Gutter & Stars is Cambridge's first urban winery, founded by ex-journalist Chris Wilson in 2020, and located in the basement of a Grade II-listed windmill. The micro-winery produces small-batch English still wines from grapes sourced from growers in East Anglia and other areas, with wines named after musical references.

The unique setup in the historic mill, combined with its high-quality, critically acclaimed wines, has quickly established Gutter & Stars as a noteworthy name in the English wine scene.

England’s wine regions are concentrated in the southern half of the country, where the climate and soils are most suited to viticulture. The industry has expanded rapidly in recent years, thanks to a warming climate, improved vineyard practices, and growing recognition for quality, particularly in sparkling wine.

Key climatic influences include a cool maritime climate with increasing average temperatures and longer growing seasons, which have significantly improved grape ripening. However, spring frosts, rain during flowering, and high humidity pose ongoing challenges. The best vineyards are typically south-facing, sheltered, and on well-drained soils such as chalk, greensand, and clay.

The most prominent regions include Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire, and Essex. Sussex is the first region in England to gain PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) status and is home to many of the country’s leading producers. Kent and Hampshire also host significant plantings, while East Anglia, particularly Essex, is emerging as a hotspot for still wines due to its drier climate.

The main grapes planted are those used in traditional method sparkling wine: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Bacchus is the leading still white variety, valued for its aromatic, fresh style. Others include Ortega, Pinot Gris, and increasingly, early-ripening red varieties like Pinot Noir and Meunier.

Bacchus is a white grape variety created in Germany in 1933 by crossing Silvaner and Riesling with Müller-Thurgau. Named after the Roman god of wine, Bacchus was developed to thrive in cooler climates and ripen earlier than Riesling, making it particularly suitable for regions with shorter growing seasons. It gained commercial importance in the 1970s and has since become a notable variety in both Germany and the United Kingdom.

Viticulturally, Bacchus is a vigorous, early-budding and early-ripening grape, allowing it to reach full maturity even in marginal climates. However, it requires careful yield management to ensure quality and avoid overly dilute wines. It thrives in well-drained soils and benefits from good sun exposure to develop full aromatic potential.

While Bacchus is still grown in Germany, particularly in Rheinhessen and Franconia, it has found increasing success in England, where it is considered one of the country's most promising white wine grapes. It is also planted on a smaller scale in Luxembourg and Canada.

Bacchus typically produces aromatic, crisp white wines with lively acidity and pronounced flavours of elderflower, citrus, gooseberry, and tropical fruit. Its style can range from dry and zesty to off-dry, and it is often compared to Sauvignon Blanc for its bright, herbaceous profile.