FFW 2021 Wine Catalogue

ENGLAND

MEET THE GROWER Wiston Estate Dermot Sugrue, Wiston’s winemaker cuts quite a roguish figure in both the stories about his professional background (Irish beer and fruit wine brewer, turned Champagne and English winemaker extraordinaire) and the devilish glint of the eye and the wry smile he casts. I first came across the estate after a chance meeting with a familymember of the owner, who scoffed at my regard of Nyetimber. He said if you want serious quality, tryWiston and the work of Sugrue, the winemaker formerly of Nyetimber (at least until he fell in love with the terroir at Findon Park – Wiston’s 7ha amphitheatre vineyard). Interest piqued we promptly got in touch, tasted the wines and duly fell in love. What superb quality they have! What we love about Wiston Estate is their down to earth character, jaw-dropping quality and wholly reasonable prices (their Estate Cuvee 2015 retails at £36 and is, in our humble opinion, far superior to NV GrandMarque Champagne around the same price).

We visited theWest Sussex estate in August 2020 and were so pleased that our previous quality perceptionwas maintained – even increased - as we tasted across a wider range. Their 2014 Rose (a great Pinot Noir vintage) left us speechless. The Blanc de Blanc is terrific, too. “One of the finest English sparkling wines that I have encountered.... Now this is how you make a great Blanc de Blancs,” gushed Neal Martin in July 2020. He rated the Blanc de Blancs 95 points and we wholeheartedly agree with him. Please seek out these wines – we usually have them in stock – they are the real deal. Their Estate Cuvee 2015, unscored by Neal Martin, is the team favourite, with 66% Pinot Noir andMeunier and 33% Chardonnay. Another plus is these wines are perfect for food, such is their stuffing and complexity. We will 100% be arranging a dinner for our clients with the roguish Dermot Sugrue at the helm. It will certainly be a fun night!

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WINE CATALOGUE