Want to try award-winning wine from an English vineyard? English wine was, for many years, considered to be inferior to that produced by our continental cousins. A changing climate means we’re now able to stand nose to nose with the best from France, Italy or beyond, with the southern counties of the UK producing some wonderful, award-winning wines.
Areas such as West Sussex and Kent have microclimates and soils which lend themselves perfectly to vinification, and as the number of successful vineyards grows, they invite you to visit and learn why English wines deserve a place on your table.
There are many to choose from, so CALIBRE visited two vineyards to sample the experience and, more importantly, sample some spectacular vintages.
English Vineyard Tours: Tinwood Estate
When the Tukker family first farmed the 28 acres at Tinwood Estate near Chichester, the only thought of wine was at the end of the working day. The crop, tended by Art Tukker Sr, was iceberg lettuce – an unusual crop for the South Downs.
As his son, also named Art, neared the end of his studies in 2005, he wrote a dissertation that examined the viability of establishing a successful vineyard in the UK, and so the dream was born.
In 2006, Tinwood entered into a partnership with the already successfully established Ridgeview Wine Estate. The vines were ordered, and Art Jr headed to New Zealand to increase his knowledge of viticulture from some of the best in the world.
The first 46,000 vines were planted in 2007, and by 2015, that initial 28 acres had increased to a total of 65 acres, covered with over 100,000 vines.
Tinwood now grows three varieties of grapes which combine to create its wine selection – chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier.
Since the first harvest in 2009, Tinwood has gone from strength to strength, producing three high-quality sparkling wines – Brut, Rose and, in our view, the star of the show; the Blanc de Blancs.
Tours of the English vineyard, along with wine tastings, are available at Tinwood daily. The recently built tasting room has a large outdoor south-facing terrace overlooking the vines, and a Tinwood marquee has been added to allow the outdoor space to be used even in less favourable weather conditions.
During the 1½ hour tour, you’ll be escorted into the vines and gain an insight into how the vines are grown and cared for, as well as the winemaking process. You’ll then have the opportunity to taste the three varieties, with some expert guidance around the flavours of each grape combination.
An optional cheese board is available to have alongside the wine tasting, each cheese carefully chosen to best match each of the three wines – take our advice, and spend the extra. If you’d prefer a sweet treat, a sparkling afternoon tea and tour option is available throughout the summer that includes sandwiches, scones, macarons, fruit tartlets, chocolate strawberries and even Ferrero Rocher, amongst other tempting morsels.
In 2016, three luxurious lodges were added to the estate, complete with a barrel sauna and jacuzzi for guest use and views over vines towards the setting sun. Combine this with a tour and tasting session, and you have a great way to spend an afternoon and evening, either with friends or loved ones.
The only downside is that there is no food option available onsite for overnight guests. If you can make it to breakfast, then a fresh continental breakfast hamper is delivered to your lodge, but with a fully stocked wine fridge in each lodge, you might be looking for something a little more substantial before you head home.
If you want to get a little more up close and personal with the process of wine production, Tinwood also offers harvest experience days for two consecutive weekends, usually at the end of September or the beginning of October. All the grapes are hand-picked, as the stalks are also used in the production of sparkling wines, and this experience will give you a glimpse behind the scenes and a deeper understanding of wine production at Tinwood.
After a morning of picking, you’ll refuel with a ‘rustic harvest lunch’ followed by a wine-tasting session to appreciate the full flavour of the grapes – hopefully in the autumn sunshine.
What: Tinwood Estate Vineyard Tour
Where: Tinwood Estate, Tinwood Lane, Chichester PO18 0NE
Web: tinwoodestate.com
English Vineyard Tours: The Bolney Wine Estate
When Janet and Rodney Pratt planted the first vines at their farm in Bolney, West Sussex, in 1972, they were among a handful of pioneering farms to take the leap. Farming other local crops brought in an income that allowed them to spend time discovering the best varieties of grapes for the soil and climate.
In the mid-90s, the founder’s daughter Sam joined the team and is now the driving force behind the estate, as managing director and head winemaker.
The estate now boasts a 104-acre vineyard, with eight different grape varieties which combine to create their range of still and sparkling wines.
The recent addition of a new, state-of-the-art winery has taken the production capacity of the estate to 500,000 bottles, bottling not only Bolney Estate vintages but also offering a contract winemaking service to other vineyards without their own facilities.
The Eighteen Acre Cafe offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy a spot of alfresco dining and maybe a glass of wine or two on a balcony overlooking the vines. A takeaway menu is also available, which you are free to enjoy at one of the picnic spots around the Estate.
Bolney also offers a number of tours of the estate, from a guided walk around the vineyard, followed by a tasting experience of three of the Bolney Estate vintages (with cheese board, of course) to a more in-depth three-hour Ultimate Wine and Food Tasting tour, which culminates in a two-course seasonal mezze board, followed by petit fours and coffee.
Whichever tour you choose, you will be able to sample some of the extensive range of wines, under the expert tutelage of a member of the Bolney team. Make sure not to miss the Lychgate Bacchus and Estate pinot noir – our favourites from the estate wines.
The Bolney cellar also includes a Bolney Estate gin and the very first Sussex Rosso Vermouth – both made with ingredients from the estate grounds.
What: Bolney Wine Estate Vineyard Tour
Where: Bolney Wine Estate, Foxhole Lane, Bolney, Haywards Heath RH17 5NB
Web: bolneywineestate.com
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