The Southern Quarter’s pick of the best English wine-related things to see and do this month
Enjoy some festive cheer here: Artelium Vineyard
East Sussex vineyard Artelium’s Christmas Makers Market, on Saturday December 10, brings together a selection of likeminded makers and producers to deliver a curated offering of luxury craft gifting.
Featuring illustrations from Blank Inside, Chalk & Flint Ceramics, chocolate treats from J Cocoa, Saskia Birtwell Jewellery, flowers by Bryony Mae and much more.
There will be complimentary tastings of Artelium’s award-winning wines while you shop, as well as plenty of warming mulled wine and raclette from Specs & Bear. Entry is free but tickets for a three-hour arrival time must be booked.
Book an afternoon tea here: Bolney Wine Estate
Just down the road in West Sussex Bolney Wine Estate is hosting a festive afternoon tea each Monday and Tuesday in the lead up to Christmas.
Between 12pm and 3pm diners can enjoy a delicious selection of finger sandwiches, scones with cream and jam and a selection of themed treats including mince pies, sticky toffee pudding muffins and more alongside a sparkling wine flight of Bolney’s award–winning wines and pots of tea.
A quintessentially English way to while away an afternoon at just £50 per couple.
Meet the winemakers here: Black Chalk
Black Chalk Vineyard in Hampshire sees the return of its Winemaker’s Dinner for a winter themed special from 7pm on Friday, December 16.
Hosted by the Black Chalk winemaking team, Jacob Leadley and Zoe Driver, the event includes a four-course menu with Black Chalk library wines accompanied by stories from the vineyard, harvest and winery.
Dishes include mussels accompanied by Black Chalk Classic 2018, duck pastrami alongside Black Chalk Wild Rose 2016, chorizo spiced cod loin with Black Chalk Classic 2017 and pear tarte tatin with Black Chalk Dancer in Pink from last year’s vintage. Tickets cost £99
Shop here: Corkk, Canterbury
Online English wine shop Corkk has opened an IRL store on Burgate in the centre of Canterbury.
The store features over 80 fabulous English wines, as well as a wonderfully curated selection of wines from around the world curated by master of wine, Clive Barlow.
Taste and try before you buy by using the enomatic wine machine, which offers three tasting size options, and enjoy alongside a rustic platter of local cheese and charcuterie.
Treat yourself to this: Balfour Archive Collection 2008
As part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, Balfour Winery has launched its limited-edition Archive Collection 2008, showing the remarkable ageing potential of English sparkling rosé wine.
Since the first vintage in 2004, a limited number of Balfour Brut Rosé bottles have been held back each year to continue ageing slowly in perfect conditions at the Kent-based winery. After a rigorous retasting winemakers Owen and Fergus Elias selected the 2008 vintage to be disgorged and re-released as the inaugural wine in the Archive Collection.
“The 2008 has stayed true to the identity of Balfour Brut Rosé and is still remarkably fresh, crisp, and elegant,” Fergus explains. “It’s a stunning wine and has evolved exceptionally in the bottle with notes of red fruit balanced beautifully by a racing clean appley acidity.”
With only 120 bottles being released for sale, the limited-edition 2008 (£120) is the one to gift to the wine lover who is in search of something truly different (or to treat yourself!).
