GREYFRIARS’ SPARKLING 15TH
Have you visited Greyfriars’ Vineyard on the Hogs Back yet? If not, pop in, you’ll get a warm welcome.
This impressive local vineyard makes for a great day out in the Surrey Hills. There’s a beautiful, scenic vineyard path to follow, a working winery and a well-equipped tasting room with friendly, knowledgeable service.
At the end of June Greyfriars celebrated the 15th anniversary of owners Mike and Hilary Wagstaff buying the vineyard. Back in 2010 it was just one acre, it’s now 40 acres of beneficial south facing chalk slope vineyards on the Hogs Back!
Mike and Hilary celebrated in style, the big crowd enjoying vineyard and winery tours, tasting stations, masterclasses, meeting the winemaking and vineyard teams and of course, relaxing in the popular picnic area where live music and popping bottles filled the warm afternoon.
To help the celebrations I presented two masterclasses together with Mike Wagstaff to enthusiastic audiences. As the celebrations coincided with English Wine Week we also included wines from the other local vineyards; Denbies, Albury, High Clandon, and Chilworth. The Greyfriars portfolio was represented by three wines; Goldenford Chardonnay 2022 (still), Old Vines Blanc de Blancs 2016 and Rose Reserve 2014 en magnum, both sparkling. In case you’re wondering, the ‘old vines’ are 35 years old oh, and the Rose Reserve 2014 won the prestigious Trophy at the International Wine Challenge.
From humble beginnings, English Sparkling Wine is taking the world by storm and now boasts over 900 vineyards and 200 wineries which isn’t surprising as it’s similar to Champagne in so many ways. The grapes are the same (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier), the climate’s similar (northerly and chilly), Champagne’s famous chalk soils dip under the channel and appear in the south of England, and the winemaking’s the same.
ESW is so successful that Champagne Houses are now buying vineyards in England; Taittinger have bought a large slice of Kent and Pommery have bought extensive vineyards in Hampshire. More will follow, watch this space.
At Greyfriars, investment, dedication and expertise are paying dividends on the national and global wine markets and, as somebody once sang, it can only get better.
Don’t forget to pop in. See you there!
