said Tom Cannon, founder of Folc. “We’re not tied to a single vineyard, so we can work with the best growers across South East England and hand-pick fruit from exceptional sites. That freedom means we can create wines that truly capture the best of English viticulture. Every grape in this bottle is there because of its quality, not its postcode.” 

The art of selection and consistency 

The négociant model allows producers to source grapes rather than rely solely on their own vineyards, giving Folc the freedom to select only the finest fruit from across South East England. 

This approach, which has shaped some of the world’s most celebrated wines – from Champagne’s great houses to Burgundy’s legendary domaines – is especially valuable in England, where vintage conditions can vary dramatically year to year. 

By sourcing widely, Folc said it can guarantee exceptional quality and consistency regardless of weather challenges. This philosophy extends to Folc’s non-vintage approach, blending across multiple harvests and vineyard sites to ensure that every bottle delivers the same signature character and excellence. 

Folc English Sparkling Rosé showcases a blend of the three traditional Champagne grape varieties: 50% Pinot Noir, 22% Chardonnay, and 28% Pinot Meunier. After 23 months on lees using the traditional method of winemaking, the result is an elegant pale salmon-pink wine with persistent fine bubbles and extraordinary complexity. 

English excellence through expert selection 

The timing for premium English sparkling wine could not be better, said WineGB. As suitable vineyard land becomes scarcer and land prices continue to climb, the négociant model offers a sustainable path for quality-focused producers.

Rather than the enormous capital investment required for vineyard ownership, Folc can focus resources on state-of-the-art winemaking and building relationships with the finest growers from South East.

Folc added that this approach allows the company to work with established vineyards that have proven their worth over multiple vintages, selecting fruit from sites with optimal soil composition, aspect, and microclimate. The result is a wine that represents not just one terroir, but the very best of England’s diverse viticultural landscape. 

Stepping up to global market 

The new release further showcases the exceptional potential of terroir – the very same chalk soils that have attracted major French Champagne houses to establish English operations. 

Taittinger, the famous Champagne House, has planted 60 hectares at Chilham on the chalky Kimmeridgian limestone related to those found in Champagne, while Pommery isn’t the only winery to have tried its hand across the Channel. In 2015, Taittinger made a high-profile investment to acquire 70 hectares in Kent. 

Mr Cannon added: “While our French counterparts are just discovering what we’ve always known about Kent’s extraordinary potential, we’ve been perfecting our craft here for years. 

“This sparkling rosé represents not just our dedication to English winemaking, but our confidence that we can consistently produce wines that rival the world’s finest. By choosing a non-vintage approach, we’re ensuring that every bottle delivers the same exceptional experience – something you can rely on, glass after glass.” 

Tasting Notes 

Folc explained that its English Sparkling Rosé presents enticing aromatics of cherry pip, dried flowers, and scones with strawberry jam, seamlessly blending with fresh strawberry and raspberry notes, while delicate rose petal characters emerge alongside subtle brioche undertones developed from nearly two years on lees. 

The palate delivers perfect harmony, where fine bubbles carry red apple and bright acidity through to a distinctive blood orange finish, showcasing the beautiful balance between Pinot Noir’s structure, Meunier’s soft texture, and Chardonnay’s bright elegance, all culminating in crisp acidity and lingering red fruit flavours. 

Folc English Sparkling Rosé is available exclusively through the Folc website at £34.99 per bottle. The wine is vegetarian and vegan-friendly, crafted using traditional method winemaking with cross-flow filtration and a dosage of 7g/L. 

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