It has been praised as one of the best sparkling wines and is on the menu of high-end restaurants. It has also become a symbol of modern British luxury and is served at royal family parties and embassies around the world. However, we are not talking about champagne, but about the inventor of English Sparkling.
70 kilometres south of London, in the county of West Sussex, is the Nyetimber winery, founded in 1988, which is fully committed to producing top-class sparkling wines using the traditional method and has earned an excellent reputation far beyond the island. When the winery was taken over by entrepreneur Eric Heerema in particular, there was a clear ambition to become one of the best in the world.
A year later, the Canadian winemaker couple Cherie Spriggs and Brad Greatrix joined the team. Top ratings and many international awards followed. in 2018, Cherie became the first winemaker ever to be honoured as "Sparkling Winemaker of the Year" by the International Wine Challenge (IWC).
What may seem revolutionary, however, has a very simple basis. Let's call it "terroir". Chalk, limestone and greensand soils, gentle south-facing slopes, wind-protected plains and a mild Gulf Stream climate provide the best conditions for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, for long and slow ripening, subtle flavours and lively acidity.
Nyetimber now has eleven vineyards totalling 350 hectares.
Only the company's own grapes are used. They are harvested and vinified separately by parcel before being blended. Nyetimber sparkling wines are produced using the traditional method of second fermentation in the bottle and matured for a long time on the lees.
photos: Nyetimber
