There are just two weeks to go til the start of English Wine Week and our first Wine Fair at Water Lane. Alongside tickets for the English Wine Market and the evening Wine Supper we have released a handful of entry only tickets priced at £7.50. These tickets include entry plus admittance to the talks and panel discussion but excludes tasting vouchers. Perfect for those might not have the full afternoon to spare, or indeed those on driving duty!
We are delighted to welcome wine writer and sommelier Aleesha Hansel to the team who has taken on the pleasurable task of curating the pairings for the evening's wine supper. Each course of the sharing style supper will be paired with four exceptional English wines showing the breadth and versatility of the grapes grown in this country, and also showcasing the skill and craft of the wine makers. During the evening Aleesha will guide us through the wines chosen and tell the stories of the winemakers and their wines.
We're delighted Wiston Estate is joining us at the Wine Fair, bringing their Wiston Blanc de Blanc NV, Wiston Rose NV, Wiston Brut and their celebrated Wiston Estate Cuvee 2016, with its impressive depth and complexity with notes of honeyed citrus, toasted almonds and brioche for tasting samples. Read on to find out more about this West Sussex estate.
Wiston Estate has been in the hands of the Goring family since 1743 and is presided over today by Harry and Pip Goring. The estate is managed by their son Richard, and he and his wife Kirsty are now involved in the day to day running of the vineyard and winery. It was Pip’s long-held conviction that the estate held the potential to grow high quality grapes, thanks to the area’s similarities of soil and climate to Champagne. The first 16-acre vineyard was planted in 2006, the fruit of Pip’s dream and tenacity. Wiston Estate is a family venture, small in scale, impressive in aspiration and unrelenting in pursuit of quality. The tight-knit team spares no effort in the vineyard or winery. The vineyards lie on a south-facing chalk escarpment, and are planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. A natural sun-trap and protected from prevailing winds, the vines benefit from maximum sun exposure, promoting ripening. The vineyard is run according to a strict philosophy of sustainability and the winery uses solar panels as a source of renewable energy.
We're looking forward to welcoming the Wiston team and all the other wineries taking part.