Jancis Robinson examines the rapid growth of MDCV UK’s Silverhand Estate in Kent, which is aiming to produce a cheaper English alternative to Prosecco. Instead of using the traditional champagne-style method, MDCV makes “sparkling wine of England” using the faster Charmat or tank method, allowing bottles to sell for about £15 rather than the £30-plus often charged for traditional English sparkling wine. The company sold around 500,000 bottles last year, expects to double that figure this year and ultimately wants to become England’s largest wine producer by 2030. Jancis highlights both the opportunity and the risks of this approach. Cheaper sparkling wine could make English wine accessible to many more consumers, but its lower quality may also weaken perceptions of English fizz, while confusing labels make the distinction between the two styles difficult to understand. Silverhand is also investing heavily in sustainability, conservation and wine tourism, while benefiting from a glut of English grapes that has sharply reduced its costs.