This summer is shaping up to be a true celebration of what’s on our doorstep. As more people embrace slower travel and stay closer to home, there’s never been a better moment to discover the depth of quality, craft and flavour coming from British producers, especially in the world of English wine.
To mark English Wine Week (20th – 28th June 2026) Mindful Chef, the UK’s highest-rated recipe box, has partnered with wine expert Jane Rakison to showcase the magic that happens when great food meets the right wine. The collaboration brings together fresh, seasonal recipes with carefully selected bottles from vineyards across England.
The result of a shared passion for championing local producers, this special menu celebrates the very best of British soil, from responsibly sourced ingredients to world-class wines. By bringing together food and wine grown and made closer to home, each dish offers a more connected experience, linking the people at the table with the producers behind every element.
Designed to be shared and savoured, each dish encourages long, relaxed meals, where great conversation sits alongside a deeper appreciation of the craft and provenance behind every bite.
English wine is having a moment. With production rising sharply and over 1,000 vineyards now across the UK, producers are crafting bottles that are not only distinctive but globally competitive. England’s cool climate continues to create wines with bright acidity and freshness, ideal for pairing with vibrant, seasonal dishes.
This limited-edition menu captures that energy and diversity, showcasing wines from some of England’s most exciting regions. From crisp coastal whites to elegant sparkling wines from Dorset and West Sussex, and lighter-style reds from an innovative urban winery in London, each bottle has been chosen to complement and enhance Mindful Chef’s dishes, proving just how versatile and food-friendly English wine can be.
Highlights include Langham’s Corallian Classic Cuvée NV, an elegant sparkling from Dorset, and Nyetimber’s limited-edition English Summer Rosé, which reflects the flavours of English wild strawberries and raspberries. The menu also spotlights boundary-pushing producers such as Black Book in London, whose lighter English reds offer a fresh take on classic pairings.
Each recipe has been created by Leiths-trained head chef Jesse Kempner, using a selection of seasonal ingredients and Mindful Chef’s signature approach to balanced, nourishing cooking. The result is a menu designed not just to taste great, but to feel good too, with dishes that are fresh, flavour-packed and perfectly matched to their wine counterparts.
Standout pairings include samphire-baked salmon with herby potato salad, elevated by a crisp English sparkling that enhances fresh herb notes while cutting through the richness of the fish. Meanwhile, Somerset pork meatball fusilli with sundried tomato sauce and rocket pesto is paired with a lighter English red – a combination that brings out the depth and complexity of both dish and wine.
At its heart, the menu is about rediscovering joy in the kitchen by removing the guesswork from pairing and helping home cooks confidently create meals where every bite and every sip work in harmony.
Jane Rakison, wine expert, said: “English wine is incredibly exciting right now, not just because of its quality, but because of how well the various styles work with food. What we’ve created here is all about unlocking those flavour combinations. From elegant sparkling wines that lift fresh, herb-led dishes, to lighter reds that pair beautifully with comforting classics, these wines really come into their own at the table. With more people staying closer to home this summer, it’s the perfect time to explore just how versatile and world-class English wine can be.”
Kempner, head chef at Mindful Chef, said: “This menu is all about showing how great ingredients with the right pairings can completely transform a meal. We’ve focused on creating dishes centred around fresh, seasonal produce, and have matched them with English wines to elevate the flavours, and balance the different elements on the plate. It’s about creating an accessible and easy restaurant-quality experience at home, while celebrating the incredible producers we have here in the UK.”
Dishes on the Mindful Chef wine pairing menu are available from 20–28 June 2026.
Mindful Chef’s wine pairing menu:
Nyetimber English Summer Rosé (West Sussex) with Roasted Vegetable Gnocchi with Sundried Tomato & Walnut Pesto
Lyme Bay Shoreline (Devon) with Nicoise-style Anchovy Salad
