Ahead next week’s ‘roadmap out of lockdown’ announcement and with many articles flooding the internet discussing the low chances of travelling outside of the UK anytime soon, we thought we would share an article from a roadtrip taken last year. On this trip Alex and Joanna Lawrence explored the South Downs in the form of a sparkling wine tour and we think this offers a staycation idea to get excited about, hopefully, for the year ahead! 

“Wine is a people story. Wine isn’t made by oak barrels and stainless steel. It is made by people.” – Dermot Sugrue, Winemaker

If you buy your wine from your local supermarket, you are not alone. Approximately 70% of the population do the same, and the choice can be overwhelming. Perhaps you pick based on the review card underneath the wine, or something you have read in the Sunday supplements. Perhaps you are drawn to the label or there are those you wish to try but don’t want to invest in the bottle without tasting? The great news is that with over 280 vineyards in England, over 100 of them sparkling, it is possible to do just this. And with many of these vineyards in close proximity to one another, such as those in the chalky South Downs, you can easily manage several in a day, with a designated driver of course.

We suggest starting your tour at Black Chalk in Andover. Although one of the relative ‘newbies’ on the English Sparkling wine scene, having only released their debut 2015 vintage in 2018, they have certainly made an impression. Winemaker Jacob Leadley, formerly of Hattingley Valley, has led the team to several awards this year. The Black Chalk signature Classic 2016 has just taken gold at the Independent English Wine Awards (IEWA) and also the title of overall winner for sparkling wine, gold at the International Wine and Sprit Competition (IWSC) and they were also crowned Newcomer of the Year at the WineGB 2020 awards. At present, Black Chalk are offering guided tastings, either with or without lunch, held outside due to the current guidelines, so don’t forget the umbrella.

Moving on from Black Chalk, the scenic route to take is along the A272 road. Although still a fairly busy route it leads you through some stunning South Downs countryside, complete with thatched villages, country pubs, and glimpses of those all important chalk ridges, the mixture of chalk and greensand soil the perfect planting base for the many vineyards in the area.

Next stop is the Wiston Estate. Owned and managed by the Goring family since 1743, it wasn’t until 2006 when the first vines were planted. It has been a long held dream of Pip Goring to plant a vineyard, having grown up amongst the mountains and vines of Cape Town, and that dream became a reality after meeting winemaker Dermot Sugrue. Together they have created several award winning vintages over the last 12 years, and in 2019 they were awarded the prestigious Decanter award ‘Best in Show’ for their Wiston Estate 2011 Blanc de Blanc.

Visits to the Wiston Estate Winery begin with a guided and informative walk through the vineyards, followed by a visit to the winery, where the traditional Coquard basket press is housed. This is one of only four outside France and is unique to the UK. This slow and gentle method of pressing ensures the purest extraction of grapes, and adds to the finesse and elegance of the finished product, not only of Wiston Estate wines but also Sugrue South Downs.

Our final vineyard is a little further along the chalky ridge, to Ridgeview vineyard near the picturesque village of Ditchling (an article to follow soon on Ridgeview). After several guided tastings, you may feel it’s time to branch out on your own, and Ridgeview has the perfect wine garden to enable you to do just that. Offering wine flights, and accompanying sharing platters, made with local Sussex produce only, this garden overlooking the famous ‘ridge view’ is the perfect setting to end your South Downs sparkling tour.

Of course at the time of publishing, there are restrictions on travel or vineyard visits, which we are hoping will be eased in the coming weeks somewhat. The good news is that many are now offering guided virtual tastings, that you can complete in the comfort of your own home. Nyetimber, one of the pioneers of English Sparkling wines, having planted their first vines in 1988, are offering virtual tastings led by one of their dedicated brand ambassadors.

If you’re after something a little more personal, Dermot Sugrue, who has just won Boutique Producer of the Year at the 2020 WineGB awards, for his 2014 ‘The Trouble with Dreams’, is available for virtual private tastings. He is also winemaker at the Wiston Estate, who have recently created their own YouTube channel, where there are vineyard tours and pre-recorded spotlight tastings, led again by Dermot. If you can’t go out to meet the people, they will bring the people, and of course the all important wine to you.

After all, as it says on every bottle of Ridgeview wine, life is for celebrating. In even the most difficult times there is always something to be thankful for. Take time, sit back and savour the experience.