Every year in May, the UK celebrates an entire week dedicated to the iconic British sandwiches and sandwiches, one of the favourite and most widely consumed dishes by all British people. British Sandwich Week is the perfect opportunity to collect the best and most famous British sandwiches to be enjoyed with some excellent Italian wine to match for an experience to be shared, at home or during a picnic.

The origins of British Sandwich Week: Who invented this delicacy?

The sandwich as it is known today was invented in 1762 by John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich: the man was fond of gambling and during a long session of cards, not wanting to leave the table for lunch, he asked his butler to prepare him a quick meal of cold meat between two slices of bread. And this is how the delicious, convenient and quick English meal came into being, gaining instant popularity.

However, it was not until 1985 that the packaged sandwich was commercialised, thanks to the British multinational Marks & Spencer. Today, the sandwich in the UK is among the most widely consumed meals: it is estimated that every British person eats around 200 a year! That is why, since 1990, The British Sandwich & Food to Go Association has established British Sandwich Week, with many members joining the initiative and competing for the prize of the week: the Summit.

So why not celebrate the great variety of sandwiches and paninis that the UK has to offer, from club sandwiches to butties and baps, filled with cheese, eggs, ham, sausages, chips, meat and vegetables and lots of goodness with some good Italian wine? Here are some suggestions on the best wines to pair with some of the most popular British sandwiches.

Bacon Butty and Chip Butty: which wines to pair?

The Bacon Butty certainly ranks among the most popular English sandwiches: eaten for breakfast, the ingredients of this delicacy are nothing more than crispy bacon between two slices of bread buttered or flavoured with ketchup or brown sauce. What wine to pair with cold cuts and bacon in particular? There are several types of wine that are best suited to enhance the flavour of bacon and to be paired with Bacon Butty: for those who prefer white wines, the 'Flora' Pinot Bianco Riserva Alto Adige DOC 2019 is the perfect answer! If, on the other hand, you abound in ketchup and have a penchant for red wines, "Huck am Bach" Santa Maddalena Classico Alto Adige DOC 2022 or the sparkling red wine Lambrusco will be able to provide unprecedented food and wine experiences! Which wine to pair with Chip Butty instead? You can opt for Pèppoli Chianti Classico DOC or a good bubbly wine such as Prosecco DOC to balance the greasiness of the chips!

Coronation Chicken Sandwich and wine pairing

Coronation Chicken is a traditional British dish created in 1953 by the headmistresses of the Cordon Bleu Cookery School in London on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth's coronation. For a good food and wine pairing, you need to consider the ingredients of Coronation Chicken and an Italian Metodo Classico bubbly such as Franciacorta, which goes well with the chicken, mayonnaise, spices and herbs that make up this English speciality. Other winning labels for this tasty dish are for example 'Ficiligno' Inzolia-Viognier Sicilia DOC or a good bottle of Chardonnay for those who like white wines, but also the rosé 'Contessa Staffa' Nero di Troia Rosato IGT 2021.

Which wine to pair with Prawn Mayo Sandwiches?

For a quick and tasty meal, the Prawn Mayo Sandwich is definitely a tasty choice! The main ingredients of this delicacy are prawns, mayonnaise and a touch of pepper and fresh chives and some crunchy toast. This sandwich is definitely one of the must-have sandwiches to properly honour British Sandwich Week with some great wine! The best wines to pair with the Prawn Mayo Sandwich are fresh and mineral: a good example of a winning combination is the 'Serrocielo' Falanghina del Sannio DOC 2021, but also Pinot Grigio, Prosecco and Italian Metodo Classico sparkling wines give the palate a balance that will enhance the flavour of the Prawn Mayo Sandwich, try it to believe it!

Celebrate British Sandwich Week with Svinando and choose your favourite wine or beer labels: you'll find something for every taste on the site, don't miss out!