From 21st to 29th June, we’re celebrating English Wine Week, so join us as we raise a glass to some of our wonderful local producers. The rise of English wine has been such an exciting evolution to witness. The wines being produced here in England are rivalling the best and there’s a wealth of world-class knowledge in our local vineyards.
We took advantage and asked a few questions of our friends at New Hall Wine Estate in the Crouch Valley in Essex – producers of Adnams English White.
New Hall’s vineyards in the Crouch Valley, Essex, are sited in a beautiful part of the country that has a long history with wine. With south-facing slopes, low rainfall and cool coastal breezes, the area is producing some of the best wines in England and is becoming increasingly recognised as offering prime conditions for viticulture in the UK.
Bill and Sheila Greenwood pioneered the Crouch Valley vineyard movement when they set up in 1969, making New Hall one of the oldest commercial vineyards in England. A former farm, they gradually converted from agriculture to viticulture, so their roots are firmly in the land. It remains family-owned to this day.
With 120 acres now under vine and an impressive newly built winery on site, New Hall has firmly established a stellar reputation for award winning still wines and expectations grow with every vintage.
How long has New Hall Wine Estate been producing wine?
New Hall Wine Estate was established in 1969, so we’ve been producing wines for over 50 years. We’re a family-run business, currently being led by the third generation.
What grape varieties do you grow at New Hall and how has that evolved over time?
We grow over 18 varieties. We’re incredibly lucky to have such a great portfolio of grapes, which allow us to produce a comprehensive range of red, white and rose wines, both still and sparkling. Our varieties range from heritage varieties such as Pinot gris, sparkling classics including Pinot noir and Meunier, to sustainable PIWI varietals including Cabernet Noir, that are that are robust and resistant and therefore require less intervention.
In the last few years Essex has been hailed as England’s best county for growing grapes. Can you tell us what’s so special about this corner of East Anglia?
Here in the Crouch Valley, we have a wonderful matrix of heavy London clay soil, two key rivers (Crouch and Blackwater) which temperate the climate, have very low rainfall, plus a very high number of growing degree days (warm days). All these factors plus many more means that we can grow some of the ripest fruit in the UK.
What is Bacchus?
Bacchus is a wonderfully aromatic grape variety, originally bred in Germany. Bacchus is incredibly versatile, and perfect for still and sparkling wines. Bacchus’ profile ranges from floral to tropical. It’s often heralded as the UK’s sauvignon blanc. New Hall Wine Estate was the first producer to introduce Bacchus to England, and it’s now the fourth most widely planted variety in the UK.
What grape varieties are in the Adnams English White?
We used our favourite aromatic varieties in Adnams English White, including Ortega and Siegerrebe, both of which have notes of ripe peach, pear and white flowers. We added Bacchus to the blend to add the signature backbone and texture.
What food would you pair with Adnams English White?
It is an incredibly versatile wine to pair with food. I love it with aromatic dishes such as Thai peanut noodles, but it’s also a fabulous partner to fish and chips and al fresco picnics.
Is English wine value for money?
Grape growing and winemaking are incredibly labour intensive and require high input, and we don’t want to compromise on detail or quality. Ultimately, our focus is to produce sustainable wines at an incredibly approachable price point, that represents great value for wine drinkers.