Croxsons launches ‘Sovereign’: the first ever British-made sparkling wine bottle

In a landmark move for the UK’s drinks industry, 150-year-old family business Croxsons has officially launched Sovereign, the first-ever sparkling wine bottle manufactured entirely on British soil.

The launch marks a pivotal shift for the burgeoning English and Welsh wine sectors, which have historically relied on imported glass from mainland Europe.

The decision to manufacture domestically was driven by the explosive growth of the domestic wine market.

With sales of British sparkling wine soaring by 187% since 2018 — rising to 6.2 million bottles annually — the “provenance gap” between a British-grown grape and a European-made bottle became an obvious pain point for producers.

“Six generations of our family have been involved in the wine trade,” said Tim Croxson, CEO of Croxsons. “It feels particularly fitting that we are now helping the English and Welsh winemaking industry deliver a truly British sparkling wine bottle that is British through and through.”

The Sovereign bottle is being positioned as a strategic tool designed to address the modern manufacturer’s biggest challenges: sustainability, shelf standout, and local resilience.

• Distinctive amber aesthetics: moving away from the traditional green glass favoured by European competitors, Sovereign is crafted in a distinctive amber glass. This provides immediate shelf standout, signalling to consumers that the product is a domestic premium offering.
• A win for sustainability: each bottle comprises 77% recycled content. Furthermore, by shifting production to England, Croxsons has effectively slashed the “road-miles” associated with transporting millions of empty bottles from France, Germany, and Italy.
• Operational security: for winemakers, a local supply chain means reduced lead times and protection against the logistical bottlenecks that have plagued cross-border trade in recent years.

The launch has been met with praise from leading domestic brands, including Ridgeview Wine.

Operations director Matt Gayler noted that having domestically manufactured, high-quality packaging is a milestone that supports the industry’s international ambitions and sustainable identity.

The English and Welsh wine industry is currently estimated to be worth £422 million, and with over 1,000 vineyards across the country, the Sovereign bottle provides the final piece of the puzzle for a fully integrated, British-made luxury product.

Production of the Sovereign bottle begins in March 2026, with orders available directly through Croxsons.