Graham Beck Expands Into English Sparkling Wine With First International Production
Graham Beck Expands Into English Sparkling Wine With First International Production. South African sparkling wine producer Graham Beck has expanded its portfolio beyond its home market with the launch of its first English sparkling wine, produced from grapes sourced in southern England.
The Graham Beck English Sparkling 2018 is part of the House’s Artisan Collection and was produced from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier sourced from vineyards in Hampshire and West Sussex.
The release marks the first time Graham Beck has produced a sparkling wine outside South Africa, taking its traditional-method winemaking expertise into England’s established sparkling wine category.
The project began in 2016 after former Graham Beck cellarmaster and COO Pieter “Bubbles” Ferreira encountered English sparkling wine at ProWein. Ferreira later travelled through England’s wine regions with owner Antony Beck, examining vineyards and the geology of areas including Kent, Sussex and Hampshire.
Graham Beck eventually selected vineyard sources in Hampshire and West Sussex for the project, which was named #GBinGB, or Graham Beck in Great Britain.
Rather than establishing its own vineyards in England, the company worked with selected growers and sourced individual parcels of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
The grapes were handled separately during pressing and vinification before being blended. A portion of the base wine was fermented in neutral French oak, while the wine underwent extended maturation on the lees after bottling.
The Graham Beck team was involved across the production process, including vineyard selection, harvesting, vinification, blending, tirage, ageing and disgorgement.
Cellarmaster Pierre de Klerk said the wine reflects the character of its English origin alongside the precision and patience associated with the Graham Beck style.
The 2018 vintage is being released in limited quantities and launched in South Africa in September 2026 at a recommended retail price of R1,200 per bottle.
The wine is expected to become available in the UK in due course, with potential expansion into selected international markets.
