The first British-made sparkling wine bottle has entered production.
Croxsons has collaborated with glass manufacturer Encirc to oversee the first production run of the bottle, named Sovereign.
Last week, close to one million bottles were produced during Sovereign’s first production run at Encirc's Cheshire facility.
The amber bottle has been specifically developed for the English and Welsh sparkling wine industry.
Its production provides producers with access to a domestically produced bottle designed for the sector instead of relying on imported glass packaging.
Until now, producers have largely relied on imported bottles from Europe, with no British-made bottle specifically designed for the English and Welsh sparkling wine industry.
By manufacturing Sovereign in Britain, the initiative supports a more localised supply chain while strengthening both the sustainability and provenance credentials of English and Welsh sparkling wine.
The UK now boasts more than 1,000 vineyards and over 200 wineries, with vineyard acreage more than doubling over the last decade.
As sparkling wine remains the dominant category, demand for specialist bottles has grown alongside the sector, highlighting the need for a domestic solution capable of supporting the industry's continued expansion.
Tim Croxson, CEO of Croxsons, said: “For many years, English and Welsh wine producers have built world-class sparkling wines using bottles sourced from overseas.
“Sovereign changes that.
“After almost two years of collaboration to bring the concept to life, this first production run represents the culmination of a huge collective effort.
“As the industry continues to evolve and strengthen its international reputation for quality, we believe it is important that the supply chain evolves with it.
“This is about giving producers greater choice and creating a bottle that reflects the ambitions of the sector.
“We believe producers should have access to a bottle that is designed, produced and supplied closer to home."
Production
Sovereign is produced at Encirc's Cheshire facility, where glass is heated to temperatures of up to 1,200°C before being moulded into bottles.
Developed specifically for sparkling wine, the bottle combines the performance and quality required by producers with the benefits of domestic manufacture.
Its distinctive amber colour is achieved through a controlled blend of materials, including iron, carbon and manganese, providing up to 99% protection from UV light, helping to better preserve product quality compared with traditional flint and green glass alternatives.
Nicola Bates, WineGB CEO said: “The launch of the Sovereign Bottle marks a defining moment for the sector, as its unmistakable colouring will give producers a powerful visual identity.
“If many adopt the bottle, it has the potential to help our category stand out on the shelf and gives English and Welsh wine instant recognisability, such as with a Riesling bottle.
“The Sovereign Bottle signals confidence, heritage and gives the category the presence that it deserves.”
Sustainability
Sovereign has been manufactured using 49% post-consumer recycled glass and designed to support a more localised supply chain for English and Welsh sparkling wine producers.
By reducing reliance on imported bottles and bringing production closer to home, the bottle has the potential to reduce transport distances by approximately 575 miles per shipment compared with sourcing equivalent bottles from continental Europe.
For a producer ordering 100,000 bottles, this could equate to an estimated 4.6–7.7 tonnes fewer CO₂ emissions, excluding channel crossings, pallets and packaging.
