Record breaking WineGB East Awards showcases the best of East Anglian wine

The judging took place on Friday at Vino Gusto in Bury St Edmunds, where an expert panel of eight highly respected wine professionals came together to assess this year's record-breaking entries. Hosted in the welcoming surroundings of Vino Gusto, the judges spent the day blind tasting and evaluating each wine on its quality, balance, character and overall expression, ensuring every entry was judged fairly and consistently.

Leading the panel was Janne Hallinan, founder of How2EnjoyWine and Head Judge for the competition. She was joined by an outstanding team of industry experts, including Patricia Stefanowicz MW, one of the UK's most respected wine authorities and a Master of Wine; Matt Hodgson of Grape Britannia, a leading voice in English and Welsh wine; Jeremy Dunn from Local Wine School; Bert Blaize of Norfolk Wine Cellars; Jake Bennett-Day of Vino Gusto; iSommelier Sarah Purkis; and James Long from Corney & Barrow.

Drawing on decades of combined experience across wine education, retail, hospitality, buying and judging, the panel praised the exceptional quality and diversity of this year's entries. Judges commented on the consistently high standard across both still and sparkling wines, highlighting the remarkable progress being made by producers throughout the East of England. The record number of entries not only reflected the continued growth of the region's wine industry but also demonstrated the increasing confidence and excellence of its vineyards.

Following a day of careful deliberation, the judges awarded trophies across eight categories, with the prestigious East Anglian Wine of the Year title presented to Saffron Grange for its outstanding Classic Cuvée.

Saffron Grange was the standout performer at the 2026 WineGB East Awards, taking home an extraordinary three trophies, including the competition's highest accolade, East Anglian Wine of the Year, for its outstanding Classic Cuvée 2022. The same wine also claimed the title of Best Sparkling White, while the vineyard's elegant Sparkling Rosé 2022 made history by winning the inaugural Best Sparkling Rosé trophy. Together, these awards recognise the exceptional consistency, craftsmanship and quality that have become synonymous with the Saffron Grange name.

Located just outside Saffron Walden, Saffron Grange is planted on the same ancient chalk seam that stretches from the celebrated vineyards of Champagne, through Sussex, and into Essex. Combined with the county's warm, dry climate, these exceptional growing conditions provide the perfect foundation for producing premium sparkling wines that are increasingly earning recognition on both the national and international stage.

The land itself is steeped in history. Once famous for producing the saffron crocus—one of the world's most valuable spices—the site now nurtures vines that produce wines of equally remarkable character. This rich heritage inspired both the name and philosophy of Saffron Grange, creating a vineyard deeply connected to its landscape and local history.

Founded by Paul Edwards, who returned to his native Essex after a distinguished international career in the food and drink industry, the vineyard was established with a clear ambition: to produce world-class English wines while carefully restoring and enhancing the land for generations to come. That vision, coupled with meticulous attention to detail and an uncompromising commitment to quality, is reflected in every bottle.

The judges were particularly impressed by the Classic Cuvée 2022, praising it as "a delicious expression of English sparkling, with rich fine bubbles and delicious flavours of apple tart and citrus." Its balance, elegance and complexity saw it rise above a record field of entries to secure both Best Sparkling White and the coveted title of East Anglian Wine of the Year.

The vineyard's Sparkling Rosé 2022 also received glowing praise from the judging panel, who described it as "a delicious burst of red fruits and refreshing citrus." Its vibrant fruit character and finesse earned it the inaugural Best Sparkling Rosé trophy, marking a significant milestone in the competition as the category was introduced for the first time.

Saffron Grange's remarkable success at this year's awards is a testament to the dedication, innovation and passion of the entire team. Winning three of the competition's most prestigious trophies in a record-breaking year firmly reinforces the vineyard's reputation as one of England's leading producers of premium sparkling wine.