FFW 2021 Wine Catalogue

ENGLAND

The EnglishQuality SparklingWine category, to give its official title, provides the parameters that the similar AOCor DOprovides in France and Spain. There are quite a fewproducers in the market now, and it ismaturing. There has been a notable rise in quality fromthewines that were made ten years ago - certainly now the estates are finding their feet. Importantly, they are no longer trying tomake champagne in England. But what is sadly still true is that in general, the wine is expensivewhen compared to its cousins in Champagne. With start-up costs and an evenmore marginal climatewherewhole crops can be lost, such as in 2012, this is almost unavoidable. But the comparisons remain. England Some producers are pushing for specific regional demarcation – like a Sussex PDO. Most however don’t see the benefit in splittingwhat is a nascent category and dividing their strengths. Asmentioned above themarginal climatemeans producersmay need to fall back on bought grapes fromacross the South of England indifficult years like 2012wheremany producers struggled tomake anything. Wiston first cottoned on to the potential quality they hadwhen a couple of champagne houses came knocking to enquire about the availability of certain slopes, and a passionproject spiraled into

something that is really going places. However, for everyWiston there are people likemewhomused on planting some grapes in a fieldwhichwould have absorbed funds like a sponge to no end result. To start as an English producer, youneednerves of steel and sometimes deep pockets at the outset. Other notable producers include Hambledon , whosewines on the SouthDowns’ South-western edge, nearWinchester, are pretty spectacular. Nyetimber of course is verywell-known and one of the largest quality producers. You also have an array of growers who’s actual wine-making is contracted out to thosewith the expertise, such as atWiston or Nyetimber – wine-making equipment is very expensive – as is the know-how. Domaine Evremond inKent is another exciting newcomer onKent’s Green-sand, a joint project between Taittinger and their UK Importers HatchMansfield. Their first harvest should be soon.

Its’ a very exciting time in a nascent industry. Quality is on the up as are export sales, with Scandinavia a huge

market. We’re proud to be close partners ofWiston Estate and encourage you to taste these remarkable creations. Tom Meade

CLASSIC GRAPE VARIETALS Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Bacchus

FAVOURITE PRODUCERS Wiston Estate, Chapel Down, Nyetimber, Hambledon, Domaine Evremond, Gusbourne

AREA UNDER VINE 3,500ha

SOIL TYPE Chalk, calcerous clay, green-sand

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