2017 Wiston Estate Winery, Cuvée Brut, Sussex, England

Wiston Estate Winery

Nestled in the heart of the South Downs of West Sussex, England, Wiston Estate Winery is a family-run estate with a rich history dating back to 1743. The Goring family, passionate stewards of the land, have nurtured this estate for generations. Pip Goring's unwavering belief in the estate's potential for viticulture led to the establishment of our flourishing 16-acre vineyard. Located on a south-facing chalk escarpment, mirroring the terroir of Champagne, our vineyards bask in ideal conditions for producing exceptional grapes.

Under the expert guidance of winemaker Dermot Sugrue, our dedicated team meticulously crafts each bottle of our award-winning sparkling wines. We are deeply committed to sustainable practices and preserving the unique character of our terroir. From vine to bottle, we pour our hearts into every step of the winemaking process, resulting in a collection that showcases the purity, finesse, and elegance of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes.

Sussex

Located in southern England, Sussex has emerged as a promising region for wine production in recent years.

The country's cool climate and chalky soil, reminiscent of the renowned Champagne region in France, have created favourable conditions for vineyards to flourish.

Winemaking in Sussex focuses on sparkling wines made from traditional methods using classic grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or.

Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.

It is quantitatively important in California and Australia, is widely planted in Chile and South Africa, and is the second most widely planted grape in New Zealand. In warm climates Chardonnay has a tendency to develop very high sugar levels during the final stages of ripening and this can occur at the expense of acidity. Late picking is a common problem and can result in blowsy and flabby wines that lack structure and definition.

Recently in the New World, we have seen a move towards more elegant, better- balanced and less oak-driven Chardonnays, and this is to be welcomed.