Sam Caporn MW celebrated the launch of her second book, English Wine: Your Essential Companion From Vine to Wine, hosted at Vagabond Urban Winery in Canada Water, southeast London. The venue proved a fitting match for the subject matter: a 6,000 sq ft working winery combining a 100-tonne cellar with wine bars, dining and education under one roof. Opened at the end of 2025 as part of British Land’s wider regeneration of the area, Vagabond Canada Water is now billed as the largest urban winery in the UK and is led by head winemaker José Quintana.
The launch brought together members of Caporn’s family alongside press and media for an evening centred on English wine. The wine list was generously supported by the Wine Garden of England, spotlighting producers from Kent. NV and vintage sparkling wines came from Balfour, Chapel Down, Domaine Evremond, Gusbourne, Squerryes and Westwell, with still whites from Simpsons and Yotes Court, and a Biddenden Gamay completing the range. A number of the wines poured were Top Picks featured in the book, personal selections that Caporn has marked out for readers as particular favourites.
For the industry, the book arrives at a useful moment. English wine production continues to grow in scale and ambition, yet consumer understanding of the category still lags behind the quality now being produced. English Wine: Your Essential Companion From Vine to Wine spans sixteen counties, from Cornwall to Kent, and profiles 70 UK vineyards including Chapel Down, Langham Estate, Flint Vineyards and Blackbook, giving readers a single reference point for a fast-moving region. It covers tasting tips and essential wine terminology, recommendations for sparkling, red, white and rosé wines across a range of budgets, and practical guidance for visiting wineries, alongside suggestions for tastings, food events and places to stay, positioning it as both an introduction for newer drinkers and a useful companion for trade readers keeping pace with the category’s growth.
Sam Caporn has nearly 30 years’ experience in the wine industry and became a Master of Wine in 2011, a qualification held by only 418 people worldwide, when she was awarded the Madame Bollinger Medal for Excellence in Tasting. Her debut title, The Wine Flavour Guide, was shortlisted for the Fortnum & Mason Debut Drink Award 2025.
English Wine: Your Essential Companion From Vine to Wine is published by Bloomsbury, priced at £14.99, and is out now
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