Bolney Estate with Cellar Door Wines
Have you tried any good English wine lately? I love English sparkling but I’ve had a few disappointing (& expensive) bottles of English still wines recently and I’m on a mission to find something I can really enjoy…
Enter Cellar Door Wines & Bolney Wine Estate! When I spotted they were gathering virtually via Zoom, I knew it was one not to miss, I’d been meaning to try the Bolney wines for some time. I also love independent tastings, I’ve found they really create memorable gatherings & I like to support small business where I can.
Cellar Door Wines in St Alban’s didn’t disappoint, Penny (owner), called me immediately after I booked to discuss delivery options. The wine arrived in perfect time, along with delicious snacks - 3 bottles of Bolney, Wobbly Bottom Farm Mature Goats Cheese (delicious!), Pata Negra Spanish Cured Meat and Patatas Fritas all for £55 - great value for an evening’s tasting whilst still in post-France isolation AND a lovely handwritten note from Penny.
We gathered with Penny & Adam from Bolney & fellow gatherers were mostly from Verulam Wine Tasting Club, a friendly bunch who clearly know their stuff, ensuring that the conversation flowed & there were some interesting questions.
We began with a brief history of Bolney from Adam, where we learnt that owners, Rodney & Janet, were one of the pioneers of English wines, having started the project in the 1970s, with 3 acres of vines on a working farm, which has now grown to 104 acres! After experimenting with lots of German grape varieties over the years, they started to really hit their stride in the 90s when, after studying wine at Plumpton College, daughter Sam came onboard & it seems they’ve been winning awards ever since!
What we learnt
Bolney is in West Sussex & sits on a band of limestone soil that stretches between the North & South downs, under The Channel to Champagne & Burgundy in France
Champagne houses are buying up land in the South East of England because they recognise how great it is for making sparkling wine!
English Sparkling wine is made using the Traditional Method or Méthode Champenoise - the bubbles are created through a second fermentation which takes place in the bottle, where carbonation happens naturally - as opposed to being carbonated in a tank (how Prosecco is made) - this gives the wines much more character & the bread/yeasty notes that you associate with Champagne.
The wines
Bolney Bubbly English Sparkling NV
£23.95
A blend of Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Seyval Blanc, Müller Thurgau & Reichenstiener. Lovely blossom & brioche, a little citrusy, with a touch of honeysuckle. A crowd pleasing sparkler; it will work for someone who likes a something lighter but with just enough complexity to placate a Champagne fan!
Bolney Lychgate Bacchus 2018
£14.95
A burst of blossom & elderflower with a lovely bite, not usually my style of wine but it’s really well put together and went down a treat with the Thai curry we enjoyed after the tasting! If you’re a fan of a Kiwi Sauvignon you’ll probably enjoy this one.
Bolney Estate Pinot Noir 2018
£24.95
Delicious cherries with a lovely smokey savouriness. This went really well with the cured meats that came in our tasting package. Perhaps a little pricey but when you consider the amount of work that goes into producing Pinot Noir (a very fussy grape) it’s probably justifiable! Bolney is currently ageing the 2018 in 225 litre oak barrels, to be released on their 50th Anniversary in 2022. Based on how it’s drinking now this would definitely be worth the investment!
