Solaris Grape: Discover the English White Grape Behind Our Wine
English wine may be best known for sparkling wine, but an exciting range of grape varieties is now flourishing in vineyards across the country. One of our favourites is Solaris the distinctive white grape behind our Radlow Hundred Solaris.
Grown here at our Herefordshire vineyard, Solaris is particularly well suited to cooler climates and produces wonderfully fresh, aromatic white wines. While it may not yet be as widely recognised as Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, this increasingly popular grape has plenty to offer.
What is the Solaris grape?
Solaris is a white grape variety created in Germany in 1975. Developed with cooler growing conditions in mind, it ripens relatively early and has good resistance to common fungal diseases such as mildew.
These characteristics make the Solaris grape particularly interesting for vineyards in cooler wine-growing regions, including England and other parts of northern Europe.
The vines produce lush green leaves and medium-sized bunches of grapes, with Solaris typically ripening earlier than many traditional varieties.
Why does Solaris grow well in England?
England's emerging wine industry offers the opportunity to explore grape varieties particularly well suited to our climate.
Solaris is naturally at home in cooler conditions and its relatively early ripening makes it an exciting choice for English vineyards.
Here at Radlow Hundred in Herefordshire, our Solaris vines grow in the rolling countryside surrounding our vineyard. The result is a grape that allows us to produce a distinctive English white wine that reflects both the variety and the place in which it is grown.
For us, Solaris represents an exciting part of the future of English wine: looking beyond the traditional varieties and discovering which grapes can truly flourish here.
What does Solaris wine taste like?
Solaris can produce a range of aromas and flavours depending on where it is grown and the style of wine being made.
Typical characteristics can include fresh citrus and floral aromas alongside notes of elderflower, stone fruit and tropical fruit.
Our Radlow Hundred Solaris is a vibrant, dry English white wine with delicate floral aromas and refreshing fruit character. Crisp and easy-drinking, it's a wonderful wine for warmer days, relaxed lunches and summer entertaining.
If you enjoy fresh, aromatic white wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, Solaris is well worth discovering.
Growing Solaris grapes in Herefordshire
Our award-winning Radlow Hundred vineyard sits within the rolling Herefordshire countryside, in an administrative area noted in the Domesday Book.
Our family has been farming here for seven generations, and today we're proud to be part of a new chapter in English wine production.
Growing Solaris gives us the opportunity to create wine from a grape particularly suited to our climate while showcasing what can be achieved from vineyards here in Herefordshire.
Alongside Solaris, we also grow Rondo, the red grape at the heart of our English red wine. Together, these varieties allow us to produce characterful, small-batch wines with a strong connection to our vineyard and the landscape around us.
Discover Radlow Hundred Solaris
Produced in small batches, our Solaris celebrates one of England's lesser-known but increasingly exciting white grape varieties.
Whether you're already an English wine enthusiast or simply looking to try something different, Solaris offers a fresh introduction to the diversity of wine now being produced in England.
Shop Radlow Hundred Solaris or explore our full collection of English wines, including our Rondo red wine and English Rosé.
Solaris Grape FAQs
What is a Solaris grape?
Solaris is a white grape variety developed in Germany in 1975. It is known for ripening relatively early and performing well in cooler climates, making it an interesting variety for English vineyards.
Is Solaris a white wine grape?
Yes. Solaris is a white grape used to make wines ranging from dry and refreshing styles to richer and sweeter wines, depending on the growing conditions and winemaking approach.
What does Solaris wine taste like?
Solaris wine can display floral and fruity characteristics, including elderflower, citrus, stone fruit and tropical fruit. Radlow Hundred Solaris is made in a vibrant, dry style with delicate floral aromas and refreshing fruit character.
Where is Radlow Hundred Solaris grown?
Our Solaris grapes are grown at the Radlow Hundred vineyard in Herefordshire, where our family has been farming for seven generations.