I was in Niagara in 2022 at the International Cool Climate Wine Symposium. Was surprised how the Niagara Peninsula region is such a fascinating grape growing region, so many styles, the most well known winery there probably Inniskillin, (icewine.) nova Scotia was interesting too, some great sparkling wine and interesting hybrid grape varieties to deal with cold winters. Alas , bloody hard to find these wines here
Sussex, not yet. One grower I know of tried it and grubbed it up. Maybe one day, after all they said that about Chardonnay in England and now it's our most widely grown variety.
I find the south east England wine thing interesting. I was at college, and a good friend for many years, of a nephew of the gent who started Denby. I think he was one of the first , and at the time most laughed at him. Fast forward 30 plus years and it’s a different story.
Yep, I think it just took a couple of brave people to move away from (mostly) German varieties and plant classic varieties for sparkling and it went very well. When I started in viticulture 25 years ago there was about 20 hectares of Chardonnay in England; it's just shy of 3000 ha now.
And another light comes out from under the bushel!
I am, right here in Sussex
In another life, I would have liked to have been a grower.I am, right here in Sussex
I am, right here in Sussex
it's very rewarding and at times frustrating and difficult, like growing any crop really. I got into it by mistake (bringing this thread back to Riesling) I had a casual job on a Riesling vineyard in Clare Valley, fell in love with it, that was 26 years ago
Excellent. If you can divulge where you are, I'll try to visit.
www.blackbookwinery.com
I'm at Ridgeview, Ditchling Common.Excellent. If you can divulge where you are, I'll try to visit.
Have to say, I've had some really good English Chardonnays of late. Lots of people raving about Essex as a location. The best I've had is from Blackbook, think it was this one:
2020 "Pygmalion" Chardonnay — Blackbook Winery
*Available in Magnum * This is a late release, limited edition chardonnay made in the fantastic 2020 vintage. Grapes were sourced from Crouch Valley vineyard nestled in the Crouch Valley of Essex. This wine represents the wonderful unique microclimates that showcase this versatile variety. The “Py
Strangely enough, I've been planning a trip there. The aim is to get there (from Fiveways) and back via a mix of train and walking, have some food and a fair bit of fizz and then head home.
It is indeed. I have about 3 cases’ worth of various vintages and cuvées steadily improving in the cellar.
That, as they say in all the good wine reviews, is decent shit.
Nice! be good to hear what you think when you open them
I’m not quite the collector you are but it’s been our go to Christmas fizz for a few years now and is a smashing drop for in the garden in summer.
I've been the vineyard manager there for 22 years now. As for visiting, well anytime if the weather is good, restaurant, tours, self guided vineyard tour. (Although occasionally we have to close that if we're using machinery in the vineyard.) The restaurant in summer though is stunning. Worth checking on the website and booking though.
