At Water Lane, we are lucky to have many neighbouring vineyards and pioneering
producers of English wine on our doorstep. Situated in the High Weald, an area encompassing Kent, the garden of England, and Sussex with its strong similarities in soil and climate to the Champagne region in France, we are surrounded by some of the best expressions of English wine. It is only a natural extension of our interest in this burgeoning new industry of wines, and the bottles we have on our restaurant list, to announce our first ever Wine Fair at Water Lane.
Curated in collaboration with wine writer and communicator, Abbie Moulton, author of New British Wine (Hoxton Mini Press) the Wine Fair is on Saturday 15th June (12pm-6pm) at the start of English Wine Week. In keeping with Water Lane’s ethos, our winemakers have been handpicked to reflect the same values: highlighting family-run and independent wineries, and those committed to organic and sustainable winemaking. Throughout the day we’ll offer a programme of events - learn to taste like a pro at an expert-led tutorial, find out about the future of English wine at our panel talk or listen to award-winning sommelier Honey Spencer talk about her new book Natural Wine, No Drama (Pavilion Books).
In the evening, an early summer supper of sharing plate style dishes will be served, cooked by Head Chef Jed Wrobel and his team; each course will be paired with an English wine by a guest sommelier.
Historically, England may not have been the first place to come to mind for fine wine, but over the past couple of decades, things have changed dramatically and there are now wines of world-class quality, helped in part by rising temperatures, but also because of increased knowledge and experimentation. English Sparkling wine has been in the spotlight for some years now, spearheaded by vineyards such as Nyetimber and Gusbourne, but still wines are quietly undergoing something of a revolution too, with an ever-growing collection of pioneering makers, such as Ben Walgate from Walgate Wines and Kristin Syltevik at Oxney Organic Estate, helping put British wine on the map.
Tickets are £25 per person and include four tasting samples and admittance to the panel discussion and interview event. Tickets to the Wine Fair and Supper (from 6.30pm) are separate and are £100 per person, and includes four tasting glasses from the wine market and a four-course sharing supper with each paired with our chosen wines.
Wine makers and producers confirmed so far include:
Oxney Organic Estate – Artelium Wine Estate – Roebuck Estates - Tillingham Winery – Kinsbrook Vinyard – Ham Street Wines – Walgate Wines – Mountfield Vinery
The Wine Fair will be a fantastic way to taste and explore new wines in our region; we hope you will join us. Cheers!
Nick and Ian