Uncorked: Episode 10 - The English Sparkling Underdog
Episode 10 of Uncorked feels like a proper milestone. Tom Gearing, Cult Wines’ Co-founder and CEO, is joined by Jonathan Stevenson, EVP of Cult Wines North America, with special guest Luke Spalding, General Manager and Viticulturalist at Everflyht in Sussex, England, UK. Luke brings a rare blend of vineyard and commercial reality, speaking as someone who has planted, tended, measured, learned, and then had to make the wines work in the market as well.
We talk English Sparkling with the gloves off. What has changed over the last decade, why the category is earning serious attention, and what still needs to happen for it to become truly established on a global scale. Luke also shares how Everflyht’s regenerative push is shaping decisions in the vineyard, how a site that should not work on paper has been coaxed into quality, and what it takes to keep standards high when you only get one first impression with a new drinker.
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What topics were covered?
Luke’s Route into English Sparkling
Luke’s path is not a straight line. He talks about collecting bottles while working in publishing, then shifting into wine, starting with WSET qualifications and retail experience before chasing vineyard work. He sent around 150 internship letters and eventually landed at Ridgeview in early 2015, working his way up before joining Everflyht at the end of 2018. There is also a clear turning point bottle, Camel Valley, which he says changed his view of what English Sparkling could be.
Follow Everflyht: Instagram: @everflyht • Website: www.everflyht.com
Fancy a little discount? Everflyht is offering 10% off for Uncorked listeners. Simply use code CULTWINES10 at checkout to enjoy savings on your next sparkling bottle. 🥂
Why English Sparkling Now Feels Different
The conversation picks apart what has changed in the category. Luke argues English Sparkling used to be inconsistent, and that the floor has lifted dramatically. The team also talk about why constant Champagne comparisons can be misleading, and how England’s climate, geology and style cues create a different expression, often with brightness and tension when given time. It is a useful reframing if you are still judging the category by old memories.
Everflyht’s Vineyard Decisions & Regenerative Direction
Luke explains Everflyht’s approach as a gradual removal of inputs and a focus on soil and vine health. The detail is practical rather than preachy. What did they stop using first, what changed next, and what are they still testing. He is also candid that England makes every decision harder, because weather can flip the script quickly. The goal is long term consistency, not short term noise.
A Site that Should Not Work, but Does!
One of the most interesting parts of the episode is Luke describing why Everflyht looks challenging on paper. Clay, drainage, frost risk, wind, and the fixes that have helped turn risk into something workable. There is also a sober reminder that even with good decisions, some years are brutal, and 2024 is discussed as a year where they lost everything.
How the Wines are Made & What Everflyht Stands For
We touch on Everflyht’s range and the house style, including what sits behind their cuvée, late release ageing, and the role of oak and time. Luke shares why the site leans Pinot, how Chardonnay behaves differently there, and why certain choices are about balance rather than fashion. We do not give everything away, but it is one of those sections where you hear how a producer thinks.
Pricing, Profitability & the Hard Economics
Tom asks the tough questions. How do English estates survive when Sparkling needs time in cellar, money is tied up for years, and consumers still compare prices to Champagne. Luke gives an honest view of how many producers are actually profitable, and what the category may look like a decade from now, from local brands through to international scale players. It is a grounded look at why English Sparkling’s future is bright, but not guaranteed.
Exports, Dosage & What Collectors Should Know
The conversation also touches on where demand is strongest, what export markets are most receptive, and how style choices like dosage shape the final wine. There is discussion of ageing potential and what kinds of English Sparkling can reward patience, with a few vintages named as points of reference. Again, we keep some of the detail for the episode itself.
If you enjoy honest views, real data and market chat that stays practical, this is a good way to start the year. Subscribe, send in your questions for the next episode.
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